Comment by gydfi | Hacker News Reader

Comment by gydfi | Hacker News Reader

> Material things do not make people happy, at all.

Everybody says this, all the time. I would like to propose the controversial theory that actually material things do make people happy, at least within certain constraints.

When I was younger I had shitty cheap material things which made me unhappy. Now I have better stuff which makes me happier.

I used to have a shitty unairconditioned apartment. That made me unhappy. Now I have an apartment whose temperature isn't a problem.

I used to have cheap furniture, which was uncomfortable, and that made me unhappy. Now I have better furniture which is comfortable, I am happier.

I used to have a cheap unreliable car, which broke down and made me unhappy. Now I have a reliable, comfortable car I have no reason to be unhappy.

If you're a baseline-unhappy person (as I suspect the author is) then material goods are unlikely to improve your unhappiness. But I'm a baseline fairly happy person, I don't get unhappy unless there's a specific reason, like discomfort or inconvenience. Sensible acquisition of material goods can remove discomfort and inconvenience, thus making you happy.

People that know me can vouch for the fact that as long as I am happy with where I live, I don't give a crap about things (I wear the cheapest sweatsuits I can find 90% of the time, I have no jewellery, watches, fancy cars, etc.) even though in my country I'm on the top 5-10% of earners. I bought an ok Mazda but could have bought a Porsche or Lexus with no problem. I got a 200 euro sweatsuit as a present, and while I appreciate the present, I get as much out of that as the 20 euro's ones I buy.

Having said that, my girlfriend is the opposite. She really likes material things. I see it in her eyes when she can put a nice pair of jeans (400+ USD) or her 2500 USD earrings that she truly smiles. She isn't a gold digger and doesn't want me to buy her expensive things (she has some money) but she loves and lives by branded clothes and items (I'm talking 330 USD tshirts, 5000 dollars bags) and the fact she can wear that makes her happy. I don't understand, but I come to accept that there are people that indeed are happy with material things!

Most of your examples above point to money == comfort, which I would agree with. I would argue, though, that the line from comfort to happiness is not as direct as most people assume

Evidently the line between comfort and happiness is $75,000/yr in the US -- below that and it's a struggle, beyond that and it's a burden:

http://wws.princeton.edu/news-and-events/news/item/75000-sti...

I think OP's line is hyperbole, and that you're both getting at the same thing in the end. Once you do remove your sources of baseline discomfort, material upgrades above that level don't move the needle much anymore.

I'm not convinced the baseline is that low, I think most middle class people still have discomfort or inconvenience which could be removed.

For instance I now sit in a comfy chair at home, but when I fly somewhere I'm stuck being uncomfortable in economy.

And then there's the big one: I have to go to work, every day, whether I feel like it or not. Inconvenient!

You can be made unhappy by a lack of necessary things, but you reach a point, pretty early on, where additional money doesn't budge the happiness meter.

the point you're making is exactly the reason for the cliche of 'money wont buy you happiness". it is the thought that buying these things (that give us momentary happiness) will equate to long term happiness. in 20,30,40 years, how airconditioned your apartment was (or wasn't) will have little bearing on your overall level of happiness at that point.

also, your last few sentences contradict what you wrote earlier. you said you don't get unhappy unless theres a specific reason, right after you gave 3 examples of you being unhappy without a real reason.

Not having air conditioning and sweating when there's 40 degrees Celsius is pretty unhappy moment. Not sure how he contradicted himself there. I can totally see where he is coming from. Having comfortable car, comfortable place to live can certainly give you long term happiness. I am sure in 20,30,40 years down the road if I won't have comfortable car and comfortable place to live I will be unhappy.

On that whole note. What is happiness? It's what we ourselves decide it to be. For me happiness is when I am content with myself.

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