Steemtopia - Money, Greed and Warcraft

sykochica (70)in #money • 8 years ago (edited)

Money, Greed and Warcraft

World of Warcraft

I view the game of capitalism that I live in similar to an MMORPG like World of Warcraft. There isn't really an end, no ultimate way to fully win, and just when some might be getting close...BAM, new expansion is released. You're no longer the max level, your top notch gear is no longer top notch.

As in World of Warcraft there is no way to actually win and in this games case, it is purposely made that way. First you are grabbed by the leveling mentality of 'just one more dungeon to level up,' 'I've almost increased my jewelcrafting skill level,' and the list goes on. We get hooked by accessible low hanging fruit. Then you hit max level only to find a whole new set of low hanging fruit. If all the goals were far off in the distance, we wouldn't have the same drive to 'just finish this one last thing.' Imagine if there was a hard ending to the game after say 50 hours of gameplay, Blizzard would have to create, market and hopefully sell a whole new game title to keep the revenue rolling. Like governments and economic systems, the goal is to prevent revolutions and major crashes, and perpetuate itself indefinitely.

Money

My point out of all of this is that in the game of capitalism, there is no hard ending or absolute way to win. Yes, there are huge benefits when a person is able to first meet basic needs to function (food, water, shelter, transportation, internet, etc..) in society. Procuring needs is survival, not GREED. Ideally this not only reduces stress but also allows a person to potentially have the opportunity to focus more on what they WANT instead of just NEED. Finding what you want and who you are CAN be instrumental to some form of personal freedom and enlightenment. Unfortunately this can turn into never ending escapism, which is akin living life to not die versus living life to live.

This then extends into asking 'what changes when a persons wants are obtained,' such that they not only live, but be in comfort or prosperity. Once someone has their needs and wants covered and still have money to spare, is when the 'making money from my money' phase commonly kicks in, whether generating interest in an account or investing in stock or equity. These aren't things the person wants or needs, it is purely making more money.

Greed

Like Warcraft, as we level up we tend to spend our time in higher level areas and dungeons, looking for higher level gear, almost scoffing at the time we had a level 1 broadsword that did no damage compared to what you've acquired. It only makes sense that when at a higher level we want appropriate gear for our rank, which only makes sense, right?

Of course it does, but ONLY in the sense of a game, and that's the issue. World of Warcraft and capitalism are games without an end point, just constant building and acquisition. When you think you're almost there, the metaphorical level cap increases, endlessly giving you more to do.

The primary issue is that, while GREED is a perpetual game, LIFE is not and it absolutely has an end. Simply having more and more money, stuff and security, while gratifying for a short window, doesn't ensure internal happiness. It's easy to envy people we interact with on a daily basis that have wealth and fancy things, when we never know they are crying behind the locked bathroom door when alone.

Now let me say that I'm not against people making money by ethical money (to exclude theft, fraud, etc.) There are those that generate wealth beyond prosperity for the goal of creativity, inventing, or helping others, which I do not consider greed. But there is a common trap, where prosperous people compare themselves to equally or more prosperous people, leading beyond the goal of prosperity and into envy and extravagance.

Does it really matter if that ring is a natural diamond versus an artificial one when they both have the same physical characteristics and look? For some it does. This is the beginning of GREED, when a person isn't content with what they have, even while prosperous, and want more and more for the sole sake of short term endorphin rushes, escapism or vying for some meaningless pecking order of whose got the most stuff.

Money plays a roll to meet our needs and reasonable wants, beyond that it just access to options. Without some idea of what path to take or the drive to travel it, money becomes meaningless. The act of never ending acquisition, just to have more is greed and doesn't really help anyone for long.

THIS IS WHY I LOVE STEEMIT!
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