billion dollar home

[SField]

Originally Posted by StephenHero

Yeah. I don't really care what this guy buys. But it's not like it's money wisely spent, either morally or economically.

So do you think the same of money generated by the arts?

 

[ad_infinitum]

Good thread. What about just pure luxury? Everyone who has more than enough 'wastes' their money on something 'dumb'. This guy just has way more than enough; does his obligation to better the society increases with the amount of money or power he has? Proportionaly? This kind of brings us to what should a billionare donate type of question.

 

[StephenHero]

Originally Posted by SField

So do you think the same of money generated by the arts?

That's a really really wide window. Give me a couple specific examples.

 

[RSS]

Originally Posted by ad_infinitum

Everyone who has more than enough 'wastes' their money on something 'dumb'.
That describes most -- if not everyone -- at Style Forum.

Well ... the "'wastes' their money on something 'dumb'" part does.

 

[Reggs]

Originally Posted by StephenHero

Yeah. I don't really care what this guy buys. But it's not like it's money wisely spent, either morally or economically.

Morally?

 

[StephenHero]

Originally Posted by Reggs

Morally?
What else would it be? It's certainly not unethical to build a billion dollar home, as there is really no legal or moral line to be drawn to distinguish between frugality from excess. The house itself didn't come at the expense of anyone so it cannot be unethical to fail to fulfill economic or charitable obligations he didn't have. But assuming the owner is not a moron, he's likely aware of the extent to which his billion dollars could have benefited others in different scenarios. By choosing this one, in which people consume their hours to provide a means for his domestic satisfaction which offers no byproduct or service in return that society can make use of, his decision isn't morally optimal. Similarly, if you came across some hungry orphans on the street and decided to spend $1000 to feed them, would buying caviar and truffles really be righteous, given so many obviously superior options? Wouldn't another person's $50 donation of bread and milk be morally superior? It's hard to pretend a person giving away caviar is really a much of a benefactor, when you realize the decision was motivated by the size of the donation he wanted to be seen making rather than the extent of the good it could do.

 

[Made in California]

Originally Posted by intent

I thought he died fighting the Zerg.
That part was so sad.

 

[pebblegrain]

 

[BryanHarig]

Originally Posted by pebblegrain

One reason this horrible, gaudy monstrosity of a palace (this isnt a house) is so interesting is the insecurity it shows. You can almost hear the ugly bastard desperately crying out for attention and validation every time you look at it. It is like the Russian tycoons and Gulf Arabs building larger and larger mega yachts in a vain attempt at superiority. It is a perfect example of trying too hard, a complete lack of taste and too damn much money all rolled into one ugly train wreck.

I think that most people who post here like to think that they have a little more class and style then this and that if we were successful enough to be in a position to spend this much on a house we would do so in a 'better' way. I know I do.

Not to mention the moral implications of spending this much on a palace. While there will be a trickle of money passed down through the construction workers and domestic staff and other service economy types imagine how much more real long term wealth could be created by Ambani directly funding entrepreneurs and helping to combat malnutrition and the lack of access to education with even a fraction of what was spent on this palace.

I love luxury and consumption as much as anyone here, but at a certain point I think I would have a hard time with the idea that I choose to have a 9 floor palace instead of a 7 floor one and the difference in price could have fed and educated say, 1000 bright, promising kids from elementary school to college. This palace just feels too much like masturbation to me, I like to think that there would be more satisfying ways to spend the same amount of wealth.

 

[ruben]

He's morally obligated to be less tacky with his design.

If I spend a billion dollar on a home, I'd hope it didn't end up looking like a hotel in Sharm a Sheikh.

 

[johnapril]

If you ever want to see people with too much money in the act of pure idiocracy, check out a video of one of them summitting Everest on you tube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bivOZ...eature=related

 

[intent]

Some of you guys are starting to sound like jealous bitches.

 

[MasterOfReality]

Originally Posted by intent

Some of you guys are starting to sound like jealous bitches.

QFT

Its his money, he can spend it any damn way he wants.

 

[kwilkinson]

Originally Posted by MasterOfReality

QFT

Its his money, he can spend it any damn way he wants.

:yawn: I don't recall anyone saying he couldn't.

 

[intent]

Originally Posted by kwilkinson

:yawn: I don't recall anyone saying he couldn't.
No, but I mean that the comments are hinting at the idea that this guy lacks class as a 3rd world nouveau riche and we know so much better than him on how to spend his money with classical approval.