NOUVEAU RICHE - "Sudden Wealth Syndrome"

[clone]

NOUVEAU RICHE - The newly rich!

A couple of psychologists from San Francisco came up with a new clinical condition called “Sudden Wealth Syndrome” (SWS) which describes those who have received a large amount of money within a short time. Some of them won the lottery, others got rich from the stock market, some benefited from company buy-outs, or even inherited valuable real estate property.

The clinical signs of this syndrome include withdrawal from old friends, being suspicious of new friends, fear of losing all that money, and anxiety about their own identity if they no longer have that much wealth.

What would you do if you found yourself a nouveau riche? How would it change your personal relationships? What would you do to keep from being affected with SWS?

Although you may wish to include it in your response, I am not talking here about changes in lifestyle or what material things you would buy (I believe that was covered in a previous thread).

[Calypso]

Hey clone, buddy!! (yucks, feeling close!) Great to see you here!

You asked:
What would you do if you found yourself a nouveau riche?

I'm not sure about this question... are you asking what we'd do if we found, or knew someone who's 'newly rich'? Or is it, if we were the ones who had newly amassed our wealth? Hmm... I guess the latter makes more sense. In that case... well, I think my lifestyle would definitely change-- and most of my spending would probably go to travel. Pause. Next question.

How would it change your personal relationships?
I'd like to think that most of my existing friends would still be my friends then. I also would like to think that I wouldn't be too affected by my wealth, and that hopefully I won't display some signs of SWS-- I actually think that I'd be even be more conscious of being extra kind to people. I have this case of wanting to please people (which I know isn't too healthy if taken to the extreme), and I just know that making people happy around me (thus, them who are involved in relationships with me) would be a top priority. If anything, though, I do think that I'd be a tad more suspicious of new people surrounding me who exude greed and an air of 'I want something from you'.

What would you do to keep from being affected with SWS?[/i]
Honestly? I really think sleepovers with old friends would do the trick. Really. Or whatever else kind of activity it would take to just keep me grounded-- being surrounded by close friends and just talking and laughing about the silly times, and doing the same old pranks to the people around me. Practical jokes on me would be welcome as well! :) Just as long as they don't border on the offensive, though! :)

[Calypso]

Hey punny clone!!! Why don't YOU answer the question as well? Share ka na rin dyan, so we can all compare notes...!! :)

[clone]

Calypso: Hi! It's also good to see you here...and no apology needed for feeling close. After all the pleasant exchanges we had on the other threads, I do feel like we have become puncake "buddies." :D

You're right. That question is a bit confusing although you did pretty well in answering it. It should have been worded differently...something like, "What would you do if you became a nouveau riche?" How's that? However, it would still be great if one can find someone who's already in that situation, eh? ;)

Thanks for your answers. They make a lot of sense. I feel similarly toward all my friends. I even invite the janitor and his family out to dinner sometimes.

[clone]

Hi Calypso! I did...well, indirectly answered the questions by saying that I shared your sentiments. I know that I will not change toward my old friends. However, if their atitude about our relationship chages, then I may need to reassess the quality of their friendship.

As far as new friends are concerned, I would look for a hidden agenda, if they have any. This is the only major difference between the pre- and post-windfall situations.

[Calypso]

Originally posted by clone:

As far as new friends are concerned, I would look for a hidden agenda, if they have any. This is the only major difference between the pre- and post-windfall situations.

Do you think it's really possible that the new people we'd meet when we're really rich (and I mean, like, reeking rich that people we don't know somehow know that we have all THAT money) don't have any hidden agenda at all when it comes to relating with us? I don't normally have cynical views about people, but I was just thinking when I was watching the lifestyles of some really famous & rich people... the moment people recognize them, they relate to these rich guys differently-- they become more serviceable and attentive. Does the shift in regard denote some form of 'hidden agenda' or is it just reverence and a quality of being 'star-struck' towards the rich and famous person?

While I don't have illusions of getting rich to the point of being recognized by people because my wealth (God forbid!), I can't help but be inclined to think that as soon as people around you know how much you have-- they'd try and get their hands on some of your money... but then again, I really wouldn't know for certain. I haven't gotten to that point yet; and my postulates aren't well-formed and clear-cut as yet...

