Has anyone become famous, and not bought a mansion?

For those of you who are anti-luxury, anti-capitalist, etc., have you always been that way, or did you become that way after you settled into your current socio-economic situation?

I can certainly think of one famous friend and musician who has kept his fame in perspective and he is
Michael Franti.

We often wondered why he still lives in the not so nice area of San Francisco but one has to understand the man he still doesn't wear shoes. He did move to a new place just so he could have a recording studio in his house Sugar Shack just to be able to create his music at his leisure.

Here's a bit on him here.. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Franti

He's given free concerts in the San Fransisco area 9/11 before the tragedy of 9/11 that's going on 10 years now. Even played to prisons around the country. He's made some money and IS making money but he finds ways to give back to masses of people that love his music around the world.

Peace

Drowned Out wrote:

A 5 series will give you a reach-around if you ask nicely enough...which is great, but not essential in a car....therefore...reach-around feature = wasteful spending!

Don't agree with most of what you posted on this topic. But that line made my day

Thanks.

Drowned Out wrote:

decides2dream wrote:

Drowned Out wrote:

what are you my fuckin shrink now?
I've always been a bitter prick, but no...my divorce didn't help :twisted:



dreams - this is the kind of thing two drunk friends could bicker about till the sun came up. I just looked up the definition of like 10 adjectives trying to pin you with somethin. I got nothin. (don't be too flattered, I'm pretty much OCD with dictionaries :P) It's all subjective/relative...when you look up a word, and it has five definitions starting with 'of or pertaining to', you know it's a dead-end point you're trying to prove. I'm speaking my ideals, and admit that I sure as hell don't always live by 'em.

Since you're wonderin, I will tell you what's wrong with bmw's....this is how it works, by model series...owners can determine their douchiness on my scale of 1 - 10:

3's - average joes who want to look cool 8
5's - mid-upper class person who wants to look cool 7or, apparently, a rich person who wants to look mid-upper class-cool....(mr. mccready? ) 3
7's - rich, country-clubbers who are assholes because they're rich and 'belong to' country clubs 6
M's - leather glove, auto-elitist crowd 5
z's - trophy wives 0
x's - ALL SUV owners are assholes, but these are bmw SUV drivin assholes 6

Double douche points for anyone who leases just to stay in a new one.:P

so according to your theory...my oldest sister fits this, or worse...she might have a 7? :twisted:
that's my point, it is YOUR - perhaps jaded? - perspective, and NOT a true reflection on all who own such vehicles, own luxury goods, etc. some people simply CAN afford them, and truly ENJOY them. and yes, since my sister owns her own business, it makes SENSE for her to lease, write-off for her company. same thing with my middle sister, she leases a convertible audi....b/c she gets a car allowance thru her job, and it is her luxury, her *reward* to herself...her one area where she splurges b/c she truly enjoys all the luxury of the car. not everyone is about putting on airs or *trying* to look cool......it's merely your own opinion on it, which is fair enough, but certainly not necessarily true or accurate.


btw - for someone who thinks they are so wasteful, you know WAY more about each model than i ever did, or cared to know. only reason i even think? i know what model BMW my sis drives is b/c i just saw her recently and she just got a new lease. my other sister's audi, i have NO idea...simply b/c i don't care, i just know she enjoys it.


i appreciate you sopeaking your ideals.....i just don't appreciate them being spoken as declaritive statements.


edit - and not that it matters but for the record: i drive a 95 neon, only the 2nd car i've ever owned...and bought it brand new. it has under 70k and is in good shape, so i keep it...b/c it runs and i don't care much about cars. we also have an 07 nissan versa, my hubby's first brand new car. so yea, i am no car snob...but i am not judgemental of those who DO enjoy, AND can afford, luxury cars. i do despise hummers and SUVs for far other reasons...

holy hell. I thought a sarcastic parody might end this, but I guess it went over your head. I can tell you one thing …9 times out of 10…if you disagree with me, it’s because you’re wrong :P
I have good friends that drive bmw’s, and they’d be near the top of the list of considerations for me if I was in the market for a car in any of those price ranges….that’s why I included the comment about not always living by my ideals. I spend more than I should on electronics, and probably would on cars too if I didn’t have a company vehicle. The last two vehicles I owned: ’01 Accord, bought in ’02, and an ’04 Pathfinder, bought in ’06. I bought them based on probably 50% reliability and resale, and 50% ego. I can ADMIT that. Guess some people can’t. I knew your sister drives a bimmer, you’ve told me before. My post was light-hearted, and written to rib bmw drivers – sorry, thought it was obvious. I stand by my statement that they are largely ego-driven purchases.
Like I would say in seriousness that people are assholes just for being rich (or that trophy wives get zero douche points for that matter ). the declarative nature was 100% in jest. I might be bitter and jaded, but I’m not an idiot…thought you’d know me better than that…any time I speak in generalizations, you can be sure I’m either kidding, philosophizing, or talking shit, k? Don’t take me so seriously.
And after all that lecturing…you tell me that in your opinion, SUV's are despicable...why? Because it's ok to judge those that don't care about the environment, or.... ??

