The Most Miraculous Blessing...or Monumental Curse! What would you do!?

[Mark (Star Mariner)]

Received some staggering news yesterday that knocked me for a loop. It was a 'wow, no way! Seriously?' sort of moment that I'm still trying to wrap my head around!

What follows is a little story, involving huuuge implications for the individual and those around him.

I work in a relatively tight-knit group/department, and there's a few of us who've been there for many years. One of them, I'll call him Jim, was a close colleague who recently announced his retirement. We all thought it a little strange, he was only mid to late fifties, and taking early retirement is a luxury that most at his age cannot afford. He wasn't leaving for a new job – it really was retirement, and he cited general tiredness and aching joints as another reason. He just couldn't do it anymore. Fair enough we all thought, good luck to you mate!

A little time went by, and we didn't hear anything more from Jim. Strange, as many of us socialize out of work or at least stay in contact. We'd often have a drink after work, and at the weekends play golf. Jim was one of my golf buddies during the summers, so I would definitely call him a friend, more so than simply a colleague. And there were others closer to him than me. But even they heard nothing more from Jim. And he didn't play golf anymore. It was as if Jim had fallen off the edge of the earth.

More time went by, and though Jim wasn't forgotten, it was simply accepted that Jim had moved on, was doing his own thing enjoying his retirement, and that was that. Until yesterday, when I heard some news.

I was with a work partner, Mike, a good friend with whom I've worked closely with in the job since 2004, (alongside Jim) and he was moaning and groaning about how he just couldn't take this s__t anymore. I agreed. I know his pain. The job wasn't the same, the managers were all , all these new rules, regs and restrictions were sucking the life (and joy – what little there was) from our work environment. He wanted to take early retirement, like Jim, but just couldn't afford it. 'Jim did a runner on all of us, he said. Lucky bastard…'

I replied, 'what are you talking about? '

Quietly, Mike replied, 'No one ever said anything about what happened to Jim...but I still see his daughter from time to time, so I know.' 'Know what?' I asked. 'I shouldn't really say anything, but **** it, who cares anymore.'

And then I found out (and later received confirmation from another source). 'Jim won the lottery, didn't he.'

OMG

He did. And not just the National Lottery as it turns out, he won the "Euromillions (https://www.national-lottery.co.uk/games/euromillions?icid=bsp:em:tx)" (European-wide lottery). It is believed he pocketed some [i]tens of millions of pounds. On a side-note, he is the second person from my department (only about 30 people) who have won the lottery! About 7 or 8 years ago another guy netted about 3 million I think – he also 'disappeared' without a trace, taking early retirement at aged 22.

I couldn't believe this. Jim, a multi-multi-millionaire. And he took off without a word (except a lie, actually).

There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that this stroke of fortune changed Jim, a really nice, affable down-to-earth guy, with whom I have shared many many laughs (and a few beers) – not to mention rounds of golf. After this, never heard from him again. I felt most sorry for Mike though, who's even a few years older than Jim. He wants desperately to retire, but can't afford it. All Jim had to do was write (from his great fortune) a very small cheque indeed, say a hundred grand, and he would make it so. Mike never directly heard from Jim again either. Jim basically packed up his life and disappeared (he's maybe swanning around in his mansion in St. Tropez right now – or who knows?)

I don't begrudge Jim at all. The more I think about it, the more frightening the idea of massive wealth is to me. Imagine it. Imagine the attraction of no limits, no boundaries, no restrictions at all. Imagine the...lure of all things self-indulgent, that you've never been able to afford before. But then consider the potential cost (of a different kind than financial). Someone has to lose out. Sometimes many lose out. What of your former friends for example, or even those in your closest circle? Because now YOU have ultimate power to determine who gets what, and how much, or nothing at all; you literally have the Power over so many people's lives, now and for the rest of their lives. What a responsibility, what a burden!

There is with wealth a really big moral impasse. How much power will temptation have over you? There is always going to be a natural materialistic desire to horde/save/invest/spend, but in contrast to this (at least with me) there would be the very strong tug of conscience, that says you must do something good, you must do something beneficial, not just for the people around you, but for humanity (I can envision an Avalon Project going BIG, for example, going mainstream).

