2012 Off topic thread(basketball,movies,etc whatever)

[MMA_scientist]

I don't deny that it would be POSSIBLE for me to make more money, but it's not really possible and still keep up with school and the other things I want to do.

So these things are basically not negotiable as far as whether I do them or not:

1. Going to school. 17 credits/5 classes this semester.
2. Going to the gym.
3. Getting back into an MA class.

School basically makes it to where I need a really flexible means of making money. JustAnswer and writing good for that. I can basically structure my work around these other things that are at fixed times and days.

Going to school full time is definitely going to make it hard. But then, I don't think college is a very good deal. And truth be told, you could work a full time job and go to college, it is not that big of a deal. Also, you could take less than a full load, but you are actively choosing to go FT and not work... it is an artificial barrier that you are throwing up as a complete road block. You are like 30, why the sudden rush? What is another year?

I am not saying these are the things you should do, and I am not judging your choices at all. I am just pointing out... people make a lot of excuses for why they can't do certain things. If it is that you simply don't want to, great. I embrace that. Do the things that you think are important. What I don't like is when people complain about something that they want not being possible, while actively preventing it from happening. To your credit, I don't think you have ever complained about your lot or said that it was someone else's fault.

As I have gotten older, I really can't bear to hear people of sound mind and body whining about things. I am going to be one crotchety old bastard some day.

Working out and going to the gym... there is always plenty of time for these things.

[SPX]

Going to school full time is definitely going to make it hard. But then, I don't think college is a very good deal. And truth be told, you could work a full time job and go to college, it is not that big of a deal. Also, you could take less than a full load, but you are actively choosing to go FT and not work... it is an artificial barrier that you are throwing up as a complete road block. You are like 30, why the sudden rush? What is another year?

You have to remember that I'm double-majoring. So even going full time it's probably going to take at least three more years to finish, maybe more. I can't afford to take less than 5 classes.

As for college not being a very good deal, I'm basically going for the knowledge, not the degree. I've tried to teach myself the art of filmmaking. It's not easy, especially when you can't find people to work with. The university will put me in a position to not only get proper training but also make contacts with other like-minded people. Considering my lack of success in the past, I think it's my best bet and a much better deal than paying $9k for a six week course in New York.

I am not saying these are the things you should do, and I am not judging your choices at all. I am just pointing out... people make a lot of excuses for why they can't do certain things. If it is that you simply don't want to, great. I embrace that. Do the things that you think are important. What I don't like is when people complain about something that they want not being possible, while actively preventing it from happening. To your credit, I don't think you have ever complained about your lot or said that it was someone else's fault.

Like we've talked about before, I have a serious problem with working my life away. I just don't think that's the way humans are supposed to live and so I naturally reject the idea that the solution is to WORK MORE. Personally, I think anything more than 30 hours a week is a tragedy. I'd like to get it more like 20 hours.

People need to take back control of their time and their lives. We give way too much of it away. It's a slave system.

[MMA_scientist]

You have to remember that I'm double-majoring. So even going full time it's probably going to take at least three more years to finish, maybe more. I can't afford to take less than 5 classes.

As for college not being a very good deal, I'm basically going for the knowledge, not the degree.

Well, I am guessing that the hope is that this will enable you to work in this field for money. I don't think you are setting aside 3 years and probably $30k for an interesting hobby. My point is that the time and money you invest will probably not be justified, in the pure financial sense.

Like we've talked about before, I have a serious problem with working my life away. I just don't think that's the way humans are supposed to live and so I naturally reject the idea that the solution is to WORK MORE. Personally, I think anything more than 30 hours a week is a tragedy. I'd like to get it more like 20 hours.

People need to take back control of their time and their lives. We give way too much of it away. It's a slave system.

On this we agree. I just think that the path to conquering the system is work it successfully and then quit it early. Basically taking what it has to offer (money) and not partaking in the things that detract (consumption).

You seem to think that you will somehow be able to be successful while only working 20 hours per week. Some people are, but I do not think that is very likely, unless you quantify success differently than everyone else. I am all for working 20 hours, but then just don't complain when you don't have the same assets or independence as others later on. I would rather work 50 hours for 20 years than 20 hours for 40 years.

[SPX]

Well, I am guessing that the hope is that this will enable you to work in this field for money. I don't think you are setting aside 3 years and probably $30k for an interesting hobby. My point is that the time and money you invest will probably not be justified, in the pure financial sense.

Well it's not really my intention to go work in Hollywood but rather to gain the skills to work on my own small, independently financed projects. Of course I hope it's not the case, but I actually am fully aware that I may never make the money back that I put into going to school. It's kind of hard to foresee at this point. If it ends up just being a break-even hobby then I will accept that reality.

You seem to think that you will somehow be able to be successful while only working 20 hours per week. Some people are, but I do not think that is very likely, unless you quantify success differently than everyone else. I am all for working 20 hours, but then just don't complain when you don't have the same assets or independence as others later on. I would rather work 50 hours for 20 years than 20 hours for 40 years.

We look at it differently. I think you have an old fashioned way of looking at work, or perhaps I should see a "traditional" way of looking at it.

I think that if I'm going to make my fortune it's going to be one of two ways: either I will hit it big in one area or I will take a little from a lot of areas.

Hitting it big in one area would include things like writing a book that goes on to become a bestseller, making a movie that generates a large return, or coming up with some web-based idea that takes off.

