"Does this make us richer than he was?"
It depends on the standard by which "rich" is determined.
I heard a while back that there is more computing power in one of those musical greeting cards than existed in the entire world in 1950 (I think that was the quote...in any case it was something like that).
If computing power is the standard of being "rich" then anyone with a musical greeting card today is "richer" than anyone who was alive in 1950 or before. I wouldn't say so, but someone might.
Wealth, intelligence, education, cultural experience, the respect of one's peers, the love of one's family, the number of palindromes one collects, each can be a measure of what one has, or who one is, and as such can be considered by one to be a measure of whether or not one is "rich."
I have five computers (not counting handhelds and calculators and cellular phones or my kitchen appliances with chips in them). Two of them I use on a regular basis (the other 3 are outdated and in storage).
Computers are tools. A means to an end. Being "rich" is an end. I think many today confuse the utility of the means with the value of the end.
In my area Honda is airing commercials in which two college age roommates drive out to the end of the driveway to pick up the mail. They are very excited to learn one of the envelopes was delivered to them incorrectly so they get to drive back out to the end of the drive way to return the envelope to the mailbox. I guess it is supposed to be humorous. I did not laugh. Not because I don't get the joke, but because I think it is not a joke to most of the people viewing the commercial -- it is how they live, it reflects their values, they are not laughing, but saying, 'yes, that's me.'
Richness is more valuable than being rich.
Speaking of which, according to the Publisher's Clearing House letter that came yesterday, "Contest Status: Guaranteed cash winner with return of enclosed documents." Gosh, maybe I can have my richness and be rich too! -g-
PCM |
