Greed is good?

First Edition · #1 12-25-2010

I'm not one to argue about things that can't be proven... such as emotions or things that don't relate to making money or staying out of prison... but another sub-conversation on the matter got me to thinking...

Is greed good or is Gordon Gecko just full of it?

I personally think greed is the reason for the season, and why we all get up every day, and put the ground and pound on whatever online ventures we are seeking. Of course, others think that greed is a horrible thing and is only greed when it is excessive. I think that if one were truly not greedy, they would go with the the way of Gandhi, own 6 items and weave their own clothing. Is greed in any measurable extent other than this different? In other words, who are any of us to say that man sentenced to 5 years in federal prison is greedy?

We are all slaves to a hierarchical system of monetary woes, and I personally feel some of you are jealous of the man who pays hundreds of thousands in ebay fees. If 12 percent of your cash-flow amounts to 100 grand.... this guy isn't greedy, he is just stupid.

Thoughts? Opinions? No arguing.... discussion only please

#2 12-25-2010

My opinion of greed is wanting any, and everything possible not caring about others when you are asked to give a helping hand, but instead go and help yourself even more when it is no longer needed.

About the online venture part some people do it just to support their families, and don't go overboard, only make whats needed even if you do have an opportunity to make even more money. These people also purchase no name brand clothing, jewelry, live ordinary lives. IDK this is just what i think.............

123 · #3 12-25-2010

Interesting post, I think greed is good to a certain extent. Sure greed in the dictionary means excessive lust, but I think there can be different extents to it. I think greed to a certain extent helps fuel me to work harder and think outside the box on new ways to make money in order to acquire all the things in this world that i desire. But I also think to much greed will get you in trouble, for example everything is going good your selling safe things to sell and making good money then you get overly greedy and start venturing into dangerous / high risk goods.

eternity4u · #4 12-25-2010

Greed is when someone gets to blind and do thing's without reasling what they putting themselves into.
Some people just want to make enough money to eat,provide a good life for thier loves one.
Most of people all on this forum follow the law and do not over step thier limits. We are all treated unfairly by ebay so we just make way to sell again.

Greed is someone who turns a blind eye to everything and then keeps getting away with it...only when thier luck ends

First Edition · #5 12-25-2010

But that's stupidity, not greed gone wrong.

You can be an idiot and not be greedy. I know plenty of morons who never made a dime that are sitting in a federal prison. Look at Goldman Sachs. The definition of greed lies behind their walls, and not one person has yet to be indicted.

....and saying you're just supporting your family only goes so far though.... you want a better life for you and yours, of course. We all do. But anything other than the bare essentials is driven by greed.

jeffweico · #6 12-25-2010

I agree that "greed is good". There is nothing wrong with greed. Greed is what makes capitalism work.

It only becomes a problem when a person loses their moral compass and crosses the line between what is acceptable and what is unacceptable. The exact definition can vary from person to person, but there are some things we can all agree on...

Such as, listing items for sale that you have no intention of delivering is unacceptable. But that is not simply greed... The person's greed led them to commit larceny.

First Edition · #7 12-25-2010

That's why there are laws.... I personally don't think its that big of a deal when someone screws ebay out of 900000 dollars. I don't feel sorry for that horribly managed company one bit. Now when you steal from people... yes, that is wrong. But again, there are laws in place to prevent people from doing these things. This doesn't make them greedy, just a criminal.

Donald Trump declared bankruptcy more times than there are chapters for filing bankruptcy.... he's cost a lot of people a lot of money by working the system and to some people he is the pinnacle of success in this county. The man makes me sick. But he's not in jail is he?

We're all greedy... the guy that's sitting in jail isn't paying for his greed... he is paying for his stupidity.

jbluntz · #8 12-25-2010

Yep greed can defenitly be a good thing, you can have lot's of nice things and still be a person good character, it's only when it overtakes your soul and makes you become corrupt and evil is when it's bad, it's like everything else all about balance.

jeffweico · #9 12-25-2010

First Edition brings up an interesting point...

Why is it that most of society views a person going bankrupt or facing foreclosure to be a failure, a loser and a drain on society, but when a CORPORATION does it, it is all good, it is just a smart financial strategy?