In my opinion wealth, supreme multi-million pound/dollar wealth, can be as much a curse as it is a blessing. I think Jim may have lost more than he gained. I wonder where he is now. I wonder if he regrets what happened. Maybe he's still in a place of such great enjoyment he hasn't got there yet, or simply doesn't care. He's mega rich, right? How long though before conscience comes calling? As I still try to process this news, I ask the question:

-What would you do if millions just fell on your lap out of a clear blue sky?

-And how would it change you?

Or in a different analysis, what would you THINK, and how would you react, if a friend or relative won this amount of money? Because from here on, everything would change (including them, unfortunately).

[WhiteLove]

I think that when you receive that much money, what is going to be new is how to keep all of that money because when you have that amount of money you don't want to see it gone in some mysterious "what happened" way. So that's one part of the new situation, how that will affect you, again how you play that situation is going to determine what kind of state of being it will produce. But other than that I can't believe there is much other stress about the situation other than now you have access to tons of options you did not have access to before. You can switch from a life style when you had to do certain things, into a life style when you can decide what to do and what not to do. And if you then invest the money with a good intent, say into your life passion out of the joy that brings to yourself and others, maybe to some charity that represents who you are, maybe to realize dreams you've had all of your life and stuff like that, money is now a positive power that you've gained access to in order to realize your dreams before you die. So in the hands of a wise man, lots of money is similar to lots of access and when you get access to good stuff, that's great.

If I would suddenly get that much money unexpectedly, I would feel blessed and it would change my life positively because I would know exactly how to spend the money and due to what intent...

[BMJ]

You didn't mention how such a fortune would change the people around you friends and family.

Friends and family may feel it is their right to the winnings also and if Jim doesn't provide them with what they believe they would be entitled to it could ruin relationships. That's maybe why he took off quietly.

Personally I would go around quietly helping family friends pay off debts and buy things I can tell they need.
Make some donations to help different worth while causes for example new blankets and bedding for the mental institute my best friend has on occassion gone to, and new sets of clothing and foot wear for patience.
It would make me feel happy knowing that I can do more for others less fortunate than myself, and also knowing that my actions may change some people for the better.

[Jhonie]

Personally if I won that kind of money I would HAVE to not let any of my family know because I know one relative that would kill me for it.

[Michelle Marie]

I already worked this out earlier before I saw this post.

I live a simple life, and that will not change. I have a sharing system in mind...

I'll share with innovative people and projects. There are a lot of good people with a clear perception of their life purpose -- their contribution to humanity -- that could use financial backing. I'll find them, or they will find me. First my projects will be funded, then the revenue will fund others.

Charity for humanitarian purposes.

Personally, I don't need money. Treasures in heaven are better!

Love,
MM

[Ernie Nemeth]

Sorry, Jim is a s***.

I won't talk to my youngest sister after she pulled that stunt too. There is no excuse for not sharing your new-found wealth. Only ignorant, greedy, sub-human people would sink to such levels.
And that sister, since that greedy win has had the worst luck ever, but I won't get into it.

Disgusting behavior. Massive wins like that are meant to be shared. Half goes to everyone you know, making instant millionaires out of all your circle. The other half is yours to keep. Duh

[skyflower]

I thought about such scenario.

I would approach each of my friends and family, and ask for their help. whatever amount they give to me, return it tenfold.
Then the rest would be used to power up projects that tap into the creative mind.

[Lifebringer]

I think that the people that hit the lotto spend time around the family, knowing they've gotten a blessing and if they deem them trust worthy, will share. Sometimes friends are "associates, someone your seen for years, and still really don't know them, just know of them. Sometimes these friends have grimy or criminal friends, and therefore can't share. It's about safety or survival in this world as it is today, and staying aware of those who may one day prove to be unworthy because of past behaviors or, "loose lips under drink."(can't keep a secret, no matter what)
Did they change the phone number to protect themselves?
You betcha.

As for me if I were to be that blessed, I'd look within the family for those scrambling for the 1st college grad over generations or the 2nd in the family that just didn't have the same highest grade, to gain a skill to one day build upon a business that would 'service" to what other brethren in the world may need to survive. My prices would be fair and if the business was good, I'd hire from my own town to make it too prosper. Solar panel assembly, windmill components and wiring to make the job installing more efficient and prosperous in both the nation and world. I'd also attempt to bring together the family via GPS an emergency family shelter where we all could meet up for solutions if earthquakes, meteors, or tsunami flooding occurs. WE need a safe haven, and that is forefront on my mind, but I question myself on whether that shows lack of faith, or like Noah, getting the 411 on what's next that could make me have to use the survival skills I've obtained over the years? Gotta brush up after the car accident last year, but...whatever comes, you can only kill me once.:blackwidow:

[Buzzie]

I sense some envy here.

