We have been indoctrinated since birth to try to attain things. Success is measured by social status, and that is frequently established by your wealth. OK, maybe sometimes status can be established by your natural abilities, like athleticism, or knowing how to play the trombone better than anybody else, or maybe even stunning good looks. But if you’re just average in all that, and don’t even have the talent it takes to inherit wealth, then teachers, parents and other relations, friends, casual acquaintances – everybody will push you to “improve” your lot in life. So you work hard, put in lots of hours, scrimp and save your pennies, and, 30 years later, you have a spouse and kids, a mortgaged house, car and credit card payments, retirement just around the corner, recession, ulcer acting up, lawn mower is on the fritz, plus you’ve just discovered the heartbreak of psoriasis caused by stress. But you’re “successful” because you have a bigger house than your parents had.
Well, maybe not. Imagine all the opportunities that would be open up to you if you decided from Day One to just chuck that whole idea. Here are 10 darn good reasons to duck the rat race.
Straight off, if you plan to embrace poverty, you might as well embrace not having a job, too. If there’s one good thing about being rich, it’s probably the absence of having to do anything even remotely resembling manual labor and, having embraced poverty as your personal economic philosophy, you won’t have to do manual labor, either. Why? Because, once you’ve embraced not having a job, other responsibilities like mowing the yard, washing the car, house cleaning, counting the change in your pocket and taking a shower, all these things will begin to fall like dominos. You’ll be amazed at how much free time you’ll have.
This is a no-brainer. You won’t have a single worry about losing money or possessions, if you have no money or possessions. If you’re flat broke and you find a penny someone dropped, woo-hoo, it’s your lucky day! But if you’re a millionaire banker, you probably won’t even stoop to pick up a mere penny. Just think of all the lucky days you’ll have, when that banker might go years before he has even one day he considers lucky. Now look at a picture of the Queen. Does she look truly happy? Of course not, she’s worried about her portfolio; maybe BP is down a point or two. It’s the same with Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, Rupert Murdoch, et al. They might crack a smile on occasion, but you never see them cutting loose with a really big guffaw. These people are constantly worried about their wealth because they know there’s only one way for their fortunes to go. At the opposite end of the spectrum, however, I’ve heard time and again how, during the Great Depression of the 1930’s, people who were mired in poverty were happy just to be able to eat. Embrace poverty now and you too can be made happy just as easily. I read somewhere, possibly the Top 20 Wise Quotes of Confucius, that “Money can’t buy happiness”. As any idiot knows, another way to say that is ”You WILL be happy without money”. Embrace poverty now. (Note: Even if Confucius didn’t say it, it’s the kind of wise thing he would say, even if he was too fat to have properly embraced poverty.)
This item alone would allow you to ratchet down your level of stress. Imagine yourself as the typical rich, gourmand, globe-trotting web site administrator. Rather than worrying about getting the heat just right under your soufflé of hummingbird tongue, you need only concern yourself with rustling up a piece of fatback to go with the collard greens. After embracing poverty, you might eat hummingbird tongue on occasion, but it would most likely go along with the rest of the hummingbird, including the odd feather or two, perhaps in a delicate tartar, whose elegance rests in its simplicity.
The poverty enabled will never be the types to jump out of their 96th floor offices just because the latest economic indicators are troubling. Heck, a full-blown depression could pass you by with hardly a notice, while a mere recession will be looked on as a time of plenty. Here’s why: by embracing poverty, you basically bring yourself down to the level of a severe economic depression; this will be “normal” for you. Then, any improvement at all to the economy will raise your standard of living exponentially while others are still wringing their hands and wondering when things are going to get better. And, when the economy is fully recovered, maybe even booming, you’ll be perfectly situated to take full advantage of a prosperous and generous workforce.
Rich people will give you freebies. It’s true. As a case in point, I was reading on another list the other day (10 Cases of Appropriate Technology), that someone has come up with an idea to give laptop computers to children in the developing world. These kids aren’t demonstrating in New York or London, shouting “We Want Computers, We Want Computers” – someone is actually hunting them down and saying “Here, kid, take this”. That is a sweet deal. Another example: Habitat for Humanity can build houses in as little as 3 ½ hours, from start to finish. Imagine yourself sitting on your favorite tree stump, picking your teeth with a hummingbird beak, maybe spitting out an occasional feather, reflecting on how happy you are. Suddenly, HFH trucks appear from out of nowhere, and 3 ½ hours and lots of hubbub later, you’re gazing at your new house. It can happen. And not just in the States, either. HFH also did this in New Zealand, but it took them about a quarter hour longer, probably due to the language barrier (e.g., “Work? Oi don’t know ‘bout that, mate”). At any rate, I’m not sure if HFH includes a coat of paint or if they expect you to do it, but, dang, anybody can live in an unpainted house, especially a free unpainted house.
If you embrace poverty, this will be one of the easier things to do – you won’t have any risk at all of an immoderate intake of anything. That is the kind of thing that gets your name in the history books. Look at Gandhi: he was poor as a church mouse, just as ascetic as they come, and now he’s revered as someone who reached the pinnacle of “enlightenment” through self-restraint. But he wasn’t restrained, he was just an adept in Poverty. Be like Gandhi and you’ll get your name in the history books, too. However, imitate Gandhi too closely and you might get your name in a registered sex offender database. See? Poverty, not restraint.
Given sufficient poverty, your health will bloom as a natural consequence. Since you can no longer afford cigarettes, booze or illegal drugs, gone will be the nagging smoker’s hack, hangovers and potential health issues caused by dirty needles. As a bonus, your excessive body fat will just melt away, since you’ll probably be eating somewhat less. And you won’t have to consciously do a thing for all these benefits – no dieting, no nicotine patches or gum, and, unless you have a dealer who also chooses to embrace poverty, no tapering off from your favorite addictive drug. Your friends will be amazed at your “will power”, and medical bills will be a thing of the past.
