Thread: The Rich are Evil.

Are rich people more unethical? - CNN.com

Then again, there may be a simpler explanation: greed. The researchers found that unethical behavior was closely related to positive feelings about greed. Although the connection appeared to be strongest among high-status individuals, even lower-status individuals were more prone to ethical lapses if they felt that greed was good.

And this is for Al.

Piff and his colleagues acknowledge the limitations of the study. At the same time, Piff says, the fact that seven different experiments all produced similar results helps "eliminate alternative explanations." And, as the study notes, the pattern held after the researchers took into account factors such as age, sex, ethnicity, and religious and political affiliations, all of which are associated with ethics and values.

See that Rolex says you don't mind molesting children.....
/sarcasm.

Yes, I always see all the Harvard grads selling crack and performing drive bys... I think stealing millions/billions is WAY more newsworthy than someone stealing a 40 oz.

How was I tied into this already? Jeez....I'm not rich or unethical.....ffs

Crazy idea, but maybe there are evil greedy people in both the upper middle and lower classes. Not everyone who is rich is there because of greed. A lot of people become wealthy through ambition and a love for their job.

In relation to the article, the portion about people who drive nice cars driving like assholes. I think that says more about the type of person that would buy a flashy car to show off than any relation to how a certain income level might behave. I know plenty of fairly wealthy people who generally drive much older, humbler cars because that is simply not important to them.

Also, when did $100,000-$150,000 income become a "rich" level? The study was done in California near Silicon Valley where you would be lucky to be able to find a much older, run down home that you could afford on such an income.

Originally Posted by QuickLightning

Crazy idea, but maybe there are evil greedy people in both the upper middle and lower classes. Not everyone who is rich is there because of greed. A lot of people become wealthy through ambition and a love for their job.

In relation to the article, the portion about people who drive nice cars driving like assholes. I think that says more about the type of person that would buy a flashy car to show off than any relation to how a certain income level might behave. I know plenty of fairly wealthy people who generally drive much older, humbler cars because that is simply not important to them.

Also, when did $100,000-$150,000 income become a "rich" level? The study was done in California near Silicon Valley where you would be lucky to be able to find a much older, run down home that you could afford on such an income.

So true, one of the wealthiest people I know professionally happens to be a thoracic surgeon, pulls in over $500,000 per year but drives, daily, a 15 year old Accord with almost 200,000 miles on it. Happens to be a real dedicated and classy individual to boot.

Sent via highly charged bolt of electricity.

Originally Posted by Alundil

How was I tied into this already? Jeez....I'm not rich or unethical.....ffs

he fact that seven different experiments all produced similar results helps "eliminate alternative explanations."

emphasis on this as per "driving and influence"

Americans Set "Rich" Threshold at $150,000 in Annual Income

You're still not making any sense smoken. Just because a study has Marijuana in the title doesn't mean that it's the same thing as another study with the same word in the title. But I'm not going to rehash that discussion in this, unrelated, thread. I'll end it with the rejoinder that the study I was speaking about and referencing was a very specific look at a subset of cases and data regarding an already small subset of data. But spin as you like. Xav likes what it does to the tutu you prance about in.

The title of the thread gives zero opportunity for the rich to be good people. They're ALL greedy, no matter what, according to this.

http://www.break.com/index/most-epic-rant-ever-2304332

This doesn't seem absurd to me.

If you work harder, you tend to make more money. No guarantee, but it helps.

If you're smarter, or luckier, or have a better education, or have rich parents; you also tend to make more money.

When we look at the entire population, we see that there is a rough correlation between level of education and income. People who graduate college tend to make more than people who finished high school. This is what makes us think that education is a good thing.

In some societies (maybe all), you also tend to do better if you are a particular race, or gender, or religion; or at least not a less-favoured version.

It seems equally possible (even obvious) that if you're willing to engage in unethical behaviour, you will also tend to have more money.

If we look at the group of people who earn over X dollars a year (say, $300,000), no one would be surprised to find a relatively high percentage of people who attended top colleges and universities; that is, higher than the population as a whole. No one would be surprised to find that many rich people also had rich parents.

Why would it be surprising to find a relatively high percentage of people who had done questionable things in the course of their earning career?

Cheers,


AetheLove