Rags to Riches.

[2centsworth]

How is it that two people with identical backgrounds can have huge differences in the quality of their lives? One can have family and financial succes while the other can be failure in everything they do.

How do we explain the Rags to Riches or even to middle class stories?

[Oh, Gee!!]

no two people are identical, nor are their experiences. Liebniz said that.

[2centsworth]

no two people are identical, nor are their experiences. Liebniz said that.
Ok, then how do you explain the kid who was molested and poor who makes a great life for himself vs the kid who's just poor and is a bum?

[JoeChalupa]

Only God knows.
The way I see is that humans are animals and nature, God, takes its course.
Not everyone can be Bill Gates. Is it possible for everyone to be successful. Hell yes!
But what is success for one may not constitute success for another.
For some a college degree, an SUV and Home over 2500 sq.ft is success.
For some just having a roof over their head, food in their belly and taking care of your family the best you can (and again what is "best") is success.
I for one do not judge success by the size of ones wallet or home.

But that seems to be the American Way now. It is becoming difficult for families to get into homes because not everyone can afford a home starting at 100K. A friend of mine is wanting to buy but he can't find homes that are in his price range or size.
Doesn't want or need a 2 story home. Smaller homes are just not being built these days.

Most only need to look at their own family and you will see different levels of "success". While one son/daughter is a lawyer or doctor another may just work at HEB or Wal-Mart and there is nothing wrong with that.

I hate it when parents, although I understand braggin rights since I'm a parent, brag about their kids success but only point out he graduated from...works at...lives in a...makes.....

Life is a box of chocolates and you never know what you are gonna get...but sometimes there are plenty of choices in the box.

[Peter]

Ok, then how do you explain the kid who was molested and poor who makes a great life for himself vs the kid who's just poor and is a bum?

Psychological makeup, as well as intellect, is most likely your explanation and in that order when it comes to importance. The ability to defer gratification, take risks and persevere are not doled out in equal proportion among people. There are plenty of super smart and non-so rich people out there, while there are plenty of wealthy peeps with average intelligence.

[Oh, Gee!!]

Ok, then how do you explain the kid who was molested and poor who makes a great life for himself vs the kid who's just poor and is a bum?


what Peter posted.

[JoeChalupa]

What Joe posted.

[Oh, Gee!!]

What Joe posted.


him too.

[Yonivore]

How is it that two people with identical backgrounds can have huge differences in the quality of their lives? One can have family and financial succes while the other can be failure in everything they do.

How do we explain the Rags to Riches or even to middle class stories?
Choices. Some made by the person and others made by those who have influence over the person.

[Darrin]

How is it that two people with identical backgrounds can have huge differences in the quality of their lives? One can have family and financial succes while the other can be failure in everything they do.

How do we explain the Rags to Riches or even to middle class stories?

While we cannot predict who will be successful and why, providing people an opportunity to succeed is necessary for success. Personally, for me, success is putting it back better than I found it - leaving something for the next generation and not ruining what was handed to me.

[boutons_]

Cultural expectations play a huge role for nearly everybody.

ie, the nurture part of nuture vs nature.

If truly independent and internally driven (very few people really are), most people will become what they are expected to become, based on what others are in their immediate culture (family, town, region, and increasingly pop/TV/media culture) actually are.

[2centsworth]

If there's one thing I could give everyone it would be DESIRE.

DESIRE to get an education. DESIRE to network with people outside your comfort zone. DESIRE to not accept no for an answer. DESIRE to be a righteous person.

[Mr. Peabody]

If there's one thing I could give everyone it would be DESIRE.

DESIRE to get an education. DESIRE to network with people outside your comfort zone. DESIRE to not accept no for an answer. DESIRE to be a righteous person.

I once knew a chick named Desire and I think everyone has had her at one time or another.

[Nbadan]

I think it has a lot to do with self-discipline and hard-work. Those who have it will succeed, no matter their socio-economic or disadvantaged background, but those that don't, will likely wonder from job to job, suffer from divorce, etc...

Self-sacrafice just isn't in some people vocabulary.

[Mr. Peabody]

Cultural expectations play a huge role for nearly everybody.

ie, the nurture part of nuture vs nature.

If truly independent and internally driven (very few people really are), most people will become what they are expected to become, based on what others are in their immediate culture (family, town, region, and increasingly pop/TV/media culture) actually are.

Typical liberal response (I just wanted to say it before someone else did).

I happen to agree with your statement to a point.

[Darrin]

If there's one thing I could give everyone it would be DESIRE.

DESIRE to get an education. DESIRE to network with people outside your comfort zone. DESIRE to not accept no for an answer. DESIRE to be a righteous person.


DESIRE is necessary for success, but without opportunity, desire is a nice character atribute.