[gollum]

It is immoral not to try, I have kids and getting them through the coming hardships drives me, it is my purpose in life!!!!

[JPL]

Sigh- as Ghandi said, the Earth provides sufficient to provide for man's need, but not enough for man's greed.

JP

[billg]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'i')s it moral to thrive when others are struggling to survive?

[mos6507]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('JPL', 'S')igh- as Ghandi said, the Earth provides sufficient to provide for man's need, but not enough for man's greed.

[anarky321]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('billg', 'Y')our heart will answer that question for you. The same spirit that dwells within you dwells within every other living creature on this planet.

[anarky321]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('JPL', 'S')igh- as Ghandi said, the Earth provides sufficient to provide for man's need, but not enough for man's greed.

JP

[JPL]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('mos6507', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('JPL', 'S')igh- as Ghandi said, the Earth provides sufficient to provide for man's need, but not enough for man's greed.

[Ayoob]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MrBill', 'i')s it moral to thrive when others are struggling to survive?

[I_Like_Plants]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MrBill', 'i')s it moral to thrive when others are struggling to survive?

[eastbay]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('BigTex', ' ') The problem I have with giving everything to the poor is that I can only do it once, then I am just another one of the poor, and I can't help the poor any further at that point. If I help the poor while maintaining my own ability to thrive, then I can continue to provide assistance to others.

[billg]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('anarky321', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('billg', 'Y')our heart will answer that question for you. The same spirit that dwells within you dwells within every other living creature on this planet.

[Dukkha]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('anarky321', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('billg', 'Y')our heart will answer that question for you. The same spirit that dwells within you dwells within every other living creature on this planet.

[drew]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MrBill', ' ')Right place at right time, but it would be a mistake not to fleece them for every penny that 'they' did not earn. Or am I simply evil? If so, do I get a mini-me?

[Newfie]

"is it moral to thrive when others are struggling to survive?"

Excellent question, thank you for asking.

If I may, here are my out loud thoughts.

1. Morality is a human construct, nature has no morality. Therefore you, as a human, are equally empowered to decide what is moral for you. So by your definition you may or may not be moral.

2. That being said, groups of humanity tend to lump together and agree, more or less, on some set of rules for that group. They often call this "morality." If you stray from this set of rules then, by group definition you may or may not be moral.

3. My observation is that there is a general set of rules that all groups tend to adopt. These tend to be that you should not kill other human beings OF YOUR GROUP. The closer to yourself, the stronger the prohibition. Ergo the argument over abortion. Also fratricide and infanticide are particularly abhorrent crimes. Although there are circumstances where this is not so, these are generally considered "moral norms."

4. Along these lines if there is one guiding rule to human society it is to increase the human population. So if there is one common human understanding of morality, or a morality test it is "Does it further human population?"

5. So to answer your question "Yes, it is moral." You are not endangering the population in general. Further, by thriving you are increasing the odds that your genes will propagate. Generally the strongest, healthiest represent the best adapted genes.

6. Ergo, it is your DUTY to humanity to thrive, to demonstrate that you have the best genes, and to propagate those genes thereby strengthening the human gene pool and population.

Please note that I am not taking a pro or con position here. I understand that there are many counter arguments. I am just trying to report what I observe about how humanity/nature works.

Sorry for the overly long answer. Short as I could make it.

[BigTex]

I think I may have misunderstood the question as well. I thought MrBill was talking generally about how the haves should treat the have nots.

Perhaps what he was really asking was whether the rich neighbors who got rich out of luck and not hard work or innovation gives him any justification for gouging them on whatever products or services he is offering to them?

I say charge whatever you think your products and services are worth and what you think someone will pay.

It's hard for me to imagine MrBill struggling to survive. I pictured him doing the Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous thing from his Cyprus headquarters.

If you have neighbors that are richer than you and act snotty, just think how much worse it would be if they were poor and acted snotty.

Life is about so much more than how much money and property you own. Obviously, a certain amount is necessary to get by, but beyond a certain point, who cares? Happiness and peace in life frequently don't have much connection to material success.

[Blacksmith]

What is Morality? And who cares?

[HEADER_RACK]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Blacksmith', 'W')hat is Morality? And who cares?

[Heineken]

A man said to the universe: 'Sir, I exist!' 'However,' replied the universe, 'that fact has not created in me a sense of obligation.'

-- Stephen Crane

[BigTex]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('HEADER_RACK', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Blacksmith', 'W')hat is Morality? And who cares?

[phaster]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MrBill', 'i')s it moral to thrive when others are struggling to survive?