[clone]

Calypso, my intellectual sparring buddy, you said, "...they become more serviceable and attentive." Why so? What does that tell you? If they are REAL friends, why did they behave less so before your windfall? :confused: It could not be just star-struck...so it must be the money, right?

You also said, "While I don't have illusions of getting rich to the point of being recognized by people because my wealth (God forbid!)..."...WHY NOT???? Anything is possible. :D But when (not if) you get to THAT point, I promise not to treat you any differently. I'll still enjoy chatting with you. http://www.pinoyexchange.com/lol.gif

[Calypso]

Originally posted by clone:
Calypso, my intellectual sparring buddy,

Hey cool!!! I've never been called that!! http://www.pinoyexchange.com/lol.gif Can I try saying it for myself? I am an intellectual sparring buddy. Whoopee!! ;)


You also said, "While I don't have illusions of getting rich to the point of being recognized by people because my wealth (God forbid!)..."...WHY NOT???? Anything is possible. :D But when (not if) you get to THAT point, I promise not to treat you any differently. I'll still enjoy chatting with you. http://www.pinoyexchange.com/lol.gif

Ok. *breathes deeply* Do you want me to reveal something? Please don't take this against me. I'm really wealthy. Terribly so. I hide under the handle Calypso so people won't recognize me. Everything else is a giveaway, which is why I don't give away my e-mail address. I'm sorry, though, that while I would like to share with you how wealthy I am, or how my family has accumulated our wealth, I'm still not in the liberty to tell you who I am and what I do. But rest assured, I won't interpret any special treatment from you as you treating me differently. Thank you so much for that assurance. Now I have told you my deepest, darkest secret. Really.


http://www.pinoyexchange.com/lol.gif ahihihihihihihi I couldn't help it! http://www.pinoyexchange.com/lol.gif Ok ok, I take it all back! I'm just a lowly fresh grad! http://www.pinoyexchange.com/lol.gif


Send in the clones!!

[clone]

Calypso:

I am an intellectual sparring buddy. Whoopee!!

See how easy it comes out of your mouth when you tell the truth? Heh Heh Heh! :D

Hey, thanks for sharing your "deepe$t, darke$t $ecret" about your immense wealth with me. I'm truly humbled. Rest assured that I won't treat you any differently now that I discovered your "IWS" (Immense Wealth Syndrome), Ms. Calypeso. http://www.pinoyexchange.com/lol.gif

(Back to our topic):

After all, money is not everything. It's what one does with that money that brings them either happiness or misery. The study on SWS showed that many big-money lottery winners felt various degrees of depression after the initial period of euphoria and binge shopping. It was only after they started using their newly found wealth to help others that they found contentment.

[This message has been edited by clone (edited 06-14-2000).]

[ChiQui]

I don't think I'll be withdrawing from my old friends. In fact, I'm the type that when I've money, I like treating my friends and family out and buying gifts for them. :)

[Zen]

I'm sorry but I couldn't help replying to this topic, even if I said to myself that I'll just watch the discussion but... Langya Calypsooooo susumbong kita sa nanay mo! http://www.pinoyexchange.com/lol.gif

Onwards with the discussion. :D

[Calypso]

Zen: http://www.pinoyexchange.com/lol.gif Sige, sumbong mo kay mommy na super yaman ako para naman maniwala sya sa 'kin... She wants an answer to my apparent lethargy around the house, and my reason is just that-- that I'm terribly terribly rich! :D hehehe Uy, Zen! I was supposed to go to your house and deliver something for your mom (and I wanted to drop by and say hi as well!) but NOOO!! Naiwan ko yung pinapabigay ni mommy... tsk tsk!

clone: Pwede ba yung "FSWS"<;--- 'Feeling Suddenly Wealthy' Syndrome?!? The type that exhibits all telltale signs of SWS, but who actually don't have the bank account to back such a change in lifestyle? And how rich should one get to be considered monetarily wealthy-- or is that even the criterion now-- money? I mean, even Bill Gates doesn't have all that $R$E$A$L $M$O$N$E$Y$ that he's being accounted for. It's mostly in stock options and 'virtual' stuff. Or am I largely wrong? Ewan! Basta, Health is Wealth! and Cleanliness is Next to Godliness!