HUGE double standard here...

Hercules · #10 12-26-2010

You can be greedy about protecting redwood trees, saving rare birds, helping starved people in Africa etc...Greed is a word for either jealous people or people that have allot but don't want you to get any of there stuff. Greed is a word that religious leaders use to get a better donation for their cause. To me it's just another way people try to 'play' or trick you into doing or thinking the way they want you to think through gilt or directing hatred toward people who have more than you.

Is it greedy to want four gold metals after EARNING three? Is it greedy for the Patriots to want another Superbowl Championship? Is it greedy to work long hours and sacrifice your leisure time to build a large lucrative business to afford yachts, summer homes, expensive cars? " your greedy" no my friend you've bin played.

eternity4u · #11 12-26-2010

We all agree that no one feels sorry for Ebay when they are screw over...after all the way they treat thier customers.
But is it really all worth it when you overstep your limits, i agree that it can be a corporation can be a caused of this.
We can all have greed in many ways, but some learn to control it and some do not. Greed to have more food, Greed to have more perfumes etc, this is something we are have

But when greed becomes, stealing items, not fulfilling orders in intention not to send it, taking other people money and leave them with nothing is a different kind of greed.

These people who are in jailed, they weren't screwing ebay, it involves other companies and other factors, no one is above the law. If we think we can get away from it, NO ONE CAN!

First Edition · #12 12-26-2010

People break the law everyday and get away it with. I've mentioned Goldman Sachs and Donald Trump just to name a few. If you look at the history of these people and entities.... ugh. The point is, calling someone greedy because he pushed a loophole too far is not just. I don't pay ebay fees when they boot an account. I've said it before, and I'll say it again. If a plumber charges me to fix my bathroom and leaves my toilet more broken than before, he ain't gettin' paid. This should be an issue for civil court. Not shipping items on the other hand.... yes, it's stealing. But calling it greed is a tad hypocritical. I'm sure hundreds of forum members are reading this right now trying to not trip over a maze of modems, laptops and kvm switches just like I am. Greedy? Come on now......

Look at Enron... those guys got like 2 years in club fed for for practically stealing their employees pensions. Martha Stewart did 6 months in minimum security resort for doing the same thing. (basically) I'm not saying they're not greedy, but the sentence they received should have been triple what this other guy(s) is facing.

Hercules · #13 12-26-2010

1st ED, I'll agree with you on one thing, I got modems, routers and a jungle of spaghetti wires back there that will leave me with fire hazard fines for sure. But I'm not greedy. I just leave what ever fell off the back of the desk down in there forever.

But seriously wanting everything is not greedy, breaking the law in large ways as you suggest is just criminal. The two ways of getting it are different. Breaking the law to get something isn't greed it's taking someone else's hard earned share by breaking laws is just wrong.

FandangoKango · #14 12-31-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by First Edition

I'm not one to argue about things that can't be proven... such as emotions or things that don't relate to making money or staying out of prison... but another sub-conversation on the matter got me to thinking...

Is greed good or is Gordon Gecko just full of it?

I personally think greed is the reason for the season, and why we all get up every day, and put the ground and pound on whatever online ventures we are seeking. Of course, others think that greed is a horrible thing and is only greed when it is excessive. I think that if one were truly not greedy, they would go with the the way of Gandhi, own 6 items and weave their own clothing. Is greed in any measurable extent other than this different? In other words, who are any of us to say that man sentenced to 5 years in federal prison is greedy?

We are all slaves to a hierarchical system of monetary woes, and I personally feel some of you are jealous of the man who pays hundreds of thousands in ebay fees. If 12 percent of your cash-flow amounts to 100 grand.... this guy isn't greedy, he is just stupid.

Thoughts? Opinions? No arguing.... discussion only please

satan is to blame! lol

First Edition · #15 01-01-2011

To an extent... yes. I believe projected egos are the culprit in most everything.

mememe1972 · #16 01-02-2011

Being grateful for what we have is number 1. However GREED can be seen as ambition so what if I must make $1,000,000 in cash in 18 months just to have cash on hand. Is it greed on ambition? We have our different levels of success and we are not here to judge anyone else if there not hurting YOU. GET your MONEY