I spent 2 years cleaning houses. What I saw makes me never want to be rich(vox.com)
vox.com
I spent 2 years cleaning houses. What I saw makes me never want to be rich
http://www.vox.com/2015/7/16/8961799/housekeeper-job-clients
10 comments
IMHO what's more interesting is how wealth alter the choices one might make. A new 4x4 because it's "safer" vs. taking public transport - when in fact a new 4x4 is costly to the environment and makes one less fit than public transport. Seems to me that wealth brings more choices that are often no better than the poor persons choice. That's a shame.
Great point. But I really enjoyed reading the article for some reason, maybe it's just the style.
I took exception to the opening line: Your housekeeper spies on you
Maybe that one did, but that only reflects on her. My wife had a housecleaning business for a few years. She simply didn't have time to snoop on anyone. She specialized in cleaning houses in upscale neighborhoods (go where the money is!) and they were large and time consuming. She typically had just enough time to finish in the time she estimated, and then it was often a drive across town to the next house.
Guess it's different if you're working for someone else.
Maybe that one did, but that only reflects on her. My wife had a housecleaning business for a few years. She simply didn't have time to snoop on anyone. She specialized in cleaning houses in upscale neighborhoods (go where the money is!) and they were large and time consuming. She typically had just enough time to finish in the time she estimated, and then it was often a drive across town to the next house.
Guess it's different if you're working for someone else.
File under: "I'm not rich; I'm going to be superior to rich people in other ways."
I think the real point should be that money isn't everything. Some people have dozens of friends and the fun never ends, as long as they're buying. We all have problems. If you can have a good life AND money, yay! If you can have a good life OR money, take the good life. Money alone won't get you a good life.
I wish these types of discussions were more nuanced. They usually aren't though.
I wish these types of discussions were more nuanced. They usually aren't though.
I was reminded of the take on the line...‘The very rich are different from you and me.’ And how some one had said to Scott, Yes, they have more money. > http://www.quotecounterquote.com/2009/11/rich-are-different-...
This makes me wonder what crazy stories my cleaners have dreamed up about me. I mean, I have allergy meds in the bathroom and sometimes I have a big party before cleaning day, so there are a lot of dirty dishes and food containers. I also have a safe with about $400 in it, but I suppose in someone's imagination it could be anything in there!
Completely underwhelmed.
Being rich isn't the issue.
Being rich isn't the issue.
Isn't this the opposite of the Fundamental attribution error? She is attributing her clients' issues and unhappiness to the external influence of being rich rather than personality flaws.
Those people seemed to have it pretty together. I could point the author to a few much more interesting houses.
What's most disturbing about this article is not that the author fails to reflect on her own moral shortcoming (she did after all choose to violate the privacy of her clients), but that she comes to poorly justified conclusions. The worst: she makes the implied argument that there was a causal relationship between wealth and her client's issues.
Mental illness afflicts both the rich and the poor, and there are plenty of generally unhappy people in all walks of life. That someone would come to shun wealth out of a mistaken belief that it always leads to a sad, empty existence is disappointing, and I can't help but wonder if the author found exactly what she was looking for when she decided to "snoop."