The Charmed Life

[Sportin' Wood]

There are a couple threads currently and a few in the past where the veil gets lifted and the wizard behind the curtain is exposed as a con.

After watching the Pablo Escobar Narcos show on Netflix years ago, I pondered the life choice of a good 20 year run of complete excess and debauchery, vs the steady nuclear family American dream dynamic. I think if you could guarantee me a Pablo life for 15-20 years, I'll take that deal with the devil even with the hail of gunfire in the end. I think many middle aged guys (+50) would.

I see lots of questions in posts about why and how these people make these choices.

I've come to this conclusion. No Fuks Given. It seems they take the step that every middle class guy working a job he hates and dying a slow death dreams of.

I don't think they care what the finish line looks like. In many cases I think the risk is worth the reward. If you can con $200M and hide it in offshore accounts, do you really care what happens to your family name?

We all pay a price for the choices we make. My guess is the path they were on was not the exciting and they chose the fast lane knowing it leads to a dead end, but would be a hell of a ride. Deals with the devil, don't happen at a crossroads, they happen one compromise at a time and get progressively easier to make, until you are firmly in the grasp of evil.

So the question I have, at what point is it worth it? I'm thinking if you hate your Dad, his empire and the employees of the company you inherit after his death, perhaps you run a con and do whatever the fuk you want for a few years before you hustle a bunch of cash into offshore accounts and move to a nice warm place with no extradition.

I know of a guy on a collision course right now. He has been on it a while. He somehow escapes fate and keeps going. He is like Teflon and nothing sticks. I think his end is near, but he really does not care. I think he knows it as well. I'm not even sad for the guy, because we are years past people trying to help him. When it ends it will be ugly.

Status seems a difficult drug to kick. I can see why things often go south for people who have tasted it's sweet kiss.

Is there a trade you would be willing to make in exchange for a fixed expiration date?
Maybe you are one of the guys who thinks you are smarter than the devil?

 

[coolchange]

Most men live lives of quite dying desperation.
I think the fantasy of turning your back, tossing the match, and going Thelma and Louise runs at least little in everyone.

 

[DILLIGAF]

I would not take that deal. I have always been in survivor mode since I was a child. Never took the easy road

 

[Apex svt]

I’d easily strike up a deal.

 

[Sportin' Wood]

Most men live lives of quite dying desperation.
I think the fantasy of turning your back, tossing the match, and going Thelma and Louise runs at least little in everyone.

 

[Sportin' Wood]

The counter argument

 

[Floaterboat]

The heart of your question is simple -

Is it better to have FAFO’d and lost than to have never FAFO’d at all.

There are people here, there and everywhere with various levels of fake success. Some people were riding high in 06 and had nothing by 09. Walking away from every obligation one had is certainly legal. Is it ethical? Is that a deal with the devil, or just another rationalization?

What do those get that do the right thing, don’t indulge in excess and prepare for a rainy day get in the end? Really all they get is peace of mind. They surely don’t get the thrills of driving a Lamborghini or flying a helicopter.

So who is the real winner?

There are people that do this small - they buy all kinds of crap when they have money and sell it all when they run out, and that is their life, up and down.

There are others with more gusto like you described that will just run afoul of every law and indulge in every excess along the way until they are dead or in jail.

The fact is if you offered that deal to most people today, they would take it.

 

[DRYHEAT]

There are a couple threads currently and a few in the past where the veil gets lifted and the wizard behind the curtain is exposed as a con.

After watching the Pablo Escobar Narcos show on Netflix years ago, I pondered the life choice of a good 20 year run of complete excess and debauchery, vs the steady nuclear family American dream dynamic. I think if you could guarantee me a Pablo life for 15-20 years, I'll take that deal with the devil even with the hail of gunfire in the end. I think many middle aged guys (+50) would.

I see lots of questions in posts about why and how these people make these choices.

I've come to this conclusion. No Fuks Given. It seems they take the step that every middle class guy working a job he hates and dying a slow death dreams of.

