Poll: Rich/Average Sellout/Integrity What would you rather be?

[tobyornottoby]

What does "sell out" mean to you? What does "integrity" mean to you?

"sell out" to me is a childish name calling thing that means nothing. "Integrity" can mean many things and is situation dependent. "a few million" I wouldn't call "rich" but "comfortable" (you certainly can't retire on a couple million unless you are 60 already)

I'd rather be a rich person with good morals who does appropriate things under the circumstances.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selling_out

It does mean something. At least to wikipedia.

 

[PatrickXD]

I voted rich, simply because by selling out, I also rid myself of so many potential worries in life. I can have what I want, when I want it if I'm rich. I wouldn't go all out with a mansion and a flashy car and spending a minimum of £150 on every item of clothing i wear, it would just be a case of living comfortably and worry free.

 

[Wereduck]

Here's a fun hypathetical.

Would you rather be a rich sellout?

Or a average person with integrity?

Why?


PS: Yes there is a deeper meaning here.

You know what I consider selling out?
Working 40+ hours a week, doing things you hate doing, surrounded by people you dislike and/or despise, being constantly abused by your superiors, and being paid minimum wage for it.
Where's the integrity in that?
I'd rather be wealthy, with haters whining on the internet how people with "real talent" can't get anywhere, yet fuckers like me collect all the spoils.

If the choice were between rich w/integrity or a poor sellout it wouldn't be much of a poll.
Those who's values don't interfere with attaining worldly success pretty-much have it made. Congrats but be advised; you may be a sociopath.

 

[MammothBlade]

What is there to sell out? Dignity, morals, honour, I'll make them really rare, desirable, unique, and then sell them to the highest bidder. Guide price £1 billion, I'll be an extremely rich sellout. But then, would I really have had such things in the first place if I were willing to auction them off for profit?

 

[Fractral]

Can you say rich, but then use your newfound wealth to help regain your integrity by helping others? Or is that cheating?
Regardless, i'd probably go for rich sellout, just because I'd like a bit of security in my life. I'd still work though, and just sit on the money, you know, for a 'rainy day'.

 

[HardkorSB]

If the choice were between rich w/integrity or a poor sellout it wouldn't be much of a poll.
Those who's values don't interfere with attaining worldly success pretty-much have it made. Congrats but be advised; you may be a sociopath.

When you're doing a shitty job to be able to pay your bills and survive, you're not doing it for fun, you're doing it for money. That's selling out, only for a measly pay. You won't have the life you want because you will have to break up your day for 8 hours to do tedious chores. that's how your life will look until you retire, at which point you'll be too old to live the life you want.
If you sell out once for millions, you've got it made. You can do whatever you want to do. You don't have to worry about working for a living any more and from that point, you choose if you want to continue to sell out and make even more or if you just want to retire with the millions you have. People will eventually forget about the "horrible" thing you did (because in reality, they don't care and most of them, even the ones who say otherwise, would sell out just as easily as you) but the money will remain.

Now which option has more integrity in your opinion?

 

[letfireraindown]

It's probably been said similar, but sellout, become a caricature for the public. Fund the projects I desire. More genetics, robotics, and AI funding!

That might be outside of common ability though. If it was so easy would Adam Sandler be making the tripe that he has been?

 

[GigaHz]

If the choice were between rich w/integrity or a poor sellout it wouldn't be much of a poll.
Those who's values don't interfere with attaining worldly success pretty-much have it made. Congrats but be advised; you may be a sociopath.

When you're doing a shitty job to be able to pay your bills and survive, you're not doing it for fun, you're doing it for money. That's selling out, only for a measly pay. You won't have the life you want because you will have to break up your day for 8 hours to do tedious chores. that's how your life will look until you retire, at which point you'll be too old to live the life you want.
If you sell out once for millions, you've got it made. You can do whatever you want to do. You don't have to worry about working for a living any more and from that point, you choose if you want to continue to sell out and make even more or if you just want to retire with the millions you have. People will eventually forget about the "horrible" thing you did (because in reality, they don't care and most of them, even the ones who say otherwise, would sell out just as easily as you) but the money will remain.

Now which option has more integrity in your opinion?

The first, still, with one simple reason: You stuck to what you believe in.

You never compromised your passion just to get ahead, even for a moment. Some people really believe in their lives, careers, art, or whatever and follow these with an unwritten code of ethics.

Everyone needs to survive. If you do the bare minimum so that you can continue to keep your passion pure, it is not selling out. Also, who's to say that these other jobs can't be fun? They might not be lucrative or high paying, but they still allow you to live with a relative amount of comfort. You don't NEED to be rich, you never do. You just need to get by.

Who's also to say that these lesser jobs don't eventually lead to better paying jobs? So the issue of having enough money for retirement might correct itself, assuming the right choices are made.