[T Smith]

Sorry, Jim is a s***.

I won't talk to my youngest sister after she pulled that stunt too. There is no excuse for not sharing your new-found wealth. Only ignorant, greedy, sub-human people would sink to such levels.
And that sister, since that greedy win has had the worst luck ever, but I won't get into it.

Disgusting behavior. Massive wins like that are meant to be shared. Half goes to everyone you know, making instant millionaires out of all your circle. The other half is yours to keep. Duh

Money is a mysterious thing indeed. And I'd argue, money is not well understood by most people, if understood at all. Aside from the utter control it casts over we plebs, via a system created and weaponized by a very small group of power brokers who may not even share biological ties to our species, it is primarily a means of control, power, and enslavement--not greed (this is a point largely misunderstood). But we might simplify its yolk for sake of this discussion as nothing more than a measure of human energy. So if you wrap your brain around what energy is, in the raw, it is nothing less than a measure of power. The energy of a battery will power a flashlight. The energy of a star will power an entire planet, etc. Energy is power.

Now:

Say your sister was struck by some paranormal ray of lightening and was somehow granted unlimited power, to move objects, cure diseases, control people's actions, thoughts, movements, emotions, etc. She even has the power to control their very opinions and ideas.

How would you suggest she employ this power? What exactly should she do with it? What if her ideas of what are "good" for humanity, or let's just say, what is good for her inner circle of family and friends conflicts with their own ideas and free will? Does she have the right to exercise that power over their lives anyway? (Remember, in our hypothetical she has omniscient powers). Or, let's say we agree Universal Law says she doesn't have the right to exercise the power over their own lives, would she be expected to upon request? Either by them or from others? And if so, when and where do the deliverance of her inner circle's expectations--and all those who would invariably cast a wide net of expectations--cross the line and begin to exert a type of "power and control" over her own free will? On the opposite end of this hypothetical your sister could become utterly enslaved to the needs and desires of others. In this particular thought experiment, at what point do these others need to take responsibility for their own existence on this planet and direct their own lives?

I'm not saying I know the answer to these questions, just something to consider. I typically advocate for free-will and human freedom, without chains, domestication, dependency, and social manipulation, so any discussions about the "power over others", in any iteration--and money plays a huge factor here--are very dicey for me.

I will say this: if I won the lottery, I would indeed "share" my winnings. Quite generously. But it would be completely anonymously, and it would be such where my circle had no idea of the role I played in their fortune. This would be very fun game to play. Any, yes, I would probably experience some guilt playing it, for no matter how you slice it, I would be exerting a form of power over their lives exclusive of their own choices and decisions as free human beings. As for me, they would not know I won the lottery, because my life would not change from their perspective. I would not be dishonest about money, nor hide it, but it just wouldn't produce a glaring ramification. Money can facilitate achieving the things I value, but it can't really buy it, nor produce a tangible remnant.

[raff]

Sorry, Jim is a s***.

I won't talk to my youngest sister after she pulled that stunt too. There is no excuse for not sharing your new-found wealth. Only ignorant, greedy, sub-human people would sink to such levels.
And that sister, since that greedy win has had the worst luck ever, but I won't get into it.

Disgusting behavior. Massive wins like that are meant to be shared. Half goes to everyone you know, making instant millionaires out of all your circle. The other half is yours to keep. Duh

Money is a mysterious thing indeed. And I'd argue, money is not well understood by most people, if understood at all. Aside from the utter control it casts over we plebs, via a system created and weaponized by a very small group of power brokers who may not even share biological ties to our species, it is primarily a means of control, power, and enslavement--not greed (this is a point largely misunderstood). But we might simplify its yolk for sake of this discussion as nothing more than a measure of human energy. So if you wrap your brain around what energy is, in the raw, it is nothing less than a measure of power. The energy of a battery will power a flashlight. The energy of a star will power an entire planet, etc. Energy is power.

Now:

Say your sister was struck by some paranormal ray of lightening and was somehow granted unlimited power, to move objects, cure diseases, control people's actions, thoughts, movements, emotions, etc. She even has the power to control their very opinions and ideas.