As a poverty “stricken” individual, you’ll find it easy to discard all your old dreams of “success” and – let’s face it – unattainable aspirations. Your new desires will become much more modest, realistic and immediate. While your old bucket list might have had things like “Go to a film premier”, or “Fly a plane”, or “Stay in the best suite”, your new bucket list will be filled with items that you can tic off on a daily basis: find food (possibly by “Doing a runner”), shelter for the night, a new bucket, etc. Your sense of accomplishment will do wonders for your self-esteem.
Most crime today is caused by envy, and since the truly impoverished have no possessions, they are seldom envied. Really, what could be stolen from you, besides your bucket? Your sense of accomplishment? You’ll be able to stroll along the darkest alleyways without the slightest fear of being mugged. Granted, you may inadvertently become the victim of crime fighters, but the flip side of that is that you’ll get free room and board. And maybe free medical care.
Somebody (Confucius?) said something like, “It’s easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into heaven”. Now, whether you believe in Heaven or not, it just makes sense to cover all your bases, especially if you can do it without too much to yourself. As the exact opposite of a rich man, you stand a much greater chance of being able to waltz into Heaven with your eyes closed. If you have adequately impoverished yourself, very few temptations will come your way, and those that do come your way can be dismissed with a haughty “I can’t afford that” or “Too rich for my blood, lady”. You’ll be living the lifestyle of a monk, a very deprived monk, but you won’t be stuck in a dusty old abbey somewhere. Saints have been named for less, and you’ll be able to do it as a matter of course.
Notable omissions: no taxes, unburdened by fair weather friends, won’t be drafted into the military or have to serve on juries because you have no mailbox, won’t have to deal with lawyers
I pity the fool who takes this list seriously. Fun read though.
And it only took three comments for that fool to appear
I knew very well that it wasn’t a serious list. I simply find it distasteful. – That Fool
How clever. Write a poorly thought out, tongue-in-cheek about one of the most serious problems the world faces today. One that is growing even in this age of so-called technological enlightenment. Then ridicule the folks that don’t laugh along with you. If you have written the piece to highlight the scourge that poverty is, then all I can say is that you have fallen seriously short of the great writers on this subject such as Charles Dickens or Jerre Mangione. At best it sounds like bad sarcasm. Like LeRajah, I found it decidedly unfunny.
But he didn’t write the list
Lol, Jfrater is a troll. Allowing a list to be posted that he KNEW would get comments about it being distasteful (which it is) and then commenting that the people who find it distasteful are fools because it’s ‘just a joke’. He may never admit it but he has done this several times, and he IS a troll by definition.
In listverse JF is GOD!
dude. its april fools
u mad
Is this list really that distasteful? As a society we seem to put a lot of emphasis on money and worldly goods. What if we were to take a step back and realise that quality if life isn’t about earning enough money to buy things we don’t need. I dont work full time, just enough to pay my bills and my house, I dont care about economic downturns and crisis, i eat simple pure food, and enjoy it. Instead of reacting negatively, or just having a laugh, why don’t we look at some of the truths behind it, yes its a joke list and it’s overboard and silly, but seriously, not distasteful
I grew up in poverty. I am now 21 so that wasnt to many years ago that my family was poor. I have no problem at all with this list, in fact I find it very funny. We as a family have eventually been able to work ourselves out of poverty to being a middle class family. Looking back on our situation I only smile and laugh at just how poor we where. The things we did to survive now are funny and looking back we can all laugh at the things that happend to us. Now we could have been all mad at our situation and walked around bitter at the world, but my family chose not to. We all made the best of our situation and those where the best times of our life and we still have those memories with us to this day. Memories are the only thing you will carry with you your entire life so make sure they are good memories. Sometimes the only thing to do is to smile, and we did just that. What would be the point of not?
I kinda had a feeling that this wasn’t a serious list when i read the post title
Am I the only one who loled at “find food (possibly by “Doing a runner”)” in number 3, Achieve your dreams, because of the picture used in #4, Healthy Lifestyle?
Funny and distasteful. Those can be the best lists… or bring out the most trolls.
Nope – I laughed too – knowing people who have done that! I, on the other hand, never have
Shocking! Gasp! Maybe now we can repost the “10 Things the Nazis Got Right”
MAJOR FLAW IN THE LAST ONE
Jesus said that in the bible, and only those who that have given their lives to God are the only ones who get heaven. But in the bible, it doesn’t say that if you are rich you are not going to heaven. It just means that if you put your money before God, you won’t get in.
Put God first in your life, and he’ll do the rest
MAJOR FLAW IN YOUR COMMENT
There is no god
Amusing theory. I’m guessing you’re one of the “enlightened” that say we came from nothing. Then a “boom” happened, and voila. Then things like cows became dolphins and worms became birds, and all that horsesh*t nonsense.
Don’t worry, we’ll wave to you on your way down.
Hm that’s pretty hateful for someone who thinks they deserve to go to heaven.
You can’t even understand evolution properly so you have no right to call it horsesh*t.
that was exactly my fist thought. and is not hateful, but I understand that sometimes the truth hurts. people want to be applauded for their wrong actions and hate it when others point out what is wrong and cry hatred and intolerance. you can’t sugarcoat something as hideous as “love for money” people have, killed, stolen, prostituted themselves, lied etc.
I love this list, even if it isn’t too serious. I cant wait to get out of indulgent America and go rough it out in some shack in Peru.
i find that funny and , oddly, a tad bit offensive at the same time
45 million Americans were living in poverty in 2009. We may be wealthy as a country but that doesn’t mean all of America is exempt from poverty or is indulgent.