I don't think they care what the finish line looks like. In many cases I think the risk is worth the reward. If you can con $200M and hide it in offshore accounts, do you really care what happens to your family name?

We all pay a price for the choices we make. My guess is the path they were on was not the exciting and they chose the fast lane knowing it leads to a dead end, but would be a hell of a ride. Deals with the devil, don't happen at a crossroads, they happen one compromise at a time and get progressively easier to make, until you are firmly in the grasp of evil.

So the question I have, at what point is it worth it? I'm thinking if you hate your Dad, his empire and the employees of the company you inherit after his death, perhaps you run a con and do whatever the fuk you want for a few years before you hustle a bunch of cash into offshore accounts and move to a nice warm place with no extradition.

I know of a guy on a collision course right now. He has been on it a while. He somehow escapes fate and keeps going. He is like Teflon and nothing sticks. I think his end is near, but he really does not care. I think he knows it as well. I'm not even sad for the guy, because we are years past people trying to help him. When it ends it will be ugly.

Status seems a difficult drug to kick. I can see why things often go south for people who have tasted it's sweet kiss.

Is there a trade you would be willing to make in exchange for a fixed expiration date?
Maybe you are one of the guys who thinks you are smarter than the devil?

Eric explains the lifecycle here.

 

[Rajobigguy]

I was brought up in a pretty conservative Lutheran family so I don’t think that I would be able too just throw morals and ethics aside and live for the moment. I think fear of afterlife consequences probably does a lot to keep me in line.

 

[lakemadness]

Ehh...

It's totally possible to have a rad life and setup, legally, if you want it. There is inherent stress in the life of a person constantly jumping through hoops skirting/breaking laws, dropping bodies, and stashing cash in rat holes.

It's more relaxing to chill on the boat without a care in the world vs. looking over your back...

 

[HotRod82]

The heart of your question is simple -

Is it better to have FAFO’d and lost than to have never FAFO’d at all.

There are people here, there and everywhere with various levels of fake success. Some people were riding high in 06 and had nothing by 09. Walking away from every obligation one had is certainly legal. Is it ethical? Is that a deal with the devil, or just another rationalization?

What do those get that do the right thing, don’t indulge in excess and prepare for a rainy day get in the end? Really all they get is peace of mind. They surely don’t get the thrills of driving a Lamborghini or flying a helicopter.

So who is the real winner?

There are people that do this small - they buy all kinds of crap when they have money and sell it all when they run out, and that is their life, up and down.

There are others with more gusto like you described that will just run afoul of every law and indulge in every excess along the way until they are dead or in jail.

The fact is if you offered that deal to most people today, they would take it.

Gotta disagree with most people taking that deal…… simply because anyone can do it right now. Put down your phone and go rob a bank. Thankfully, most of us have enough respect for ourselves and others not to go down that path. That said, I don’t have any sympathy for people who work a shitty job and slowly die. You only get one pass through life, step up to the plate and swing for the fence!

 

[TeamGreene]

This is what I thought of when I read this post.

~Snip~
"There's lots of shady characters, lots of dirty deals
Every name's an alias in case somebody squeals
It's the lure of easy money, it's got a very strong appeal"

-Glenn Frey, Smugglers blues.

 

[hallett21]

I think that the “push it to the limit” mentality is engrained in people at a very very young age. And it’s solidified in the environment that they are raised in.

I’d bet anything that Pablo Escobar raised in Manhattan would have gone on to be a successful finance guy.

 

[ShineSyndicate]

IT COULD GO EITHER WAY BUT THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT ARE CERTAIN

WE ONLY HAVE ONE LIFE, USE IT WISELY AND THAT DOESNT MEAN TO BE RECKLESS AND NEGLIGENT.. OR DOES IT FOR SOME? YOU DECIDE

TOMORROW IS NOT GUARANTEED, IT COULD BE OVER JUST LIKE THAT, NOTHING YOU HAVE GOES WITH YOU TO THE GRAVE, NOR DOES ANYONE CARE WHAT YOU HAVE, THOUGH IT LOOKS COOL.
ASK YOURSELF WHY DO YOU DO IT? HOBBY? FAMILY, FOR PEOPLE TO LOOK AT YOUR STUFF AND SAY DAMN, OR A LITTLE BIT OF IT ALL?

