gambit
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That still does not answer the question: Is judging a person by his material things uniquely American? Meaning, not or rarely seen elsewhere in the world.Let's see.
I'm earning more than what 75% of people make here yet I prefer this frugal lifestyle. Why? I don't take myself seriously.
- I only own 3 pair of pants, all of them jet back because black is cool, classy, and timeless!
- 4 cotton shirts.
- One pair of safety shoes, because they last way longer than that fancy crap that costs 5x as much + I ride a motorcycle.
- Speaking of which, I've an old 2-stroke Yamaha (2002 model year) which I fix myself because... well, even a monkey with a wrench can fix it, it's so damn simple. Not great for the environment, sure, but I like its peaky power band, compared to boring AF 4-stroke thumpers.
- I'd been using a Blackberry Z10 for literally ages and have recently gotten my hands on a 'proper' iPhone because everyone was bugging me to get my arse on WhatsApp.
Plus, I've what you people call "high-functioninng autism" though it used to be called Asperger's Syndrome. But since Hans Asperger was allegedly a Nazi, he's been "cancelled" by the Western left, despite his contributions.
So, I've an above average I.Q, if I can say so myself, though I suck at interpreting social cues. The lifestyle of an average, neurotypical human doesn't make much sense to me. I look at human social structure like a mathematical equation, too literally and without any emotions.
I guess you can say I see things for what they're, for the better or worse! From what I've heard, Elon Musk is also an "Aspie" and he allegedly putters around in an old Tesla, even though he can afford pretty much anything he wants.
We just operate differently, that's all!
You said: "...hotter trophy wife with bigger boobs..."
Islam allows a man up to four wives. The way I see it, that is one for procreation and three for recreation. And for each of those three, the younger she is, the more 'trophy' she is. Every man who is single or has only one wife would look upon this man with quiet envy, that the man is wealthy enough to quite 'bought' those three other women. So how is that different than America in terms of improving one's lot in life?
Am not defending materialism in the sense that a person need material things to prove something to society in order to make himself feel better. But I am defending the idea that a civilization has the obligation to ENABLE anyone to improve his lot in life, at least thru ethical and legal means, if not morally. If you chose frugality amidst options, you can criticize INDIVIDUALS who takes to excess, but not the civilization that made possible those options.