HEY! I live in Peru!
Just go rough it in the inner city. Or maybe the rural south. The US has plenty of opportunities for the poverty-inclined among us.
Distasteful, poorly written rubbish! Poverty is hardly something that should be made light of.
Don’t think of it as poverty. Think of it as freedom from the burdens of money. I would much rather be poor but simple then be a slave to the dollar all my life.
I live and work in China. I see poverty like this every day–it isn’t pleasant at all. There aren’t many organisations to help them either given the closed nature of the Chinese system and the fact that they’d rather hide these problems rather than dealing with them. It’s heartbreaking.
True, there are some bad aspects to poverty. Probably more bad than good to be honest. But I think that most of the world that HASN’T experienced poverty, definitely should go through. To be more grateful of what they have. The main reason I’m gonna do it is because 1) America puts too much emphasis on money, and not enough on people. and 2) Because the poverty stricken in other countries do need help, and I don’t want to be that person that just let’s someone else go do it.
I just eye-rolled. How noble of you to talk about going to help with poverty issues in other countries. But why don’t you look at the millions of poverty stricken people in the country you live in now. Just because the face of American is that of snobbish money makers doesn’t mean that all of America is. Or is it that doing good for other countries is so publicized in America that helping the solve the poverty problem in your own country wouldn’t let people know how ‘compassionate’ you are?
Well I grew up in poverty stricken sri lanka, when my family started off extremely poor, my parents couldnt afford a bus ride home after I was born, but with a combination of good luck, education, extreme hard work, we managed to make it to moderate posperity, but what I noticed along the way was that when I was young I was so happy, I didnt have a TV , so I went arround exploring climbing trees and being very happy, maybe it was childhood optimism but I was so much happier then, and feel like simplicity rather than crushing poverty will make us so much more fulfilled. sorry if this sounded too long but what I’m saying is guy is right in a way dont rip on him too much, I know poverty but I also know – as long as it isnt extreme- its liberating
You really should learn the difference between “then” and “than”. They way you put it, it implied that you’d rather be poor and subsequently be enslaved by the dollar
the*
“Don’t think of it as poverty. Think of it as freedom from the burdens of money. I would much rather be poor but simple then be a slave to the dollar all my life.”
The burdens of money? You want to be free from that? Oh boy. How about the burdens of not knowing what you’re going to eat the next day, the burdens of not having a roof over your head and so on. Yeah, you’d much rather take on those burdens and be ***** poor than to have money? Bull*****.
Be appreciative of what you have and stop being so condescending like you would actually want switch places with a homeless person if you had the chance.
what’s tomorrow’s date again?
I know what day it is tomorrow, but today isn’t tomorrow, now is it?
LeRajah you make a lot of sense & I think JFs silence since his 1st nasty retort shows the fool he really is. This site used to be good, but this list is the straw that broke the donkeys back!
Goodbye listverse, it was nice while it lasted but your master has turned into a self riteous comment *****!
I think upon further consideration that JF was simply having some pre-April Fool’s Day fun. His comment certainly isn’t a good reason to leave this highly enjoyable sight forever.
No, no, no, at least not for me. Listverse is one of the very few entertainment reads I make time for. In the main, I enjoy browsing through arcane facts that reflect the diversity and almost gob-smacking hilarity of the follies that can be found in the human condition or the unusual characteristics of the natural world we occupy. While I felt that this list is far below the usual editorial standards of listverse, it isn’t, by itself, a reason to unsubscribe. It was, however, reason enough to retort.
Of course poverty can be funny. For a really long time now too. Has no one read Jonathon Swift’s “A Modest Proposal”? Hysterical!
“A Modest Proposal” was quite amusing, however it was very well written. This list was poorly executed and nonfactual. I would recommend that the writer of this list continue reading examples of that which is considered to be good satire and try to emulate them until he or she finds his or her voice.
I can guarantee that all the people that find this list offensive are NOT living in poverty. If they where living in poverty im sure that they realize that they have bigger worries than this list and if it offensive or not. Tell me what would a serious list about all the things that happen to people in poverty and all the things wrong with it achieve? We are all aware about poverty so what would a list achieve by pointing out the obvious. Sometimes a laugh will go along way, poor people know the downside of poverty, so give them the goodside to it even if it is a joke it could make thier day and maybe instead of crying today maybe they will laugh. If your not donating money to the poor, at least give them a laugh.
retarded list , I grew up rough, and this list is bull***** . Dont agree with even one point. I see there is supposed to be some form of humor here but . . . I dont think the author of this list understands exactly what poverty is . I’m all for unbridled ridicule of most things even poverty( ill stoop *****ing low in hopes of a laugh i actually really do love jokes at other peoples expense) , i have laughed about it often and still do ( i’m doing pretty good financially now considering) but this really didn’t cut it for me . Could’ve been waay better (funnier) , actually it sucked .
poor people have to work the hardest , and are hardest hit by negative economic factors. Obviously the writer has never been to a developing nation . This is all trivial 1rst world NAIVE bull*****.
The best thing about being poor is making fun of what naffs all the toffs are. Being poor is like being named sue . Good idea for the list and the style but poor execution. sorry.
Being poor sucks. Believe me.
We’re all slaves to the almighty dollar. I’m broke with no job but I’m happier than most individuals
i get that it is supposed to be funny but i didnt like this list
There’s a difference between poverty and living naturally. Living like native americans or tribes of africa. I think anyone who takes offense to this obviously has a need for monetary living and probably couldn’t survive a week in the woods without a camper. Let’s see how many angry offended posters I get
Kinda agree, Living naturally is different from poverty, but somehow with the “changing world”, most of those who do live naturally are forced to conform to the standards of the now. Money,the amount one has, controls how one lives. This isn’t everybody but most people.
The title of this list was “10 Good Reasons to Embrace Poverty”, not “10 Good Reasons to Embrace Living Naturally”, thus this comment is irrelevant to the list. Living naturally begs the questions, what is “natural”. What is “natural” to one group of people is “unnatural” to another. Thus, in the US it is quite “natural” to live in a house and have countless electronics and other modern “conveniences”, whereas in Africa for some tribal groups it is quite “natural” to live huts without electricity and often without any modern conveniences. Is one group happier than the other? Determining that would venture into the realm of subjectivity, thus it is irrelevant, because what constitutes “happiness” to one person, constitutes “unhappiness” to another. In the same way, what is “poverty” to one, is “prosperity” to another.
this comment is racist, you automatically assume all people in USA live in houses ?! what about the native Americans huh? ! do they live in houses?NO! They live in Casinos … and middle class South African family steakhouses.
Now that was funny.
i think its kinda obvious what he meant by “Natural living”. Like tribal living
Yes, I am aware of what he meant. I was simply pointing out that the article wasn’t about “natural” or tribal living, nor did the article itself imply that it was advocating a “natural” or tribal lifestyle.
Maaaaaaan. Thats deep!
No it doesn’t beg the question. Begging the question is when you pose a question where the answer is strongly implied in that very question. Google Listverse beg the question to learn how to use that phrase correctly.
Yes, I have read that list a couple times and found it interesting. I will concede that while my question is not a begged question in the elder sense of expression it certainly does beg the question in modern terminology. Language is an ever changing entity and as fascinating as the history of a word or expression is, it is irrelevant for most modern communication scenarios as we operate under a lexical system that has metamorphosed over the centuries and may resemble in many areas the original system, however it is no longer what it once was, nor will it ever be what it once was again.
B0o-ya!
LaRajah
You could also label this article as how to live naturally and the benifits. Really it’s all perspective. Poverty is based on the material governed world where as naturally is based on sole survival. They all point made in this obvious “tongue and cheek” article could be taken either way.
Who determined that living naturally means surviving? And what exactly do you mean by “survival”? Do you mean simply all their energy is expended on providing sustenance for themselves and looking after their other basic needs (viz. sleep, discharging bodily wastes &C.)? Or something to a lesser extent?
Sir! I am frothing at the mouth!
Wait, thats just rabies. I actually agree with you.
I hope your rabies passes quickly
I hear it is very unpleasant!
So much for serious list.
Thanks you make me laugh!
I liked this list. i guess you have to have gone through the simplicity of poverty to see the humor in it. Oh, and hummingbird tongue, really?? People eat that?
Ask JFrater
Haha you are awesome! That aside I haven’t eaten hummingbird tongue but would absolutely do so if given the chance
I imagine it would be unsatisfying
Ah perhaps one would – but what a soup with one thousand hummingbird tongues? I bet that would hit the spot!
Simplicity-embracing beans on the list dawg. Gave me a chuckle yo.
POVERTY IS A CURSE…
The world is plagued by poverty. Thousands of kids are being sold daily. Hunger and lack of basic amenities is one of the leading causes of death. And cancer is still one of the most traumatic times a family can go through.
But don’t worry, we have wristbands! That makes everything great…
<>
Now there is some satire that will probably be lost on the writer of this foul smelling piece. Well said.
It’s only foul smelling because it’s about the poor. A pretty callous statement coming from the great Simplifried hope, advocate of the poor.
I am (obviously) not the writer, but I did enjoy the list. I also very much appreciated Kabir’s comment
“It’s easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into heaven”.
It’s not Confucius or anyone actually. It comes from the Bible Matthew 19:24.
I think that was a joke he made ….since he had mentioned Confucious before.
Actually, Jesus said it (in Matt. 19:24)
I believe that depends on how a rich man uses his money. If a rich man spends his life donating his wealth to the poor, supporting the needy and is generally not selfish, greedy or arrogant, I’m sure he will go to heaven.
*blinkblink* That’s optimistic.
You are correct – Christ was referring to the fact that lots of money can add extra temptations to one’s life making it harder to resist. But, of course, many very rich people have gone to heaven – St Louis IX King of France is a good example.
Lol, Jamie, Jamie, Jamie. As if this list wasn’t “controversial” enough, now you’ve opened another can of worms, talking as if “going to Heaven” is a factual occurrence.
Cans of worms are meant to be opened
Is was indeed someone. I was Jesus.
ahaha Funny article! You should look into writing at cracked!
My condolences on your humor deficit problem. Do you like fart jokes also?
nope cracked knows humor, most might be juvenile and crude , but dammit cracked is at least funny. this is weak .
Definitely a tongue-in-cheek list, but in a manner it can be considered drilling a nerve. Still, it was an intriguing read and it’s often interesting to read material that is guaranteed to ignite controversy. Also interesting was that I again saw the notice about May 21 being Judgment Day interspersed into the list.
I would like to apologise to Magnumto in advance for trolling on his list, which by the way is quite funny and he has done an excellent job.
I would like to know why my list about the ‘All time Cricket World Test XI’ has not been put up yet (I’m sorry JFrater for being a nuisance but I would really like to know). Litverse has never published a list about Cricket and I don’t think my list was that bad. I did a decent *****ysis on the players, which most cricket fans would agree with.
