Bill S
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This moved me. That's all I'll say.
What is privilege? No politics
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petes'picks
Super Member
I find myself always pulling for the underdog and those less fortunate. But its not so much where you start, its your attitude and dedication once the race of life begins. Life isnt a sprint, its a marathon that lasts an avg of 77 years..
My moms family grew up poor sharecroppers and the 2 boys dropped out of school by the 4th grade to work on the farm and all the girls helped on the farm and picked cotton. All were hard workers and never complained, heck I didnt even know my Uncle took a large slash from a bayonet during the Korean war until my sister mentioned it when he was 75 years old. The other brother was a victim of boiler explosion on a dredge he worked on, he was one of the happiest and most loving people I ever met, even during the 20 years he lived after almost being steamed alive.
My mom knew the value of a dollar and never once spent money on things we couldnt afford nor did her siblings. This instilled in me from a young age that its not how much we spend but how much we save that will make a difference for our families lives. My first home purchase was a small 850 square foot condo, I ate at home everynight and didnt have cable. I wanted to pay it off as quickly as possible and use the equity for a real home with a yard. Saving by driving old car, wearing old clothes and being frugal helped me pay off that condo in 10 years.
While my grand parents never made it out of poverty, all of their kids were able to finish their lives in the middle class. Its possible someone could have seen one of my Uncles in their 70s and thought to themselves that they were 'privileged' without knowing they were steamed alive and slashed by a bayonet, or that they went to work at age 10, or that they had to work 50 or 60 hour weeks for 40 years once leaving the farm and used an outhouse as kids.
I force myself to resist frivolous spending, its no so much that I cant afford a $1000 amp or what not, its just that with the cost of living the majority of us are only a few months of missed checks from being in financial ruins. Maybe the lesson needed is what to do with the $100 once you get it.
My moms family grew up poor sharecroppers and the 2 boys dropped out of school by the 4th grade to work on the farm and all the girls helped on the farm and picked cotton. All were hard workers and never complained, heck I didnt even know my Uncle took a large slash from a bayonet during the Korean war until my sister mentioned it when he was 75 years old. The other brother was a victim of boiler explosion on a dredge he worked on, he was one of the happiest and most loving people I ever met, even during the 20 years he lived after almost being steamed alive.
My mom knew the value of a dollar and never once spent money on things we couldnt afford nor did her siblings. This instilled in me from a young age that its not how much we spend but how much we save that will make a difference for our families lives. My first home purchase was a small 850 square foot condo, I ate at home everynight and didnt have cable. I wanted to pay it off as quickly as possible and use the equity for a real home with a yard. Saving by driving old car, wearing old clothes and being frugal helped me pay off that condo in 10 years.
While my grand parents never made it out of poverty, all of their kids were able to finish their lives in the middle class. Its possible someone could have seen one of my Uncles in their 70s and thought to themselves that they were 'privileged' without knowing they were steamed alive and slashed by a bayonet, or that they went to work at age 10, or that they had to work 50 or 60 hour weeks for 40 years once leaving the farm and used an outhouse as kids.
I force myself to resist frivolous spending, its no so much that I cant afford a $1000 amp or what not, its just that with the cost of living the majority of us are only a few months of missed checks from being in financial ruins. Maybe the lesson needed is what to do with the $100 once you get it.
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I agree , my parents migrated from the poverty of West Virginia my dad with a 6 th grade education ! He worked 2-3 jobs at a time until he started a small business his sacrifice put us in solid middle class and gave us a good life ! My mom didn’t have a high school degree but later in life ended up managing an office because she lied and said she did and no one doubted her for a moment because she was smart and well read and worked really hard and the office ran very well under her ! My dad always sent money home to his mom and dad and siblings and still does to his sister ! Their frugal and wise ways and good work ethic was passed down to me and my siblings , and while I’m not well to do I’m comfortably middle class and secure and did this with 5 kids and a stay at home wife who was and is a very devoted wife and mother !
Correction 4 kids and my grandson who we are raising !
YY1
Addicted Member
I'm the first generation of my family that's not in borderline abject poverty.
My wife had it worse.
I clearly remember eating either tuna from a can, peanut butter or cheese on white bread, or a cold hot dog, sometimes with no bun.
One or the other for all three meals.
It always irks me to hear about a "self made" rich person that "started with only a 10,000 loan from their uncle", or by "working for their father managing real estate".