How would you suggest she employ this power? What exactly should she do with it? What if her ideas of what are "good" for humanity, or let's just say, what is good for her inner circle of family and friends conflicts with their own ideas and free will? Does she have the right to exercise that power over their lives anyway? (Remember, in our hypothetical she has omniscient powers). Or, let's say we agree Universal Law says she doesn't have the right to exercise the power over their own lives, would she be expected to upon request? Either by them or from others? And if so, when and where do the deliverance of her inner circle's expectations--and all those who would invariably cast a wide net of expectations--cross the line and begin to exert a type of "power and control" over her own free will? On the opposite end of this hypothetical your sister could become utterly enslaved to the needs and desires of others. In this particular thought experiment, at what point do these others need to take responsibility for their own existence on this planet and direct their own lives?

I'm not saying I know the answer to these questions, just something to consider. I typically advocate for free-will and human freedom, without chains, domestication, dependency, and social manipulation, so any discussions about the "power over others", in any iteration--and money plays a huge factor here--are very dicey for me.

I will say this: if I won the lottery, I would indeed "share" my winnings. Quite generously. But it would be completely anonymously, and it would be such where my circle had no idea of the role I played in their fortune. This would be very fun game to play. Any, yes, I would probably experience some guilt playing it, for no matter how you slice it, I would be exerting a form of power over their lives exclusive of their own choices and decisions as free human beings. As for me, they would not know I won the lottery, because my life would not change from their perspective. I would not be dishonest about money, nor hide it, but it just wouldn't produce a glaring ramification. Money can facilitate achieving the things I value, but it can't really buy it, nor produce a tangible remnant.


Sorry to be so profane but F#ck power over another how about taking the stress out of the lives of one's nearest and dearest and then close and deserving friends and causes who are gasping for support and love. It is funny that when one is in dire need the required help and support is infinitely welcomed than those who are relatively well off. And it is a worthless (has not learned the value) and poor (of little earthly experience) soul who selfishly hordes their gold.

[Sueanne47]

If I won multi millions it certainly wouldnt go to my rotten family, and 'friends' I've known that I grew to love was all over me one minute...couldnt care less the next.

What I would do is have a ((((MASSIVE)))) animal sanctuary in a nice place so all the dogs in China could be sent to me instead of being boiled and eaten in Yulin, and stripped for their fur. I would look after and love all the mistreated horses and heavily laiden donkeys, elephants and babies...free from poachers, also orangutans and monkeys, and I would take all the rabbits rats and mice from the labs, chickens pigs etc. so they can all have peace & love.

Imagine all the people...living life in peace ~ John Lennon :dog::llama::cat:

No spiders of any kind though!

Sue

[EFO]

-What would you do if millions just fell on your lap out of a clear blue sky?

-And how would it change you?

Due to some fortunate and unfortunate events (today I called those events synchronicity) of my young life,big piles of money has passed through my hands/pockets and I could easily ruin my life,but I learned amazingly fast that money is not a necessary or important thing in life.From where I learned at that time,I don't know...I simply withdraw from that "zone" and after 20 years from that times I can say today that I'm cured for ever of having money and I'm very glad of that.

[Frenchy]

''''
What I would do is have a ((((MASSIVE)))) animal sanctuary in a nice place so all the dogs in China could be sent to me instead of being boiled and eaten in Yulin, and stripped for their fur. I would look after and love all the mistreated horses and heavily laiden donkeys, elephants and babies.... so they can all have peace & love.

Sue
Lovely , kind sentiments, SueAnne;
Only problem,,,, you'd then be financing an industry :-(

difficult to know, except by hard, cold instinct, where and how to help......
[ side note - do you watch UKColumn.org NEWS ?; discloses that the very institutions which SHOULD help, NSPCC , Barnados, Police etc, etc, use their position, to further the Satanic Rituals and abuse...]

I ons day saw a young man, ( who lived near me ), run out of Petrol, some miles from the Petrol Station, I loaned the Petrol can , I ususally carried, saying he can replace it during the week.............

After three weeks, losing my cool, and [ luckily didn't get hold of him ! ], he finally replaced it .......

with 50 % Petrol..........and 50 % WATER......... So, be wary of where you share your kind heart or your kindness !