I hope I don’t offend anyone with this post and if the admin staff were going to put up my list, then please don’t change your mind as a result of my lack of patience
Well damn it. This list fits perfectly for today. Just went to NYT app and found out it was blocked since now its a subscription app. Isnt it a left leaning newspaper? More power and knowledge to the masses and stuff like that? Hypocrites Well now i officially hate the us and australian for giving us murdoch. Long live BBC. Its actually sad cuz it was a real vector in informing people like me, non native english speakers that cant afford a paod subscription. Well money money money.
And to top it all off. I was minding my own business. Walking in the metro corridors then imagine my suprise. I see adds for Jersey shore. Freaking JS. Listen america, france and europe doesnt need that. Keep it to yourself.
Another advantage of being poor: no need for being informed, no need for computers and things like that.
And also poor people tend to be less hypocritical. I see it at my engineering school. Everybody wants to go into finance and trading. They all discovered their love for maths (even though the level of maths tends to be reduced). And the money side of the job…well thats just a perk. No connection whatsoever. Its their love for maths that makes them go into finance. I even saw a guy say seriously that he wants to be on the board of directors. Not trader not an engineer but his dream job is being on the board of directors. So yeah. I guess poor people have a better connection to reality.
Another good side of being poor: no need to buy the newest ipad that came rolling in and stay 3 days in line for it. Pay it in advance (aka paying for something you dont get to own just yet).
Another good side: you dont own 5 purse dogs. You dont have to shop for clother for the dogs or food. Hell some pet owners fork out more money for their dogs than what is spent on a kid in some countries.
Another good side: you dont fill up your kids with all kinds of medicine or send them to the psychologist cuz they like to play or run around in the house. (aka doing kid stuff)
What i didnt like about this list is that it started with a serious note and something all us would more or less agree. Then it slips into satyre. Makes one wonder should i actually get a bigger house than my dads. And maybe tell him how a loser he is. Gee. I hope my kids will be losers too. Maybe i should do drugs when trying to conceive a baby. That’d be great.
My advice: LV stick to serious lists. For comedy ill go to cracked(they get paid to do that) or read blues comments(he’s just goddamn funny).
tl;dr
I must say, this isn’t really a great list.
Surely, it can’t be taken serious, which would be no problem, if it were satirical. But it isn’t. Good satire is somewhat veiled, but there’s also such a thing as too veiled. And this list is too veiled. The hyperbolic nature of satire is totally absent from this list, and as such, everything is written in a far to realistic way. And that totally destroys the satire.
At the moment, this list looks more like the misguided world view of some freegan treehugger than a indictment of one of the more serious problems in the world.
Say that every quote human kind has was said by Confucius=comedy gold.
I think that was his main idea and starting point.
This list is hilarious! Here’s a few in the same vein I’m working on:
- 10 ways bulimia can improve your figure (puke yourself thin!)
- 10 reasons slaves had it good (working in the sun!)
- 10 reasons chicks should just shut up and cook (fewer beatings!)
- 10 fun ways to kill cats (waste disposal anyone?)
- 10 ways to destroy a childhood (I’m your new babysitter, Father O’Leary)
If poverty is funny. Anything is funny, so let’s get into it!
Yeah, no kidding. They might as well make “10 benefits of having AIDS” or “The 10 lighter sides to having cancer”. Sure they are unsavory but if we just say “well, some people just can’t take a joke” then it should be all good, right? At the very least it should push a few peoples buttons, which would be sure to arouse the unbelievably hilarious writers and publishers of these really funny joke lists.
This comment was more entertaining than the list
Agreed. Usually I don’t mind a list that may be offensive, but this one for some reason is just really terrible. So cruel.
like george carlin says anything can be funny…imagine porky pig raping elmer fudd. now thats funny !!
I thought it was amusing. But then I’ve been told that my sense of humor is lacking in many respects.
Foul post. Joke gone bad. I am sure there was no ill-intention, but just poor execution in compiling this list. Unpleasant and repulsive.
Great list. People who took it seriously need to calm themselves down a tad.
Perhaps what is most interesting is that every person abusing this list or it’s writer is not in poverty – poor people don’t have computers and Internet. I grew up poor but I still enjoyed this list – hence publishing it. How many of the people screaming foul ever went a day without food?
Just because the people protesting this list are using computers, doesn’t mean they weren’t at one point in poverty. I HAVE went days without food. I found this list a distasteful way to get more comments and a few cheap laughs. Also, since when do people have to experience something in order to be against it?
Maybe you should look up the definition of poverty cuz you are making some a confusion between poverty and extreme poverty.
Every country has its own definition of poverty. So someone making 600 euros/month can be considered poor in france and someone making 600 euros in some african asian eastern european country can be considered well off.
And yeah people that earn 600/month can pay 20 euros for an internet connexion and once every 3-5 years 300 euros to buy a computer. But that doesnt make them rich or well off.
Right wing people these days. Geesh
I don’t think being critical of the list is abuse, and surprising for you of all people to suggest that. Nevertheless, it doesn’t take a poverty stricken person to know one, or to have known poverty first hand. Again how incredible that you suggest that it does. It is a trifle of an argument to make your point frankly. Speaking for myself, I think there are many ways to write satire about poverty, or to even use sarcasm in treating the subject in general. What could be more ripe a subject for satire? Poverty is largely a by product of politics. However, this list just fails, on all counts, in my opinion. So you skated a bit on today’s list. Took a break and went numb. I’m a fan of listverse, and have no problem with that. It happens. But this list is a notch or three below the usual standard.
Wow… you really should have picked your words more wisely before posting this comment.
“every person abusing this list or it’s writer is not in poverty – poor people don’t have computers and Internet. I grew up poor but I still enjoyed this list.”
So because they have computers, they don’t know how it feels to be poor…even though you yourself were poor but are now on the internet by way of your computer.