NO ONE HAS A PERFECT LIFE, THOUGH IT MAY SEEM LIKE IT ONLINE, NO ONE TRULY KNOWS WHATS GOING ON IN EACH OTHERS LIFE. NOW KEEP IN MIND, PERFECT CAN MEAN SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO EVERYONE.

EVERYONE GOES THROUGH GREAT TIMES, HORRIBLE TIMES AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN. THE TRUE DEFINING MOMENT IN LIFE IS WHAT YOU DO AND HOW YOU BOUNCE BACK

ENJOY LIFE, IT'S A WILD RIDE AS WE ALL KNOW IT.

 

[samsah33]

...the irony is that the guys who scam and hustle are usually pretty sharp to begin with, otherwise people wouldn't trust them with their cash... If they just re-focused their efforts on legal endeavors, then I suspect they could be pretty darn successful without having to watch their back (healthcare CEO's aside...). I had that moment of clarity in high school when I realized how much time and effort I put into getting out of assignments and projects and classes - once I refocused a small portion of that energy to meeting minimum standards, life became exponentially easier for me with parents and school...

 

[Eliminator21vdrive]

IT COULD GO EITHER WAY BUT THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT ARE CERTAIN

WE ONLY HAVE ONE LIFE, USE IT WISELY AND THAT DOESNT MEAN TO BE RECKLESS AND NEGLIGENT.. OR DOES IT FOR SOME? YOU DECIDE

TOMORROW IS NOT GUARANTEED, IT COULD BE OVER JUST LIKE THAT, NOTHING YOU HAVE GOES WITH YOU TO THE GRAVE, NOR DOES ANYONE CARE WHAT YOU HAVE, THOUGH IT LOOKS COOL.
ASK YOURSELF WHY DO YOU DO IT? HOBBY? FAMILY, FOR PEOPLE TO LOOK AT YOUR STUFF AND SAY DAMN, OR A LITTLE BIT OF IT ALL?

NO ONE HAS A PERFECT LIFE, THOUGH IT MAY SEEM LIKE IT ONLINE, NO ONE TRULY KNOWS WHATS GOING ON IN EACH OTHERS LIFE. NOW KEEP IN MIND, PERFECT CAN MEAN SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO EVERYONE.

EVERYONE GOES THROUGH GREAT TIMES, HORRIBLE TIMES AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN. THE TRUE DEFINING MOMENT IN LIFE IS WHAT YOU DO AND HOW YOU BOUNCE BACK

ENJOY LIFE, IT'S A WILD RIDE AS WE ALL KNOW IT.

Some of us do it for personal satisfaction and enjoy the build as much as the end result.

 

[sirbob]

I would not take that deal.

And I disagree that most are dying inside every day. I have always worked with people who are happy and fulfilled. Of course I'd like more $$ but I have lived and continue to live a full happy life.

I never once thought an Escobar life was cool or desirable. I can't even begin to see that as a choice worth considering.

 

[ShineSyndicate]

Some of us do it for personal satisfaction and enjoy the build as much as the end result.

100% Agree, The Build is the best part!

 

[Cole Trickle]

Life is interesting....

The people that want the most and grind the hardest don't know what to do with successes once achieved and chasing more $$ or accolades becomes there high.

They do this at the expense of family , marriages, friendships and values and then wonder what happened to there life as they age.

I'm sure there are psychological studies that show many of these people come from questionable backgrounds with childhood trauma, abuse or a father that told them or made them feel like they weren't good enough.

Life isn't rocket science if you play your cards right you can live a great life comfortably without screwing people over or flaming out. I would never trade my life/soul for $$$ or a quick high. Life is a grind and I'm enjoying the marathon.

 

[Dalton]

Grass is always greener…..