[ off-topic -re:- your 'Bible ' post, ......... '''''' and some fall on stony ground, and wither away.... ] :-))

[Sueanne47]

Hi Frenchy, :hug:

ohh yessss.... I've been hurt by people too many times to count, and most I've found are not genuine. Its so strange though that I saw a Simon Parkes video that mentioned Project Avalon and I thought mmm.. I'll go check it out, well I went and posted my 1st thread on the bible and whooooosh! all the lovely posts I got and the many private messages I got it was like a big Tsunami of love, I've never known anything like it Frenchy, :heart:

I tell you one thing though I've learned about people along the way....all those that hurt me I didnt have much in common with and I couldnt talk to them at length about anything in depth because they didnt care much about what's going on in the world around them, people have to care more to make everything better. Everyone on the forum DOES care!

I'll have a look at UKcolumn.orgnews..

Sue

[Heyoka_11]

No spiders of any kind though!


:spider::spider::spider::spider::spider::spider::spider::spider:

They're only doing their spidery thing after all :p

Toughen up princess!

[Sean]

Received some staggering news yesterday that knocked me for a loop. It was a 'wow, no way! Seriously?' sort of moment that I'm still trying to wrap my head around!

What follows is a little story, involving huuuge implications for the individual and those around him.

I work in a relatively tight-knit group/department, and there's a few of us who've been there for many years. One of them, I'll call him Jim, was a close colleague who recently announced his retirement. We all thought it a little strange, he was only mid to late fifties, and taking early retirement is a luxury that most at his age cannot afford. He wasn't leaving for a new job – it really was retirement, and he cited general tiredness and aching joints as another reason. He just couldn't do it anymore. Fair enough we all thought, good luck to you mate!

A little time went by, and we didn't hear anything more from Jim. Strange, as many of us socialize out of work or at least stay in contact. We'd often have a drink after work, and at the weekends play golf. Jim was one of my golf buddies during the summers, so I would definitely call him a friend, more so than simply a colleague. And there were others closer to him than me. But even they heard nothing more from Jim. And he didn't play golf anymore. It was as if Jim had fallen off the edge of the earth.

More time went by, and though Jim wasn't forgotten, it was simply accepted that Jim had moved on, was doing his own thing enjoying his retirement, and that was that. Until yesterday, when I heard some news.

I was with a work partner, Mike, a good friend with whom I've worked closely with in the job since 2004, (alongside Jim) and he was moaning and groaning about how he just couldn't take this s__t anymore. I agreed. I know his pain. The job wasn't the same, the managers were all , all these new rules, regs and restrictions were sucking the life (and joy – what little there was) from our work environment. He wanted to take early retirement, like Jim, but just couldn't afford it. 'Jim did a runner on all of us, he said. Lucky bastard…'

I replied, 'what are you talking about? '

Quietly, Mike replied, 'No one ever said anything about what happened to Jim...but I still see his daughter from time to time, so I know.' 'Know what?' I asked. 'I shouldn't really say anything, but **** it, who cares anymore.'

And then I found out (and later received confirmation from another source). 'Jim won the lottery, didn't he.'

OMG

He did. And not just the National Lottery as it turns out, he won the "Euromillions (https://www.national-lottery.co.uk/games/euromillions?icid=bsp:em:tx)" (European-wide lottery). It is believed he pocketed some [i]tens of millions of pounds. On a side-note, he is the second person from my department (only about 30 people) who have won the lottery! About 7 or 8 years ago another guy netted about 3 million I think – he also 'disappeared' without a trace, taking early retirement at aged 22.

I couldn't believe this. Jim, a multi-multi-millionaire. And he took off without a word (except a lie, actually).

There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that this stroke of fortune changed Jim, a really nice, affable down-to-earth guy, with whom I have shared many many laughs (and a few beers) – not to mention rounds of golf. After this, never heard from him again. I felt most sorry for Mike though, who's even a few years older than Jim. He wants desperately to retire, but can't afford it. All Jim had to do was write (from his great fortune) a very small cheque indeed, say a hundred grand, and he would make it so. Mike never directly heard from Jim again either. Jim basically packed up his life and disappeared (he's maybe swanning around in his mansion in St. Tropez right now – or who knows?)

I don't begrudge Jim at all. The more I think about it, the more frightening the idea of massive wealth is to me. Imagine it. Imagine the attraction of no limits, no boundaries, no restrictions at all. Imagine the...lure of all things self-indulgent, that you've never been able to afford before. But then consider the potential cost (of a different kind than financial). Someone has to lose out. Sometimes many lose out. What of your former friends for example, or even those in your closest circle? Because now YOU have ultimate power to determine who gets what, and how much, or nothing at all; you literally have the Power over so many people's lives, now and for the rest of their lives. What a responsibility, what a burden!