“Wise men speak because they have something to say;
Fools because they have to say something.” — Plato
I don’t have a computer but my shelter does so does the library and many public drop in shelters. I also have a website and a paypal account, what can i say im a very well connected hoboe!
I don’t find it funny at all. Just sad. As for those “screaming foul”…..I think you would find MOST of them have gone one or more days without food. I’m one of them.
I’m not a fan of this list, but others found it amusing. I’ll just wait on tomorrow’s list and leave it at that.
When I lived in the US, I lived below the poverty threshold and I still had a computer and I did occasionally go without food, or ate only once or twice a day. I have been reading Listverse for years now, and I generally find these lists to be informative and at times amusing, but this one wasn’t funny.
Exactly how poor? Poor like your mom taking apart your dad’s work clothes to make your school clothes poor? Poor like when the national economic minister came on the radio and said that if you made less than X dollars you were living below the poverty line – and your family of 4 was making 2 grand less. That poor? Or not eating at all for weeks poor? Not having a bed poor? I think that poverty is in the eye of the beholder…
I get that this post is supposed to be a joke, but I found it incredibly tasteless and pretty damn offensive. I grew up extremely poor and am still living well below the poverty line and I think this list is just in really bad taste. I was kind of excited when I first saw the title, because I think there are a few advantages to living poor that most people don’t realize, but this list was really terrible.
Did anyone who think this is funny ever live poor?
I checked out the list for the same reasons Tracy . My situation sounds much like yours also . It was a poor stab at humour in my opinion .
There is a movement today called Voluntary Simplicity ( Translated from the french Simplicité Volontaire ) . Some practice simplified living based on ecological and non-consumer based life choices . IE ; work less to enjoy more time with the family, having one pair of boots , seven pairs of underwear, Buying used cars , using the old tv instead of buying the plasma , not upgrading the appliances every other year when the old ones are fine.
I think y all get the picture
I believe the world has no other choice but to slow down and practice this type of living eventually . Most scientists agree that the world cannot sustain a capitalist society . If China is to enjoy the same quality of living as the average North American we would need the equivalent of 3 or 4 earths to supply the raw materials necessary…
“Poverty entails fear and stress and sometimes depression. It means a thousand petty humiliations and hardships. Climbing out of poverty by your own efforts — that is something on which to pride yourself — but poverty itself is romanticized only by fools.” — J.K. Rowling, June 2008, Harvard commencement address[
Depends on where you live, I guess. In Scandinavia and Northern Europe everyone has an Internet connection (maybe not 100 mb, but at least 2-10 mb) and a computer (maybe not the latest Mac or iPad, but at least an old PC.) This is because the Government pays for these for the poorest people who really can’t afford them. You have to be a homeless alcoholic or a drug abuser if you can’t get a computer and a net connection in Sweden, Finland or Germany. Having said that, I kind of liked the list, although I prefer the more bizarre ones.
I must correct your grammar, JF. You’ve got an extra apostrophe in your message. Don’t you know the difference between “its” and “it’s”? The former is a neuter version of “his” or “her”, the latter is an abbreviation of “it is”. I thought native English speakers knew this.
I’ve been quite content to read the lists/comments for quite some time now, and never felt the need to register/comment myself…until now.
Far too many folks commenting seem to be of the professional offendee ilk, and think that somehow being outraged at the content/tone of the list makes them “good” people–sticking up for the downtrodden and moaning on about injustice in the world.
How they bleed for everyone…and feel the need to let everyone know how cruel they are for enjoying the list while somewhere in the world kids go to bed hungry.
My wife and our 2 children have lived below the poverty line for too many years now, but we have something that many, many wealthy folks wish they had–happiness and a strong love for each other.
We don’t exactly roll over and accept our lot in life as being hopeless failures, but we don’t cry ourselves to sleep every night either.
It sounds to me that the a
…never mind…
Does this have to do with simple living? Do want!…..Oh wait… what a dick.
I found this list entertaining an did not see it as an attack on being homeless but more an attack on consuming, it highlighted to me certain things that people who are better off worry too much about and that having more items is not a key to happiness.
Saying that I would not wish to be homeless and feel for those who are but I think this list was more a stab at the other end of the scale then the homeless
Well done
Neah. Jonathan Swift had it all penned down in A Modest Proposal. Now thats satire. It goes to extreme lenghts, it raises awareness,you can notice the bad guys. Here we havent any of these. It doesnt become extreme, everybody knows that poverty exists. Its like raising awareness that we breath air. And i cant see who should we blame for this situation. Is it rich people’s fault? I cant tell. Average people’s fault cuz they dont give enough to hfh or whatever? I cant tell.
And im not sure about the intro. Should i agree with it. Or not? Maybe his goal was to confuse us. But the i ask. So yeah im confused.Not confused and humored. Just confuses. What now.
Rubish.. just rubish… I don’t want to expand all but here’s my take on it..
10:no workload – damn I’m too lazy to work
9: finances can only improve – and give you more than you can ever dream of
8: easier food prep – cause rich people just order them in some fancy restaurant while the poor people do the preparation for the rich
7:ignore economic downturns – cause you’re a bum and you don’t even pay the taxes so why bother when you’re not helping the community
6:freebies! – leech!
4:healthy lifestyle – Can’t afford shelter and medicine so, duh, medicine bills will surely become a thing of a past instead you’ll get a death certificate
3: achieve your dreams – Can’t afford to buy a Ferrari and ***** it out in the playboy mansion
2:less crime – I can’t afford food so better steal somebody else’s food or better yet rob a bank and accidentaly kill somebody in the process
1: go to heaven – Ooops killed somebody while robbing a bank, oh well I’m going to hell now..