 

[face_head_mouth]

I'd like to be a rich person with integrity.

I don't understand why it has to be a either/or situation.

For the record, I voted for "Rich Sellout". I figure I can always give away my money
to those who need it more if I come to the conclusion that I don't deserve it for some
reason, and if I never come to that conclusion then I at least have my money and the
comfort it brings. After all, Andrew Carnegie spent the first half of his life ruthlessly
acquiring money, then spent the 2nd half giving it away.

 

[OniaPL]

Why can't I have nice things without bending over and taking it up my ass?

 

[Sir Thomas Sean Connery]

Rich Sellout. In a minute.

One of my greatest goals in life is to be rich and this would fulfill that quite nicely.

In addition, I feel that integrity and honesty are nice and all when I can afford to have them, but can be thrown aside without a second thought if the gains are great enough.

Though I COULD be incredibly snarky and say I don't care which as long as I can spell "Hypothetical"...

 

[spartan231490]

Define sellout? Who or what did I sell out. In general no, not for a few million. A few million is just not enough. 50 million plus though, yeah, I would prolly sell out.

 

[Realitycrash]

I have very little need for being "rich". Since I am rather poor now, and doing quite fine, being "average" would be a substantial increase for me.
Besides, what I value mostly, money can't get me.

 

[Wereduck]

If the choice were between rich w/integrity or a poor sellout it wouldn't be much of a poll.
Those who's values don't interfere with attaining worldly success pretty-much have it made. Congrats but be advised; you may be a sociopath.

When you're doing a shitty job to be able to pay your bills and survive, you're not doing it for fun, you're doing it for money. That's selling out, only for a measly pay. You won't have the life you want because you will have to break up your day for 8 hours to do tedious chores. that's how your life will look until you retire, at which point you'll be too old to live the life you want.
If you sell out once for millions, you've got it made. You can do whatever you want to do. You don't have to worry about working for a living any more and from that point, you choose if you want to continue to sell out and make even more or if you just want to retire with the millions you have. People will eventually forget about the "horrible" thing you did (because in reality, they don't care and most of them, even the ones who say otherwise, would sell out just as easily as you) but the money will remain.

Now which option has more integrity in your opinion?

Integrity isn't about return-on-investment or public perception, it's about doing what you consider right. If one's values won't get them a fat wallet or a supermodel to warm their bed do they follow their conscience anyway? If one's values don't cause such a conflict then this poll is meaningless - THIS POLL, not their (read: your) values.

EDIT: to address another point, selling out once for millions does not make a person a sellout any more than eating an entire chesecake will make them obese.

 

[GraveeKing]

If we're talking anything over a million - sure go for it.
I'd sell out quite a few morals with only the most major exceptions - and even then I'd probably go for it, money is always good fun.

 

[Sonicron]

I would lose my integrity in a heartbeat. Riches means freedom to do whatever I want, whenever I want.

So much yes. Gimme those millions!!
Besides, being a sellout doesn't automatically translate into being a despicable person, except maybe in the eyes of disgruntled not-haves.

 

[TheRealJLars]

I'm facing this exact moral dilemma right now, and I'm choosing money.

As someone who is extremely passionate about music, it comes down to "Do I choose to do something I may love with low pay and questionable security for the rest of my life, or do I choose something I may not hate that's going to be able to provide life-long financial security for myself and my family?"

Because at the end of the day, providing firm financial ground for my eventual family is a thousand times more important to me than music is, ever has been, and ever will be. I don't consider wanting my children to grow up in as good a situation as I did to be selling out, even if I'm giving up one of my greatest passions to do so.

Maybe I'm old-fashioned or whatever, but to me it's a no-brainer.

 

[Suicidejim]

What am I doing to become a sellout? Are we on the level of, say, writing some music for a more mainstream audience, or letting it be used in a commercial for a company whose products/practices I don't agree with, or even further along, letting it be the new national anthem for a country that has declared war with my own? I know the last one's improbable, I'm just trying to make my point here.

If 'average' means I have enough to survive and live reasonably comfortably (i.e. money is never an issue for bills and such, as long as I don't go buying a new car every month or other needless extravagances), then I would choose average. No less than that though. Integrity may be a wonderful thing, but it doesn't make very good shelter, nor is it a good substitute for food.

 

[Rowan93]

The whole point of being rich is to stop pretending you have integrity. So it's a no-brainer.

 

[Monkeyman O'Brien]

Rich. Not even a hard choice in the slightest.
I don't care what anyone else thinks of me and if I were rich I would not have to. I would rather spend my life doing shit I enjoy and have people dislike me rather than waste my life slaving away making someone else rich and the only reward is having people like me a little more.