There is with wealth a really big moral impasse. How much power will temptation have over you? There is always going to be a natural materialistic desire to horde/save/invest/spend, but in contrast to this (at least with me) there would be the very strong tug of conscience, that says you must do something good, you must do something beneficial, not just for the people around you, but for humanity (I can envision an Avalon Project going BIG, for example, going mainstream).

In my opinion wealth, supreme multi-million pound/dollar wealth, can be as much a curse as it is a blessing. I think Jim may have lost more than he gained. I wonder where he is now. I wonder if he regrets what happened. Maybe he's still in a place of such great enjoyment he hasn't got there yet, or simply doesn't care. He's mega rich, right? How long though before conscience comes calling? As I still try to process this news, I ask the question:

-What would you do if millions just fell on your lap out of a clear blue sky?

-And how would it change you?

Or in a different analysis, what would you THINK, and how would you react, if a friend or relative won this amount of money? Because from here on, everything would change (including them, unfortunately).

The bolded bit there is why Jim was right to leave as he did.

You're already making judgments about what he should do. and, to be honest, you sound(understandably) envious as well.

Jim was right to lie, and to slip away. when people find out you're rich(or famous) they change. Not the person, so much... The people AROUND that person. Jim has NO RESPONSIBLITY AT ALL to anyone except those he was providing for anyway. He doesn't have to give Mike retirement money, or pay anyone's bills, or put anyone's kids through college etc etc etc except his own. If he decides to financially support certain people, or organizations, for whatever reason, they're his reasons, and nobody's business.

Or he could buy an island and ****k off, away from civilization. His choice.

I'll tell ya: If I ever win big at the lottery, the only people that will know it will be the lottery, the VERY SMALL list of friends/family I tell, and the IRS. I won't even do the photo op with the "big check" at a press conference. You might as well paint a target on your back, if you do.

Jim sounds like a very smart man.

Edit: "I don't begrudge Jim at all"..:ROFL: buuuuuuulllshiiiit, yes you do :)

[rgray222]

Sorry, Jim is a s***.

I won't talk to my youngest sister after she pulled that stunt too. There is no excuse for not sharing your new-found wealth. Only ignorant, greedy, sub-human people would sink to such levels.
And that sister, since that greedy win has had the worst luck ever, but I won't get into it.

Disgusting behavior. Massive wins like that are meant to be shared. Half goes to everyone you know, making instant millionaires out of all your circle. The other half is yours to keep. Duh

Why would you want to ruin the live of so many people close to you?

[Sueanne47]

Ooh that's rotten Tony!!! :shocked:

When I saw that lot I went uuuuuggghhhhhhh! :faint2:

[Mike Gorman]

I would have to take a long time, like an ENT to consider what I would do, I would help my immediate family as much as I could to begin with then i would take a year to travel and think, just take my time and make zero noise about it, after that year I would begin to act and put into motion the leverage the money represents, small actions can lead to large outcomes so it would take a lot of thought!

[Heyoka_11]

Ooh that's rotten Tony!!!

Naughty, silly Heyoka :sarcastic:

To answer Star Mariner's original question, I have a standing arrangement with them up there: If I were to come into a fortune, I would rid myself of debt, put enough aside to survive without benefits, and then fund worthy causes anonymously. Breaks my heart to see old folk unable to heat their houses in Winter, so, pay their bills: acts like that. Goodwill is contagious.

I know that I have already too many things, to the point of distraction. To take on any more would be to my detriment. Honestly, the older I get, the more I understand the wisdom in minimising one's responsibilities, not adding to them.

All fine words I know, but it would be seen as a test, and it would not be one that I could afford to fail.

A pity that I do not buy lottery tickets anymore!

[Mark (Star Mariner)]

I sense some envy here.

Not at all. When I wrote, "The more I think about it, the more frightening the idea of massive wealth is to me..." I really did mean that. After seeing the effects this sort of money can have on people, and people around them, I wouldn't want it to be me.



The bolded bit there is why Jim was right to leave as he did.

You're already making judgments about what he should do. and, to be honest, you sound(understandably) envious as well.

See above. It's not envy, definitely not envy.