[Zen]

Calypso: http://www.pinoyexchange.com/lol.gif Magawang palusot nga rin yan. http://www.pinoyexchange.com/crazy.gif Sige daan ka! :) I'm usually home naman eh. At wag mo kalimutan yung pinapabigay ni tita, ha. :D

Sheesh, magrereply na nga ako bago pagsabihan akong off-topic. ;)

I don't think my being newly rich would matter to my friends. I bet they'd even be happier (lagi na akong may pera! http://www.pinoyexchange.com/lol.gif ) for me. Plus, I'm like ChiQui: I like to treat my family and friends with little things when I'm the mood or when I have money. :D

[Calypso]

[Naku, off topic!]

Zen: Ngyikes... forgot to mention. A week ago pa dapat yung pinapabigay! So ewan ko kung baka nabigay na ng mom ko sa mom mo by now... may kasamang chocolates yata yun! Upakan mo na! (hehehe, ang brutal ng dating...) http://www.pinoyexchange.com/lol.gif

[clone]

Hi Zen! It's so nice to see you here. Actually, it's nice to see you anywhere. http://www.pinoyexchange.com/angel.gif I like what you and ChiQui said. I'll remind you of that when the time comes.

Calypso: Pwede na rin FSWS. :D Maybe that's why you forgot to give Zen the pabilin...because you were counting all that money. Heh Heh Heh! http://www.pinoyexchange.com/lol.gif

BTW, you said "Health is Wealth! and Cleanliness is Next to Godliness! Are you saying if one is wealthy, one cannot be healthy, clean or Godly anymore? http://www.pinoyexchange.com/evil.gif



[This message has been edited by clone (edited 06-15-2000).]

[Zen]

Calypso: Ngyak, yung Kisses? http://www.pinoyexchange.com/crazy.gif Inupakan ko na nga kagabi kaya hindi na naman ako makatulog! http://www.pinoyexchange.com/lol.gif Sugarhigh kse, hahaha. http://www.pinoyexchange.com/silly.gif

clone: http://www.pinoyexchange.com/lol.gif Let's just hope that ChiQui and I DO get to that stage, hehehe. ;)

[Calypso]

clone: Pwede rin syempre yung wealthy, maging healthy. But wealth=health doesn't equate as easily as health=wealth (confusing Math, isn't it?!?)... Kung baga... Imagine a Zen, este... Ven Diagram. And health is a subset of wealth. So if you're healthy, you're necessarily wealthy. However, if you're wealthy, it may not follow that you're healthy, as you may not fall under the subset 'health.' O diba?!?

As for the Cleanliness phrase... pandagdag-rhyme lang yon! http://www.pinoyexchange.com/lol.gif :D

Zen: http://www.pinoyexchange.com/lol.gif Inupakan mo na ba?!? http://www.pinoyexchange.com/lol.gif hahahah nakakatawa yung term na yon! Well, good for you at nagka-sugar high ka dyan! But for now... sleep ka na! Ako rin, bedtime na! :)

[clone]

Zen: Alright!! That's the spirit. I think ChiQui may be there already. Notice how she is keeping quiet about it...shhh :D

[[L]es]

i dunno, pero kami ng friends ko galit na galit kami sa mga nouveau riche na mayabang.. it just gets to us. It's like unbelievable how this filthy people suddenly acquire large amounts of money (just like the *******) it's sickening, and i mean SICKENING.

[This message has been edited by [L]es (edited 06-16-2000).]

[Gilbey]

i dont know... i hope i dont change.. i hope i do get to be rich...but money is not everything...

i will cross the bridge when i get there

[Zen]

Calypso: I'm healthy, so I'm wealthy? Cool! :D And please thank your mom for the http://www.pinoyexchange.com/yummy.gif chocolates! Wag mo na sabihin na nilantakan (better term? http://www.pinoyexchange.com/lol.gif ) ko na't di ako makatulog. http://www.pinoyexchange.com/blush.gif

[Calypso]

Zen: Yezz! Ganun yun! If you're healthy, wealthy ka na automatically! Pero sure ka bang healthy ka pa rin pagkapos mong nilantakan (hyuk hyuk hyuk!) yung chocolates?!? :D