I find myself to be in tremendous disagreement with statements in the article. Killingsworth sounds like the typical psychologizing dope. There are others who find that one's degee of happiness is a more "chronic" (my term) sensation, NOT based on moment to moment feelings.
On the simplest level, I would rather buy something for $20 or $20,000 that I continue to own and enjoy over an experience costing the same amount that will be over and done.
Just to pick one example, the $20,000 pre-amplifier will always give more "pleasantness, happiness and excitement" (to use the author's words) than the $20,000 vacation.
Just to pick one example, the $20,000 pre-amplifier will always give more "pleasantness, happiness and excitement" (to use the author's words) than the $20,000 vacation.
Not always so simple. Case in point. How much would you pay for a blu ray disc of the Led Zeppelin reunion concert (an "item" you can continually use), versus the ticket to actually see the concert (the experience)?
Second example. I'm going to Morocco over Xmas with my children to they can "experience" a different a different culture and will happily fork out 5 figures. However, not a chance in hell I am spending that money to get all my Shunyata cables upgraded to latest level, so I can repeatedly experience (marginally) better sound indefinitely. Note that the Morocco experience is a permanent enrichment of their lives. Not a chance in hell I would pay the same for a platinum package in a 2000 SqFt suite to Disney.
Not always so simple. Case in point. How much would you pay for a blu ray disc of the Led Zeppelin reunion concert (an "item" you can continually use), versus the ticket to actually see the concert (the experience)?
Second example. I'm going to Morocco over Xmas with my children to they can "experience" a different a different culture and will happily fork out 5 figures. However, not a chance in hell I am spending that money to get all my Shunyata cables upgraded to latest level, so I can repeatedly experience (marginally) better sound indefinitely. Note that the Morocco experience is a permanent enrichment of their lives. Not a chance in hell I would pay the same for a platinum package in a 2000 SqFt suite to Disney.
Actually, very simple:
First example: I'm not into music videos of concerts, but ZERO for the ticket to see it live. I would not ever go to a rock concert again in my life. I went to four rock concerts in my twenties and vowed to never go again. I will, however, happily listen to Led Zeppelin's recordings.
Second example: I do not have to experience everything in person. My parents took our family on many regular vacations, so I'm no stranger to travel. As an adult, when I took American and international vacations, I did that for my daughter and it was purely for her. I have an excellent imagination and I can see photographs and read about things if I want to "experience" some other culture. I have no need or desire to experience the rest of the world first hand. A three day vacation (including travel time) is plenty for me. When my 25 year old daughter and I were out for dinner one night over the summer we were discussing vacations, I found it interesting when she told me that after four days, she's done.
Not always so simple. Case in point. How much would you pay for a blu ray disc of the Led Zeppelin reunion concert (an "item" you can continually use), versus the ticket to actually see the concert (the experience)?
Second example. I'm going to Morocco over Xmas with my children to they can "experience" a different a different culture and will happily fork out 5 figures. However, not a chance in hell I am spending that money to get all my Shunyata cables upgraded to latest level, so I can repeatedly experience (marginally) better sound indefinitely. Note that the Morocco experience is a permanent enrichment of their lives. Not a chance in hell I would pay the same for a platinum package in a 2000 SqFt suite to Disney.
Tell me you are joking? You may be able to imagine what it would be like, but that's about it.
Actually, very simple:
First example: I'm not into music videos of concerts, but ZERO for the ticket to see it live. I would not ever go to a rock concert again in my life. I went to four rock concerts in my twenties and vowed to never go again. I will, however, happily listen to Led Zeppelin's recordings.
Second example: I do not have to experience everything in person. My parents took our family on many regular vacations, so I'm no stranger to travel. As an adult, when I took American and international vacations, I did that for my daughter and it was purely for her. I have an excellent imagination and I can see photographs and read about things if I want to "experience" some other culture. I have no need or desire to experience the rest of the world first hand. A three day vacation (including travel time) is plenty for me. When my 25 year old daughter and I were out for dinner one night over the summer we were discussing vacations, I found it interesting when she told me that after four days, she's done.
Just to qualify, the trip you are taking, and definitely the ones I took were for someone else's benefit.
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