Jim was right to lie, and to slip away. when people find out you're rich(or famous) they change. Not the person, so much... The people AROUND that person. Jim has NO RESPONSIBLITY AT ALL to anyone except those he was providing for anyway. He doesn't have to give Mike retirement money, or pay anyone's bills, or put anyone's kids through college etc etc etc except his own.

Jim certainly owes me nothing. That wasn't what this was about. I neither expected nor desired any kind of hand out. Whether he was 'right' to lie to everyone or not I don't know, but I definitely understand it. However, Mike and Jim were best friends. Well, at least Mike always thought of Jim as a best friend, but it would seem that Jim didn't feel the same. I see Mike trudging around work now and I really do feel sorry for him.


Edit: "I don't begrudge Jim at all"..:ROFL: buuuuuuulllshiiiit, yes you do :)

No mate, seriously I do not. Not one little bit.

[Justplain]

I have a friend from my old work who claims he'd give me a million bucks if he ever won a big lottery. I dont know why.

If i won a big lottery, first priority is the financial security of my family, such as debt retirement, funds for education, seed money for home acquisitions and an investment fund for sustainable financial independence. The investment fund would have to be several million bucks cuz at todays rate of return, say 5%, you'd only get 50k a year, not extravagant with today's costs.

Beyond that, i would help a few needy friends and relatives. Atleast 10% would go to charities. The remainder would go into an investment trust to fund worthy endeavours, from trust income. Such enterprises would be zero point energy, 3D printer tech, organic food tech, etc.

Endless ideas. Funny, though, if one looks at their own life one can see times when one is very fortunate and lucky. This could be landing a lucrative job, an inheritance, finding a bargain, etc. Most of us have won one or more mini-lottery type events. I am very thankful for mine, tho i not be a muti-millionaire.

[Sueanne47]

I would love to have a villa in the south of france :sun:

[Anchor]

The way I see it, Lottery wins and the like advanced-level lessons from the universe. They bring up so much challenge - like this one:


for no matter how you slice it, I would be exerting a form of power over their lives exclusive of their own choices and decisions as free human beings.

I play the lotto since a few weeks now - you gotta be in it to win it :)

I have a game plan in case I win big (Say $10m + ).

I've assumed that sooner or later people are going to find out and hiding it is silly. I expect to find that a big win will becomes part of who you are - it is inevitable. There will be life before, life during and life after - all rich with lessons.

Anyway the plan...

1) Hire a lawyer and redirect all my email to him for dealing with in my best interest. (Lawyer has no access to the money)
2) Get a really really good all-risks insurance policy, that way any one trying to sue me for any reason has to fight my insurance company
3) Hire someone who knows how to look after large sums of money - must think carefully about how they are incentivized to act for me.
4) Then, and only then, I'll start to decide what you want to do with it.

How to spend it?

Well in the words of l/l researches Don Elkins, "The world is an insane asylum, the best you can hope for is a private room" I think I would think about getting me that "private room". Got a few people on my help if allowed list, and I wouldnt be that much interested in working for "The Man" after a win like that.

Right now, the most materialistic thing I can think of is that I would buy an excavator not big, around 2ton (track hoe I think the americans call it), I always wanted one of those - lol - I *really* hate digging.

[KiwiElf]

First Rule if you win a "big one" Anchor: DON'T TELL ANYONE! :) And... good luck... hope you win! ;)

(One of the biggest single Lotto Wins here 3 years ago, the guy won $33 million - he's already blown the whole lot and worse off than before he'd won it) :(

[petra]

Sorry, Jim is a s***.

Disgusting behavior. Massive wins like that are meant to be shared. Half goes to everyone you know, making instant millionaires out of all your circle. The other half is yours to keep. Duh

Yes, disgusting! High five, Ernie Nemeth. That "Duh" made me laugh way too much :)

[petra]

-What would you do if millions just fell on your lap out of a clear blue sky?

-And how would it change you?

Or in a different analysis, what would you THINK, and how would you react, if a friend or relative won this amount of money? Because from here on, everything would change (including them, unfortunately).

Hi Star Mariner, thanks for the thought provoking post! This kind of thing does seem to be getting more common, I just didn't notice before. There's one story in particular I recall, a man left his wife and young child, and the wife came home to find the bank withdrawl receipt sitting on the table there waiting for. Well, if course she wanted to kill him. I'd probably be "seeing red" too!