 

[Backlash]

If I was older in the 80's than I actually was, and still lived in Florida, I might have been sucked into the rush of fast boats and easy money. The technology back then was nothing like it is today, and I'm confident a savvy navigator could import random items via a number of various channels. No pun intended. But today, with all the technology, no chance in hell. I'm happy I ended up where I am today and wouldn't trade it for a life of uncertainty. But I DO understand the life and the desire to live "That" type of lifestyle......it was heavily glamorized through a number of 80's TV shows.

 

[coolchange]

This is what I thought of when I read this post.

~Snip~
"There's lots of shady characters, lots of dirty deals
Every name's an alias in case somebody squeals
It's the lure of easy money, it's got a very strong appeal"

-Glenn Frey, Smugglers blues.

I made enough money to buy Miami but I pissed it all away so fast..

 

[Orange Juice]

There are a couple threads currently and a few in the past where the veil gets lifted and the wizard behind the curtain is exposed as a con.

After watching the Pablo Escobar Narcos show on Netflix years ago, I pondered the life choice of a good 20 year run of complete excess and debauchery, vs the steady nuclear family American dream dynamic. I think if you could guarantee me a Pablo life for 15-20 years, I'll take that deal with the devil even with the hail of gunfire in the end. I think many middle aged guys (+50) would.

I see lots of questions in posts about why and how these people make these choices.

I've come to this conclusion. No Fuks Given. It seems they take the step that every middle class guy working a job he hates and dying a slow death dreams of.

I don't think they care what the finish line looks like. In many cases I think the risk is worth the reward. If you can con $200M and hide it in offshore accounts, do you really care what happens to your family name?

We all pay a price for the choices we make. My guess is the path they were on was not the exciting and they chose the fast lane knowing it leads to a dead end, but would be a hell of a ride. Deals with the devil, don't happen at a crossroads, they happen one compromise at a time and get progressively easier to make, until you are firmly in the grasp of evil.

So the question I have, at what point is it worth it? I'm thinking if you hate your Dad, his empire and the employees of the company you inherit after his death, perhaps you run a con and do whatever the fuk you want for a few years before you hustle a bunch of cash into offshore accounts and move to a nice warm place with no extradition.

I know of a guy on a collision course right now. He has been on it a while. He somehow escapes fate and keeps going. He is like Teflon and nothing sticks. I think his end is near, but he really does not care. I think he knows it as well. I'm not even sad for the guy, because we are years past people trying to help him. When it ends it will be ugly.

Status seems a difficult drug to kick. I can see why things often go south for people who have tasted it's sweet kiss.

Is there a trade you would be willing to make in exchange for a fixed expiration date?
Maybe you are one of the guys who thinks you are smarter than the devil?

What you’re describing is in the list of mental health disorders on Wiki….just saying

Mental health - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[coolchange]

If I was older in the 80's than I actually was, and still lived in Florida, I might have been sucked into the rush of fast boats and easy money. The technology back then was nothing like it is today, and I'm confident a savvy navigator could import random items via a number of various channels. No pun intended. But today, with all the technology, no chance in hell. I'm happy I ended up where I am today and wouldn't trade it for a life of uncertainty. But I DO understand the life and the desire to live "That" type of lifestyle......it was heavily glamorized through a number of 80's TV shows.

 

[HBCraig]

"If you tell the truth, you dont have to remember anything "
- Mark Twain

 

[rivermobster]

At what point do it be worth it?

Never to me!

I've never been rich, and I never will. But I've led a pretty FUN life!!!

I was just reading the other day about some judge in her 90's, who is SUING so she can STAY ON THE BENCH!!!

What da fuck makes someone WANT to go to work??? Holy fuck!!! If that's not mental illness, what is???

I think a lot of people just have no clue HOW to be happy!!!

Maybe they missed the memo or something?

Life is short. Make it sweet!!!

 

[Backlash]

I never saw this trailer or the preview for this release! Hahahaa!!

 

[monkeyswrench]

Would I deal with the devil? Maybe, but would he hold his end of the bargain?