If that doesn't happen, then I'm sure I'll end up doing a lot of things that are mildly successful and have a lot of small pieces that make a large pie. This is already in its embryonic stages, with making some money from JA and some from writing. But the pie's just not very big right now and I hate doing JA, so it's not the ideal situation.

The thing is that I want to make money but I want to do it on my terms. I want to construct a life where I am doing things that I really want to do and there just happens to be a satisfying side effect of money.

[SPX]

"Co-worker with Two Computer Screens Not Fucking Around"

http://www.theonion.com/articles/coworker-with-two-computer-screens-not-fucking-aro,29151/

[MMA_scientist]

Well it's not really my intention to go work in Hollywood but rather to gain the skills to work on my own small, independently financed projects. Of course I hope it's not the case, but I actually am fully aware that I may never make the money back that I put into going to school. It's kind of hard to foresee at this point. If it ends up just being a break-even hobby then I will accept that reality.

We look at it differently. I think you have an old fashioned way of looking at work, or perhaps I should see a "traditional" way of looking at it.

I think that if I'm going to make my fortune it's going to be one of two ways: either I will hit it big in one area or I will take a little from a lot of areas.

Hitting it big in one area would include things like writing a book that goes on to become a bestseller, making a movie that generates a large return, or coming up with some web-based idea that takes off.

If that doesn't happen, then I'm sure I'll end up doing a lot of things that are mildly successful and have a lot of small pieces that make a large pie. This is already in its embryonic stages, with making some money from JA and some from writing. But the pie's just not very big right now and I hate doing JA, so it's not the ideal situation.

The thing is that I want to make money but I want to do it on my terms. I want to construct a life where I am doing things that I really want to do and there just happens to be a satisfying side effect of money.

I don't think I have a traditional view of money... I think I am pretty fringe. But I am a realist in almost all things. I see your hopes as being pretty much just pie in the sky wishing. We all want to do the thing we love and be successful at it while not working hard. But the reality is that almost no one gets to live that fantasy...

So I think it is better to go about it the opposite way. Gain financial independence, then do what you want. You want to try to do what you want in order to gain FI.

[MMA_scientist]

"Co-worker with Two Computer Screens Not Fucking Around"

http://www.theonion.com/articles/cow...ing-aro,29151/

Pretty funny, I always forget about the Onion, then I will start reading and be on there for like an hour. I think I have mentioned that I rock the 2 screen setup at work

[SPX]

I don't think I have a traditional view of money... I think I am pretty fringe.

Not in the sense that you still think the path to success is going and getting a job (or two or three!) and just working your ass off to build someone else's business.

I see your hopes as being pretty much just pie in the sky wishing. We all want to do the thing we love and be successful at it while not working hard. But the reality is that almost no one gets to live that fantasy...

If I had that view then I'd still be punching a time clock at Unisys and probably not even getting to go to school. So remember, I am already on the way and, depending on how you look at it, am already wildly successful.

I think fortune really does favor the bold.

[MMA_scientist]

Well, no point in arguing. It is an individual choice... only time will tell how your formula will play out. But FWIW, I have never advocated working for someone else. I have always said to quit your job and do your own thing. If you recall, I encouraged you to quit working at your job. Where we diverge is that I think that success at any endeavor requires doing a whole bunch of things you don't want to do, and doing them a lot. That is, if you define success with money, which I don't particularly. But I do think that independence is a massive part of it.

[poopoo333]

Ok, experiment time:

Once my "casino" job is back (sometime this week/next week) and I am making a steady chunk of money, I am going to try and save 100% of my salary pay from both the restaurant and casino. The only money I will spend is my tip money from both jobs. I will also put away the credit card so I can't cheat. I want to see how thrifty I can be until I leave on vacation on November 15th and see how much extra money I save. I will start next week when casino opens up..so after this weeks pay from the restaurant.

[poopoo333]

The thing is that I want to make money but I want to do it on my terms. I want to construct a life where I am doing things that I really want to do and there just happens to be a satisfying side effect of money.

Yeah, I think this is probably something everybody wants to do, but it takes a lot of hard work, dedication, and even luck to get to that point...especially if you are going to be making decent or above average money.

[poopoo333]

But FWIW, I have never advocated working for someone else.

I understand what you are saying with this, but some people really have no choice given what field of work they want to be in. If you want to be a firefighter and don't want to "work for the man", what are you going to do? Build your own firehouse, set up a 1-800 number, and put flyers around town and say "hey guys, don't call the city fire department, call me!"?

[poopoo333]

^^edman'd

[MMA_scientist]

I understand what you are saying with this, but some people really have no choice given what field of work they want to be in. If you want to be a firefighter and don't want to "work for the man", what are you going to do? Build your own firehouse, set up a 1-800 number, and put flyers around town and say "hey guys, don't call the city fire department, call me!"?

Yes, you are right. I don't think there is anything wrong with working for someone else... if that is what you want to do. That is really meant for people like me who have no passion for working any particular job. My passion is beating the game. The thing is, to be successful at your own thing, you have to have means and also skills. For me, I think I am happiest like I am now, working for someone else and getting a steadt stream of income, and also building my own thing.


But honestly, IMO, working for someone else and saving is the quickest way to achieve financial independence. Steady stream of income, save most of it. Repeat for several years, quit working and maintain the same lifestyle.

[Mr. IWS]

"Co-worker with Two Computer Screens Not Fucking Around"

http://www.theonion.com/articles/cow...ing-aro,29151/

I think I have mentioned that I rock the 2 screen setup at work

Me too. I love it so much, I have double 21"s at home. I cant get on the internet without double monitors now.