I decided I don't want to win the lotto, so I just don't play anymore. I guess it'd be nice, but every time I buy a ticket I just feel like an idiot. "You can't win, if you don't play", they say (I tell those thoughts to shut up)

There's an ex of mine who I'm still friends with and he plays, and often jokes if he wins he'll buy me a new car. I'd like him to win so I can see if that's true or not

Another friend of mine wants to win - he said the first thing he'd do is go home and make a list of people to say "go F yourself to" (I cleaned up the language a bit) :)

[petra]

I have a friend from my old work who claims he'd give me a million bucks if he ever won a big lottery. I dont know why.

I am very thankful for mine, tho i not be a muti-millionaire.

I laughed at "i don't know why" haha I have the same puzzle :)

Thankful not to be famous too? I imagine being famous must be a real drag.

[Heartsong]

The money your friend won is his. Not yours. He's not obligated in any way to give it to anyone. You would not give away your salary. You would not give away your car or your new sweater.
He probably left without saying anything because of the possibility of the entitlement that would be felt by those around him.

Who would want to share with bitter, greedy folk who you used to consider your friends?

[lightpotential]

The money your friend won is his. Not yours. He's not obligated in any way to give it to anyone. You would not give away your salary. You would not give away your car or your new sweater.
He probably left without saying anything because of the possibility of the entitlement that would be felt by those around him.

Who would want to share with bitter, greedy folk who you used to consider your friends?

Dead on. My thoughts exactly.

[Mark (Star Mariner)]

The money your friend won is his. Not yours. He's not obligated in any way to give it to anyone. You would not give away your salary. You would not give away your car or your new sweater.

Quite true, and whether a large windfall or a weekly wage, he's not obligated to give a penny -that is his- away. But don't misunderstand, there's no judgement here by me, and certainly no ill-feeling. I couldn't give a damn about being a millionaire myself - if I did, I would do the lottery every week! which i do not. I don't want it.

However, with that said - and the point behind the original post was - and...I'll put it this way, in different terms to get the gist across:

Let's downscale the amounts here, though the concept remains the same. Ask yourself: if you had £100, or $100, and you had the opportunity to give away just 10 cents of it, or even 5c of it, to someone else to completely and forever change that someone's life (NOT me, but the poor downtrodden and almost totally broke friend of Jim's I mentioned) would you not do so?


Who would want to share with bitter, greedy folk who you used to consider your friends?

No one's being bitter and greedy. That's not fair. This is a thought experiment. I'm merely asking a question to your consciousness, to your conscience. Just to see what it may answer. Because when I heard this news about Jim, I asked myself these very questions, and thought it would be interesting to pose the same to others.

[sdv]

Win a lot of money and people around you do change. I would keep quiet about it, but if I won a huge amount I would not keep it all. What would I do with it all? After I have bought some land somewhere in the wilderness, built a simple easy-to-maintain, as off the grid as possible house and got myself a basic rugged vehicle to handle the dirt roads, I would invest enough to cover monthly expenses (no luxuries required, but then everyone has a different definition of a luxury ... for me it is chocolate, coffee and connection to the Internet!) and give the rest to my family (they are very materialistic and need lots of luxuries and to spend lots of money to be happy - it would please me to give them something that would give them happiness). I have thought about setting up a Trust Fund that gives each member of my family a monthly income (so they can't spend it all wildly and then end up back where they started) or just hand over the millions and let it be their free choice as to how they handle it (and then leave no forwarding address ... only kidding)!

I don't think anyone has a moral obligation to share a windfall with anyone, no matter how much it is. I certainly would not give to friends, but if I did have a close friend who was in desperate need, I probably would help but then know that the friendship is not going to survive (if I share the windfall with the friend or not, so might as well help out and then leave no forwarding address!).

I had a neighbour who was in the music business as a producer and then owned a couple of restaurants. He had huge amounts of money and lots of 'friends'. He would charter a plane and fly a group of people to Paris for the night for dinner (he lived in England at the time) - that is the kind of lifestyle he lived. He fell on hard times and not only did the 'friends' all disappear but he did not understand why he used to be the most popular guy in the room (everyone loved me!) and now no one liked him. I explained to him that he was obnoxious and people will put up with an obnoxious guy with lots of money if he is paying for the food, drink, entertainment, trip to Paris, holiday on an island, and so on, but no one will put up with an obnoxious poor guy!