Inheritance or Personal Freedom?
By sigma77
@sigma77 (5383)
United States
May 14, 2007 6:57pm CST
This story is not based on a true event. Suppose you had rich parents (or somewhat well off) and you knew that you would be getting a sizable financial inheritance after they were gone. But in order to get it, you had to live a certain way as ordered by your parents. However, by living in this manner, it would go against many of the beliefs you have about living your own life. Would you automatically give up your freedoms and live as your parent wanted in order to receive your inheritance; or would you stick to your guns and live your life how you see fit? Assume that in either case their is nothing illegal going on. Is the money important enough to give in to their demands? Thanks.
2 people like this
6 responses
@Destiny007 (5805)
• United States
15 May 07
I would ensure I got the money and hope that they croak soon.
Serves them right for being so controlling.
Man I love being hypothetical.
2 people like this
@Destiny007 (5805)
• United States
16 May 07
Hypothetically you don't agree...that's the great thing about hypothetical questions, you can do anything you want, act anyway you want and be anything you want to be in a hypothetical sort of way.
1 person likes this
@margieanneart (26423)
• United States
15 May 07
This is a wonderful topic my friend. I personally, would live my own life as I saw fit. Money cannot buy happiness, only temporary easiness and material things. How about you? What would you do?
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@margieanneart (26423)
• United States
16 May 07
Life can be very rewarding and fulfilled without money. But, on the other hand, for the little time we are here, it does make it more pleasant than struggling.
@ladyluna (7004)
• United States
15 May 07
Hello Sigma,
Hmmm, hypotheticals are always easier to take the high moral ground on than real-life scenarios.
Some might say that freedom and commitment to priniciple are above money. And, find it reprehensible that their parents would subject them to such a moral dilemma. Pride and resentment, and/or a sincere adherence to their principles might send them off on their own 'poor' road.
Some might say it would be easy to just wait out the inheritence, while pretending to have relinquished one's own principles, and live the way of the parents outline. However, pretending for a year, and pretending for thirty years is a very different story.
The amount of the inheritance would certainly be an issue. As would the lifestyle that they were demanding. There are just so many undefined variables.
For me personally, I would not be able to consider a decision until I confronted my parents about what they found so undesireable in my lifestyle. Perhaps they're accumulated wisdom should be something I should consider.
However, if there was no reasonable explanation for them desiring that I change who I am, and no compromise could be reached, I'd have to take the 'poor' road. Money can always be earned!
1 person likes this
@ladyluna (7004)
• United States
16 May 07
Oh my Sigma, thank you for the amazing compliment!
I do believe that it would be better for humanity, in general, if we further investigated all options presented to us. And, more aggessively explored all viable options, and alternatives before jumping to conclusions that might be counterproductive in the long run.
In your hypothetical example, it's within the realm of feasibility that the parents really do not know what the child's values are. So, not attempting dialogue beforehand might well rob the world of amazing altruistic endeavors that the child has, but which the parents remain in the dark about.
@sigma77 (5383)
• United States
15 May 07
Excellent answer. Yes, there are to many variables to make a decision. Confronting the parents is a good idea, but if they are anything like mine, their current ways of doing things have been etched in stone for decades. Very true, if you really wanted the money, it could be earned. From what I have read in many of your responses, I think you could write a book of some kind that would be beneficial to many people. You have some kind of understanding and perspective that isn't readily found. I can't put my finget on it exactly.
1 person likes this
@sweetaspie52 (2359)
• United States
15 May 07
I think while a child is growing up they should live as they are told but when it is time to live home than that child should be able to live the way that they want regardless of the inhertance.the money from the inhartance would be nice but it would still be like the parents are still trying to run the childs life even from the grave that is just my opinoin
2 people like this
@Augustta (1850)
• Poland
15 May 07
I think first i will make how they say,but if there will be conflicte of interes...as i know my self and how stubborn i am ...i think i will say no thanks!!...
(so i will try just if the way my parents say to follow will be accesible and not agains my principe)...
thanks god,i had great parents...but ha ha!not so rich!
2 people like this
@shareefa (34)
• Philippines
15 May 07
well i will think first if the way my parents ordered me to live will make me a better person i will do it eventhough it will be against my personal beliefs, i still believe that my parents will not do me any harm, their plan for me will always be great and worth living for, its not because of money its because of living my life a better way,.
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