Some research on the thread topic:
https://www.andlil.co.uk/does-money-dominate-our-lives/
"Does money dominate our lives?
For the past few days, I have only met people who talk about money. It is the only prism of their existence, their only motivation, their only value. I sometimes find myself confused by this emptiness and especially by the certainty that no one can think any other way than that.
All human actions are judged according to their own monolithic identification grid, money. A gratuitous act, willingness to help others or to share, seems totally foreign to them. And it's dubious even, it hides a desire to make money, it's forced, there's something. Even the most innocuous acts are a source of mistrust. Helping an elderly person carry their heavy bags (I have to reassure them that I won't run away with their shopping), holding the door to let someone in, etc.
People are defensive, suspicious, the values I obtained, through my very traditional education, no longer apply. They are perceived as a deception (will I abuse the helpless elderly person? if I hold the door it is because I want to hit on the girl, etc.). I obtained values that are no longer valid, helping others was a real reward in itself. Where is a chivalrous spirit, honour, dignity?
I had already encountered this kind of misunderstanding when, for example, I left my job as an IT trainer at Renault's head office. (I was able to personally train all the senior managers at that time, from Louis Schweitzer to Carlos Goshn then number 2, I was their personal trainer, I went straight into their office while the deputy directors had to wait in the waiting room (a way of reaffirming the hierarchy, which earned me an "aura" at head office (ridiculous)), in short a golden, protected, very lucrative position.
This did not prevent me from resigning, to earn half as much as I would as a history teacher. I was preparing for a competitive examination as an independent candidate after my working days at the head office. But there were still people in my entourage who could understand that it was better to have a job where I could consider myself useful to society rather than a well-paid job without social interest. That was 15 years ago.
Money as the only source of fulfilment
Today, when I look around me,
I no longer see many people trying to be happy, filling their lives with an interesting activity, a passion even if it is not especially lucrative. I receive emails that tell me, but why don't you trade more, why don't you just do that? Because money is not a goal, freedom is and you can be very free with little money. I would rather spend a day reading books, floating in the pool than trading, just to tell myself ‘super I earned €1,000’, but I didn't do anything with my day just earned money that will accumulate in an account. Even more, even more, why? A new car? Sad!
I have tried to understand why society evolved in this way? Why did it become more cynical, harder and totally turned towards the golden calf? And finally why is money the only purpose of an existence that will end in a wooden box?"
