[songzme]

I teach my kids to buy less, reuse as much as possible (like keeping the glass jars to make pickles, etc).

Fix up old furniture instead of buying new ones.

Eventually you'll learn to build an emotional attachment to things and value reliable old stuff that you've improved over time. Its a good thing.

[lettergram]

I do all that but still want my kids to build wealth. Like don’t you want them to retire? Have a better future than you do?

[tjr225]

> Have a better future than you do?

I’m not sure if you’re serious or not but yeah- that’s the entire point of this discussion. “Wealth” is pointless if there is no habitable place for our children and their children to live.

[chiefofgxbxl]

Also worth adding that wealth doesn't need to mean owning more material possessions. Wealth can take the form of knowledge, opportunities, increased quality of life, etc. Think educational wealth, mental wealth, spiritual wealth, etc.

Less can also be more. How wealthy is an elderly person who requires multiple prescription drugs, nurse/home-care, etc.? Sure they might have acquired money during their life to pay for these things, but that also means they are dependent (read: not free) on a lot of things too. Dependency is a sort of anti-wealth.

[howinteresting]

This is awfully close to arguing for lower life expectancies.

[lettergram]

Ah, so your convinced because there’s global warming you have to reduce the amount of material goods your child has.

Do you think any person in China would do the same (they already pollute at 2x the rate of the US)?

How about me? I’ll be teaching my child possessions mean wealth. Yes you should take care of them and yes you should ensure a sustainable environment. But you should maximize wealth, as well as maximizing knowledge, culture and spirituality.

In my case, wouldn’t that give my child an advantage to take your resources?

I’m not trying to be rude or mean, just how do you intend to compete with that? Because in that case, my lineage will take your resources.

[tjr225]

I am not trying to be mean either when I say this; but I pray my children aren’t horrible little goblins such as yourself. I also hope your children find some way to overcome the selfishness you want to instill in them. God bless your entire family.

[lettergram]

> I am not trying to be mean either when I say this; but I pray my children aren’t horrible little goblins such as yourself.

I also pointed out you should maximize knowledge, culture, spirituality.

Since you mentioned God, perhaps you're aware of Proverbs 13:12

> A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, but the sinner's wealth is laid up for the righteous.

There are many such quotes. What is wealth creation, but a measure of ones value to society?

I never claimed you shouldn't be charitable, inspirational or helpful to others. If I make a wonderful widget, sell trillions of dollars and then help create a corporation to cure cancer making more trillions is that "selfish", perhaps! But wouldn't that be better to society?

At the end of the day, everyone is equally selfish, even those who claim to be altruists -- they do it to make themselves feel good. You're doing things for your reasons, but your doing it for yourself.

I hope you evaluate what truly is valuable. I don't think there's a correct answer here, but calling someone a goblin is beneath you.

[songzme]

> I’ll be teaching my child possessions mean wealth

That's what my mom taught me.

> just how do you intend to compete with that? Because in that case, my lineage will take your resources.

I didn't turn out the way my mom would have wanted. In my case, I realized that maximizing material wealth did not make me happy.