Not for fame...not a big fan of people.
Not for money. I've had some, and the stuff that comes with having it, but having more wouldn't be the greatest I don't think. Assuring health and success for my wife and kids? I'd sign that paper right now.

Somedays I may agree, dying a little bit everyday. Other days, I realize there's a lot of living left in me, so it doesn't matter.

Everyone's put here on earth for a reason. I'm fairly positive being rich and famous isn't mine. Psychotic, maybe, to some extent. Sociopath? No, I couldn't ruin the lives of others for my gain.
I also wasn't put here to be a politician.

 

[Sleek-Jet]

I've known more miserable rich people than miserable poor people.

I think at its core, these stories of people and their meteoric rise and fall, you'll find people that are searching for something to fill that void within themselves. Lots of ink has been spilled on the subject, and lots of it is attributed to today's shallow and materialistic society.

Hey, and I don't blame them either, it is fun to the be the center of the party with all the hot girls and other like minded bros around. We all want to belong to a group and that demographic can be a pretty cool group to belong to.

So the options are put in the work in and wait till middle age, or older, for the payoff (maybe), or angle for the easier path and check a few morals along the way. Hopefully you can square with the house before it all falls apart, but that certainly doesn't seem to happen very often.

Back to my opening point, the happiest rich people I've known live so far below their means you would be surprised at their net worth. Guys that still live in a double wide, but have 8 figures in the bank, that sort of thing.

I guess in the end we all are looking where we fit in the universe and either fighting like mad to get there or making peace with it.

 

[530RL]

What You Were Taught About “Happiness” Isn’t True

Most of us believe that if we tick a series of boxes (great job, fancy car, etc.,) we will arrive at success and live happily every after. But happiness isn’t a destination. The reality is that the concept of happiness us, in fact, flawed. Based on research, author Penny Locaso came up with a...

hbr.org

 

[Ziggy]

I've met many people living as happy larks that most here would call 3rd worlders. Our "progressive" society in the 1st world has driven many to believe having more stuff makes you happier in life...some to the point of never getting enough. Keeping up with the Jones' is truly a disease, witnessed uncounted folks with it during my dealership years. It certainly opened my eyes.
Humble-ism is quite rare.

 

[Xtrmwakeboarder]

I think diminishing returns on material stuff start far lower than we think. I still chase the big payday, but I honestly can’t think of a time of being more happy than being with my pops, best bud, and g/f “now wife” at the river in my $5,000 boat and $15,000 trailer. Far less stress, health, and glass at sunset > anything I’ve done since.

Shit, go to Bali. Those people have nothing and are the happiest/ most appreciative group I’ve ever seen.

 

[coolchange]

Grass is always greener…..

That’s true.
Because those effers stay in there own yard and work on it.

 

[Go-Fly]

There was a time in my life I had $42 in the bank. There was a time in my life I owned that same bank. Somewheres in the middle was the perfect time. Three employees, worked 40-80 hours a week, beer at 5, offroad weekends, fishing trips, the kids and camping and friends were true friends. There is a point when to much money becomes a blur and you're always surrounded by strangers, even in your home.

 

[Willie B]

"If you tell the truth, you dont have to remember anything "
- Mark Twain

…This…

 

[FROGMAN524]

 

[TeamGreene]

Comparison is the thief of joy

 

[JDKRXW]

Life isn't rocket science if you play your cards right you can live a great life comfortably without screwing people over or flaming out. I would never trade my life/soul for $$$ or a quick high. Life is a grind and I'm enjoying the marathon.

100% agree. It's taken a while but I figured these 3 things out;
- If you want to be successful in a certain area - hang around with a few people you consider succesful in these areas. Success rubs off on prople.
- Every man needs 2 or 3 friends that he can share, in complete confidence, literally anything with. The 'lone wolf' is going fail in one of life's important areas. It's just a matter of time.
-Do not accept constant negativity or people who push your buttons. These people need to be cut out of your life (family included). You'll live longer.

 

[Eliminator21vdrive]

Comparison is the thief of joy

Don't steal your own sunshine.