it didn't go 'over my head'...i just went along with your words, is that ok with you? :P




i didn't judge SUV owners.....i said i don't care for SUVs. see the difference? i also said that i personally would more than likely never spend the kinda $$4 on a BMW or what have you, even if i had the $$$ to do so.....but sure, i'd spend it on something else. :P that's the point is all. i am not judging the owners of such vehicles. tho sure i admit hummers truly piss me off b/c i think they are ridiculous vehicles for average people. i cannot say the same for ultimate luxury cars b/c they are not hogging the road, dangerous to other drivers, or sure...raping the nevironment to the degree a hummer does. so there IS a difference there imo.....and sure, i would say hummers are 'wasteful'....b/c really, they ARE. haha. and hey, many a truth is hidden in humor...so while i know you *jest*...you also wouldn't go on and on about the topic if there wasn't some kernel of truth, for you, to your words. anyhooo......i AM serious in most of my posts, it's usually obvious when i am not...but isn't that what these discussions are about? to DISCUSS? i am not taking your posts personally or too seriously, tho sure....i do take em as being reflective of your views unless you state otherwise. i am not judging you anymore than i am judging anyone else in this thread...meaning: i'm not judging anyone. i am no perfect specemin and we all have our ideals, and where we waver on them....such is human nature. that said, i still stand by my statements - i don't consider a luxury car wasteful in and of itself. and as to the ego comments...again...sounds more about your own thought process and not necessarily all others, that's all.



and who's lecturing..........? sheesh..........

Hinn wrote:

Has anyone given actual names? Like Warren Buffett and Joe Biden? At least, I know Warren Buffett mostly lives in his old place, though I suspect he may have sweet digs somewhere else that he doesn't use that much.

yes...a few have been bandied about - a few actors, a few musicians, etc and definitely warren buffett has been mentioned....and yes, the basic idea that most famous people who want to live low-key, under the radar...more than likely don't discuss where and how they live b/c yea, well....they want to live low-key.......:D

Drowned Out wrote:

soulsinging wrote:

I missed this statement... Drowned out is out of the guy's club now. No straight man would EVER consider anything that ups the odds of a good groping from a hot girl to be wasteful spending!

ok...'ups the odds', I'll concede...but if impressing girls is your aim, for 50k, you can do better than a 5-series. Most women I know would think it was an old-man car...a nice one, but really only impressive in name and comfort. You'd think a woman that gropes guys based on the car they drive wants somethign that draws more attention.

But, I was talking about it being wasteful spending to buy a car with the reach-around feature. You could probably pay a lot of hot girls for reach arounds for the cost of one bmw reach around. hey, if you can afford it, it's not wasteful, right? :P

yesa....b/c that was the arguement 'for' it not being a wasteful purchase. :P


and i guess it entirely depends on the girl...or woman...or if they are actually impressed with such things. and perhaps such girls or women actually prefer a bit of 'discretion' there, since it apparently is all about the reach arounds...:geek:


that said, sure, your example isn't wasteful spending, at all.....you're obviously getting a much needed service ....and some hot girl is getting paid. seems up front, fair and equitable. as long as no wasteful tissues are involved....it's pure economy!

decides2dream wrote:

it didn't go 'over my head'...i just went along with your words, is that ok with you? :P




i didn't judge SUV owners.....i said i don't care for SUVs. see the difference? i also said that i personally would more than likely never spend the kinda $$4 on a BMW or what have you, even if i had the $$$ to do so.....but sure, i'd spend it on something else. :P that's the point is all. i am not judging the owners of such vehicles. tho sure i admit hummers truly piss me off b/c i think they are ridiculous vehicles for average people. i cannot say the same for ultimate luxury cars b/c they are not hogging the road, dangerous to other drivers, or sure...raping the nevironment to the degree a hummer does. so there IS a difference there imo.....and sure, i would say hummers are 'wasteful'....b/c really, they ARE. haha. and hey, many a truth is hidden in humor...so while i know you *jest*...you also wouldn't go on and on about the topic if there wasn't some kernel of truth, for you, to your words. anyhooo......i AM serious in most of my posts, it's usually obvious when i am not...but isn't that what these discussions are about? to DISCUSS? i am not taking your posts personally or too seriously, tho sure....i do take em as being reflective of your views unless you state otherwise. i am not judging you anymore than i am judging anyone else in this thread...meaning: i'm not judging anyone. i am no perfect specemin and we all have our ideals, and where we waver on them....such is human nature. that said, i still stand by my statements - i don't consider a luxury car wasteful in and of itself. and as to the ego comments...again...sounds more about your own thought process and not necessarily all others, that's all.



and who's lecturing..........? sheesh..........

I'm guessing that either hubby LETS you have the last word every time, or he is one broken man! :P
I've been conceding points, backing off and cracking jokes for like three posts...you're relentless! :twisted:

Drowned Out wrote:

soulsinging wrote:

I missed this statement... Drowned out is out of the guy's club now. No straight man would EVER consider anything that ups the odds of a good groping from a hot girl to be wasteful spending!

ok...'ups the odds', I'll concede...but if impressing girls is your aim, for 50k, you can do better than a 5-series. Most women I know would think it was an old-man car...a nice one, but really only impressive in name and comfort. You'd think a woman that gropes guys based on the car they drive wants somethign that draws more attention.

But, I was talking about it being wasteful spending to buy a car with the reach-around feature. You could probably pay a lot of hot girls for reach arounds for the cost of one bmw reach around. hey, if you can afford it, it's not wasteful, right? :P

then you wanna get a van.... with a mattress in the back

Drowned Out wrote:

now CiW tempts me

:twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: