[plib]

Originally Posted by DarkScribe

You are correct. I did not learn about irony in University. The Universities that I attended assumed that most of those enrolling would have learned something so basic at a much earlier age. I fully undertand irony but apparently you don't. I didn't REALLY think that you were supposing that we choose our parents - my response was ironic. (Possibly a little sarcastic.)

Unfortunately whoever taught you at that much earlier age failed to impart that irony, like fly fishing, usually requires a light touch. Never mind, also a bit like fly fishing, you can improve with practice.

I read what you had written very carefully, in fact I found it so difficult to believe that I read it again. You quite clearly stated that the majority of choices have little to do with success.

"For the vast majority the choices you make in life, other than the choice of your parents, actually have very little to do with whether you are part of the 1% or the 99%"

Do you not recall posting this?

I'm sorry that you do not appear to be able to parse what is in front of you. The wording is very specific, intentionally so. It is not semantics to read what is actually written.

"Please show me the word success in that quote"?

Ah, we are going to play semantics are we? That's ok, I don't mind a bit of game playing - I usually do well.

I'm sure you're a legend in your own mind, however as said, reading what it written is not semantics. Assigning your interpretation of what is written may well be, which makes the next few paragraphs of your diatribe irrelevant, except maybe to you.

Do you not consider being ranked in the top percentile among wage earners to count as being successful? Success is variously defined by reputable dictionaries (i.e., those that are not Webster's derivations) as: "accomplishing an intended pupose, a state of prosperity or fame, achieving a goal". Now, if a person obtains a job in order to earn an income, and if they do well enough in that position to earn an income that is ranked among the top one percent of incomes, would you not regard that as success? If not, how would you regard it? Blind luck? A failure?

I truly doubt that many who earn an income in the top one percent do so without making a great many very good choices. We are not talking about inheriting wealth or winning a lotery, but earning. You claim that choices make little difference.

To repeat, for the last time, the argument is not about your definition of "success", it's not about earnings, it's about wealth. They are not the same metrics. If you want to talk to yourself about earnings then be my guest, that was not the subject of the original post or the article which you do not appear to have bothered to read. I'm sure you enjoy charging off on your irrelevant tangents but that's what they are, irrelevant tangents.

One of the good choices I make is not to spend too much time on debates with those who appear to willfully ignore the substance of the debate, or who wish to realign it to whatever hobby horse they bring to the debate. I'm afraid your arguments appear to qualify on both grounds, so go pat yourself on the back and enjoy your internal conversation.

BTW, I do (well our family does) have a yacht, a very nice ketch, but it is nowhere near two hundred and fifty feet in length, it is only sixty-two feet. Just the right size to be able to single-hand it if necessary.

Not in any way relevant to the argument, but good for you if you enjoy it. Keep making those good decisions and aiming for the 250 footer. Judging by these prices you only have about $69.5 million to go, a few good choices should do it!