Ok I this is how I took the list
10. We work ourselves to hard and Donnie have enough time to enjoy life.
9. We place to much importance in money andnin turn it controls our life.
8. We consume to much, to often and to lavishly when it is not needed.
7. We rely to much on a corrupted monetary system.
6. We take to many things for granted.
5. Many people in developed worlds are heading towards an ever-increasing sederentry lifestyle. WE LAZY
4. We tend to complain and protest about pathetic topics “who should have won dancing with the stars, they changed the timeslot of a show, the FCC” when there are more important issues to get involved with, someone should write a list, top ten things we should not complain about.
3. Our dreams tend to be consumer based. I would be happy with a wife, kids and a retle property.
2. Less crime, meh pointless topic.
1. God, heaven, religion…i stopped reading this type of fiction in primary school. Awesome quote ” the world is my country and my religion is to do good”
As I said I took this list in a different view then how many of you took it and I thought it was great and thought provoking in an abstract way
3.
or you’re just too lazy to make something out of your life so instead of living the complicated aspect of life which all wise philosophers tried giving meaning to, you go to the option of just embracing poverty and then have a family and brought them with you into poverty. Oh and you missed education and didn’t learn about family planning because of poverty and in the process brought your really big family of a wife and ten children with you into poverty. vicious cycle ain’t it?
I dont embrace poverty, I took the list differently to you and got a different meaning to you.
I think the writer understands that there are infact no benefits to homelessness and by reading his intro it’s pretty clear that he is being critical of consumerism. Sure ge could have wrote a list top ten problems with consumerism but instead he chose to make it satirical and for me this made me connect with the topic
yup satirical in your perspective, more like a smoke screen for the poorness of this list.. If the writer understands that there is no benefit to homelessness then why bother make this list? ever been homeless?
Jesus. Jesus said that bit about the Camel. Why am I the first person to point that out?
I was going to ask the same thing. I’m thinking that’s just a troll? glad somebody else is on the same page.
I suspect that bit was supposed to be a call-back to the Confucius bit from a few numbers up but still- it’s an odd quote to feign ignorance of. It’s a shame enough that most gems of Eastern thought are interchangeable in the English-speaking world. Playing at idea that such fundamentally iconic texts are equally opaque to western ears is horrifying.
Of course, I’m probably over-thinking the issue. Not that I mind. Someone has to, anyway.
Sorry to say but this list can only be enjoyed by people who have never been poor or even some who think they had experienced poverty but in reality, they never had to go through the suffering caused by not having any money at all. Poverty is a curse. Believe me.
Those people can laugh and enjoy this list. Today, after along time, humor escapes me…
Judging by the fact that you have Dilbert as your avatar, humor escaped you a long time ago..
Zing!
I enjoyed this list and I have been below the poverty line, but I learned a long time ago that the best way to get through something is to be able to laugh about it. I know there are people starving all over the world and I’m not saying they should laugh that they are watching their children starve to death. I’m only speaking from my personal experience. I learned to laugh about only eating peanut butter and walking everywhere. I don’t think he meant to point and laugh at poor folks, but some of it rang true and made me remember a time when I had very little.
why pick on gandhi, even in jest?
the man liberated an entire civilization and in the process many other nations as well.
@Magnumto
you have written a very nice list but do you yourself follow these things or you are the preacher kind of person. These things are easier said than done. Try to live on the street for a day and the next thing you would want is to run back to your house. Also writing lists like this restrain yourself from picking on a person like Gandhi from whom great leaders like Martin Luther King were inspired. Shame on you to put such sickning humor in this list. He was the reason that a huge country like India attained freedom. I really loved your list but you put me off with your cheap little line.
Its true you should try it!
A small glimpse on truth with small pinch of dark humor
My next list: 10 Best things that came out of finding my girlfriend in bed with 2 guys and a dog…
Geesh. Come on people. Lighten up. The author meant this as tongue in check. Of course real poverty is terrible. So terrible that, in the US anyway, we who aren’t living in poverty tend to ignore it. Some even want to blame the poor people living in poverty. Save your anger for that injustice.
Nice fun list. Thanks
Couldn’t agree more, well said
“the eye of the needle” reference is from the new testament. I believe it was spoken by Jesus. also, interestingly, it is believed that the eye of the needle was actually a small gate to the city, rather than the literal idea of walking into a needle’s point
I’ve heard that too. It’s probably true. Either way, the meaning remains the same.
Not a funny list nor a serious one. Just one that is absolutely stupid. I hope people don’t really take this seriously. For those that have been in the “shoes” of poverty, it’s not glamorous or fun. It’s hard. Very hard.
Not a fan of this list at all.
Tomorrow’s another day.
Satire hooray!
Touchy touchy. Satire is usually meant to make you feel a tad bit disgusted peeps. Its thought provoking and deep. The author is not literally suggesting you live in poverty he is merely trying to open your eyes to the hardships and reality that poverty brings. So if you really feel bad instead of complaining about the author’s distastefulness maybe you should think about doing some charity. Suggested reading-A Modest Proposal by Jonathon Swift
Did you just compare this to A Modest Proposal?
Haha, I was just wondering the same thing. But lets just suppose he was. If, in fact, the author set out to write a satire in the same vein as Swift, he failed on that count considerably. That is largely because he makes a poor attempt at humor, in which a piece like Swift’s “A Modest Proposal” has zero attempts at humor. “A Modest Proposal” was intended to be dark, foreboding, and full of moral indignation. That isn’t what this list is at all. Like I said before, this is poorly written dreck. But I’ll get over it. Time to move on.
No but it’s the best example I can think of so I suggested it as a good read.
