Quote:
Originally Posted by Bristol  While this "scarcity" mindset has been discussed in various forums on various topics, I do see a pattern (This's not meant to be personal about Steve's post at all - merely an observation/opinion...)
<BEGIN OPINION>
People post comments about how other people have a scarcity mindset when something they have been piking is construed as "too expensive" by some people. This stance usually comes across as a defensive posture - one that's designed to somehow elevate the poster to a higher level by dumping those who are having trouble finding a way to pay for the product/service into the "scarcity mindset" stereotype.
Ok, lets see here...
I really really want to buy something worth $2000 (Just an example).
I have, lets say, -$600 in the bank (yes, with a negative sign, happened to me many times)
My essential expenses per month are probably add up to more than $2000.
There's no way I can buy this. If only it were $500 or so, maybe I could have put it on my visa that has barely that much avaialble on it...
Now, if I look at this equation and feel that $2000 is "too high", I got a "scarcity mindset" ?
If only I could think wealthy, I could write a check and the bank would somehow allow it to go through?
These are real, objective numbers - not play-cash in a board game. Either you can afford something or you can't. If you can't and you really would like to have it, the price will appear out of reach, too high, greedy ...whatever.
Yes, one could try not to post something to that effect, and just simply admit that he couldn't afford it, perhaps next time...
Maybe then we can call those people to have a "neutral mindset" or something like that.
Dumping people in a generic "scarcity mindset" group because they can't afford something they would like to have, IMHO, is a sign of arrogance.
Blimey, but mostly these posts are written by people who can afford the prices. Maybe somewhere in the past they couldn't, but now they can. Happens all the time to many people...people in debt work out of it and go on to riches and vice versa.
And now that it's a new world for these people, suddenly, those "down there" have a scarcity mindset...if only they could look at their overdraft bank accounts, speak to the debt collectors, deal with the past due rent and feel wealthy....alas!!!
</END OPINION> |
Not quite. That isn't really the point. You're close, but you didn't take it far enough.
The point isn't to try to get you to spend money you don't have. It's to get you to see that you're the one who sets your standards and defines your financial equilibrium, and if you want to afford something that costs $2000 when you only have $600, you'll need to raise your standard of contribution to get there.
So if you only have $600 in the bank, you've only generated $600 of social value more than you spent. If you want to afford something that costs $2000, then it's up to you to generate that extra $1400 of social value by making a bigger contribution.
The idea is to push you to stop holding back on the contribution side. Go out and generate more value than you're doing now. Start associating with people who are more contribution-focused and don't waste time complaining about how little money they have (because they're hardly created any value for others).
In order to afford something that costs $2000, you have to go out and give $2000 worth of value to other people. This is a good thing.
Since money is social debt, having lots of money means that you've given much more value than you received.
If you only have $600 to your name, it means you're pretty darned selfish, doesn't it? You've only given society a net $600. Is that the best you can do? What's stopping you from creating a million dollars worth of value for other people?
Money is simply a note from society that says, "You've given more than you've taken out, so we owe you X amount of value in return for the service you've already rendered."
The more money you have, the more you've given to society. Having lots of money is a result of generosity, not greed.
* Note: This assumes a contributor mindset towards income generation, not a moocher mindset like thievery.