Ahem, that's NOT "self made".
My wife had it worse.
I clearly remember eating either tuna from a can, peanut butter or cheese on white bread, or a cold hot dog, sometimes with no bun.
One or the other for all three meals.
It always irks me to hear about a "self made" rich person that "started with only a 10,000 loan from their uncle", or by "working for their father managing real estate".
Ahem, that's NOT "self made".
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My privilege came from smart hard working parents from a humble background ! And I’ve tried to pass that privilege to my kids ! My mom had big a big garden and we ate out of that a lot ! We would get to drink pop around the holidays ! Other than that it was milk and water and when the cow went dry we drank goats milk for a while ! Oh well while we missed the cows milk the beef was good. !
DeadRock
Ideas Guy
Privilege:...thinking all of your historical "knowledge" is beyond reproach and that you and yours managed to rise above the uglier aspects and frays of life and human experience more broadly, through will, fortitude, and providence...having no reason to be concerned about, or obligation for, the wellbeing of others, except as you might wish to gain value from receiving the attention of others to salve the deeper insecurities of that position (insofar as you may or may not understand it).
We're all privileged to be alive. None of us had to be here and none of us are promised our next breath.
Memories are not about what you have/had. They're about what you did and with whom. My trip to NJ on Thanksgiving weekend with my hiking buddy was one of my best experiences in recent years. It brought back memories from years ago and sent us down a fun rabbit hole of late.
Memories are not about what you have/had. They're about what you did and with whom. My trip to NJ on Thanksgiving weekend with my hiking buddy was one of my best experiences in recent years. It brought back memories from years ago and sent us down a fun rabbit hole of late.
ducati_EL34
Addicted Member
My parents grew up before and during the depression. They often said, they did not feel the effects of the depression, because they were already poor before it started.
I don’t base my purchasing decisions on other people’s financial situation. I learned from my parents, not to live on debt. My parents did not live paycheck to paycheck, and neither do we. I have bought used and new motorcycles and cars. Some had a loan that was paid off, and some were paid for with cash.
That group in the vid seems a bit cherry picked to me. If you went to a park in the city where I live, you would get vastly different group. Most white jids down here, go to public school and do not have a free tutor.
Also he is incorrect in one statement he made. He said that it was nothing they did. Even affluent white students have to study and apply themselves.
I think the lesson to be learned for everyone in that video is, make the most of whatever situation you find yourself in. Some will have to work harder than others. That is not new.
ducati_EL34
Addicted Member
Well now the privileged are not so special a group. Because you just called the entire middle class of people, privileged.
I feel better about myself, just reading that. Thank you!
DeadRock
Ideas Guy
Increasingly...the "work" is simply not there...and where it is, the historical outcomes of "work" are quickly being forgotten, as merely subsisting replaces vibrant and participatory middle classes...
Well now the privileged are not so special a group. Because you just called the entire middle class of people, privileged.
I feel better about myself, just reading that. Thank you!
Maybe I described "lucky" better than "privileged".
Quadman2
Lunatic Member
Was a powerful video that visually demonstrates how "privilege" is acquired.
There is one line in Robert DeNiro's TV series ("Zero Day" 2025) that stood out in my mind wherein he shares the concept of "privilege", and I played it three times in order to let it "sink in". It's in Season 2.
In most cases, "privilege" is a case of being born into, but sometimes it's gained by force.
"Privilege" gives certain "rights" that others do not have, and I believe that education and the lack of it makes the difference.
If De Niro's TV production does not win an Emmy this year...I will be most surprized, and saddened.
FWIW
Q
There is one line in Robert DeNiro's TV series ("Zero Day" 2025) that stood out in my mind wherein he shares the concept of "privilege", and I played it three times in order to let it "sink in". It's in Season 2.
In most cases, "privilege" is a case of being born into, but sometimes it's gained by force.
"Privilege" gives certain "rights" that others do not have, and I believe that education and the lack of it makes the difference.
If De Niro's TV production does not win an Emmy this year...I will be most surprized, and saddened.
FWIW
Q
DeadRock
Ideas Guy
He misread the audience. He came on as "Jake LaMotta" at a time when most reasonable people wanted "Victor Tellegio".
ducati_EL34
Addicted Member
By “work harder” I meant work harder in school to prepare you for college and a good paying career.
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