I love people who know everything. Teach me oh great and knowledgable one how to be as smart as you. Satire is a form of comedy. Comedy is funny. I agree this piece was poorly written, I mean who is gonna catch a humming bird? I personally would go for pigeons and cats. Yummy
The only offensive thing about this is how unfunny it is.
great list!!! especially number 1.
very optimistic view on hardships in this economy.
you can take this seriously if youre not a debby downer.
Listverse has taken a serious downturn. I’m not coming to this site anymore.
Look on the bright side. Your keyboard is probably a little less sticky now.
Maggot,
Cool name. Oh by the way we have an ongoing bet over here we need you to help clear up. You are boyfriend and girlfriend with Jfrater, aren’t you?
Sincerely,
Worm
Why do you think I should be bothered to help clear anything up for you, you dumb fu.ck? You can think whatever you want to think. I don’t give a sh.it.
This list would make it on my ” Top 10 Worst Lists”
Yesterdays list about the snakes was pretty cool though.
Lets see more bizarre, more weird facts, and more about animals.
I get that this list wasn’t meant to be serious, but if it isn’t serious shoudn’t it at least be funny?
Is there honestly nothing else that could have been published? I know this list isn’t serious but it’s also poorly written and not very funny.
For those who were wondering who said “It’s easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into heaven” it was Jesus in Matthew 19:24. the exact quote is, “Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
What a ridiculous list, clearly all of you were born with silver spoons up your *****s.
In it’s own twisted and ironic way, this list is genius. Somewhere, Thomas Swift is having a good chuckle.
The quote in #1 is from Matthew 19:24 (and I’ll judge you on this right after I’m perfect, so don’t hold your breath):
23 Jesus said to his disciples, “I can guarantee this truth: It will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven.
24 I can guarantee again that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”
http://gwt.scripturetext.com/matthew/19.htm
yea thisth list isth geniuth! Somewhere Thomas swift is having a hardy chuckle and a greasy state fair style turkey leg. Followed by some s e x y time with a prost itute.
The whole time I was reading I was thinking, “This can’t be serious.” And “Are they trying to be funny?”
Everybody who says this list is distasteful truly is. Cracked is better than this. ***** list you guys. I feel like we wasted this list on something that was truly interesting and pleasant to read. I come to listverse to learn about stuff not to get badly manufactured sarcasm about a topic that doesn’t even NEED sarcasm. Reminds me of Tosh but less funny.
It’s easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into heaven, that was in the book of Matthew in the new testament in the bible, not Confucius. And why would we embrace poverty? Non of these reasons are really great, it seems like someone who thinks everyone should be in poverty, without thinking of the effects of what would happen.
I thought this was a genius idea for a list, but it looks like it was written as a joke. Poverty is different from having no money at all, you know. And poverty can, of course, suck.
“It’s easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into heaven” <- Jesus said it
I gota say, Magnumto, you really jumped into the lion’s mouth with this one. I thought it was very funny, like Mark Twain style.
Except Mark Twain had true affection and concern for the downtrodden that came through in his writings – this doesn’t.
I agree he’s really playing with the lion’s scrotum on this one.
Enter your comment here.
Tommorow is April Fool’s.
In New Zealand, today is April Fools.
that explains it….
Then that would explain this list…still it’s kind of in poor taste. Especially to those having gone through it. I’ve gotten over my initial shock of seeing this list, but still don’t find it funny.
Worst *****ing list ever, who the ***** made this list. He should be shot in the neck.
Wow – you use a *****ist slur as your username and recommend murdering a person for writing a humorous list about poverty. That is awfully scary.
Very silly post as well as your username. This is not a good list, but there have been worse. No one deserves to be “shot” over it.
Poor taste.
I agree with the optimism and positivity towards being in poverty that this list demonstrates. If one in poverty was to take this list seriously and honestly be this positive things would seem much better to them
Ill just say cuz well somebody has to do it: i was poor too. Then i started winning. Winning over here. Winning over there. Winning against poor people. Winning against rich people. Just winning. Having seen the girls i date and the cars i drive, can you really say you’re better than me?
Is thsi the part where we all sing “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life?”
I do wonder whether this is for real or not… I would say joke, but there are a fair few people out there foolish enough to try something like this…
Wow. List FAIL. JF you’ve really allowed a website that used to have substance to become a haven for ridiculous bull*****. I’d like to say I’m not coming back to LV but I know you don’t care about any of the readers. Ah well, let’s just hope you pick this site up before everyone follows suit and jumps ship on this failed abortion you try to pawn off as “interesting.”
Alright! watta riot! You guys think too much. Let just put it this way. Now we all know that we are humans – right? We all know that we are living in a free-trade oriented world – right? right. And of course we all know that the economy is rock bottom and the only way is up – right? right. Okay then! We humans that is living in a fast paced dynamic world are supposed to be improving and not degrading for the benefit of everybody – now when i say everybody that’s us guys.. (do i hear you say yeah?! yeah!! : ) And we are supposed to be helping each other to be the best that we can be, not just in monetary terms but it could be an inspiration, time, a car or something that can add life to a ‘brotha or a sistah that could help us achieve the best that we can be. In return for that “something” that we give to each other we will receive the same thing from each other that should add to our lives. All for the purpose of going up – ( im not talking about THC again ok. nehehe.. ) to improve. You guys with me?
- Well I guess this is what I believe the way things should work.
I like it! Money has the tendency to make humans compete against each other; while a lack of money usually does the exact opposite. You seem to thing that the ‘every-man-for-himself’ policy is not worth it and that we should all settle down and get along. Well… I like the ideal, and I hope it works out that way.
It’s easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into heaven – is from Matthew 19:24
Im not some bible nut. Just someone who can use google
you can eat a camel but the camel can’t eat you