Another one of those button questions.

[Renton]

Well not really maximizing cash, but the point is he'd be taking similar risks with his life spread over a longer period of time with much less reward. Life isn't about maximizing cash but certainly we need cash to be happy to an extent. Having more cash allows us to do more things that we want to do and less things that we don't want to do. If everyone had all the cash they needed there would be no one to clean shit off toilet bowls or to compact garbage at landfills.

[a500lbgorilla]

Well not really maximizing cash, but the point is he'd be taking similar risks with his life spread over a longer period of time with much less reward. Life isn't about maximizing cash but certainly we need cash to be happy to an extent. Having more cash allows us to do more things that we want to do and less things that we don't want to do. If everyone had all the cash they needed there would be no one to clean shit off toilet bowls or to compact garbage at landfills.

We've all heard of the stories of busto football players and busto lotto winners.

There's a non-zero chance that he is no where near as frugal and sustained in his spending between the two scenarios and the impact of a lump sum may be considered zero or even adverse.

A risk that isn't reflected in your assessment.

The money also makes him prey. The fattest zebra in the plains.

And these are risks that likely wouldn't be assessed by anyone presented with the button.

[Savy]

Well not really maximizing cash, but the point is he'd be taking similar risks with his life spread over a longer period of time with much less reward. Life isn't about maximizing cash but certainly we need cash to be happy to an extent. Having more cash allows us to do more things that we want to do and less things that we don't want to do. If everyone had all the cash they needed there would be no one to clean shit off toilet bowls or to compact garbage at landfills.

Has it not been shown that money increases happiness up until the point where you don't have to worry about having enough money to live? After that it makes no difference at all.

I suppose I can now better codify my difficulty with this question. It reminds me of that old thought experiment on free will - Have you ever driven down the road and imagined driving into on coming traffic? Would you ever do it? No, because you're not in control.
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This is actually a fairly normal thing apparently and has absolutely nothing to do with actually wanting to do it. When people actually want to do something like that they can. That's why people can commit suicide.

[Renton]

Has it not been shown that money increases happiness up until the point where you don't have to worry about having enough money to live? After that it makes no difference at all.

I don't see how this could be definitively shown. It's probably more of a diminishing returns formula then a rising line that just levels off instantly at a specific number. And anyway a million dollars is not enough to give your family a decent standard of living for the next 50 years, so I think even if you apply your logic to this, the max efficacy would be pretty far in excess of 1 million (the top bracket given in the poll).

[Savy]

I don't see how this could be definitively shown. It's probably more of a diminishing returns formula then a rising line that just levels off instantly at a specific number. And anyway a million dollars is not enough to give your family a decent standard of living for the next 50 years, so I think even if you apply your logic to this, the max efficacy would be pretty far in excess of 1 million (the top bracket given in the poll).

I wasn't saying it had been definitely shown. I was saying that it had been shown in the sense everything along those lines is shown in that it has quite a bit of evidence to support the hypothesis. It's also not about long term living. Who the fuck worries about 50 years into the future. Most people aren't looking much further than a couple of years.

I could live off a million for the rest of my life easy. I could buy a house, put the rest in a bank and live off the interest. Wouldn't even be hard to do. So I'm not sure where you got the idea it wouldn't last you 50 years.

I'd do it for £300k. That's enough to sort me out for life if I'm sensible and probably my parents too who realistically are going to be the only ones who go through a real negative experience due to my death.

Came to around this number again having forgot what I said in the first place. Having a house paid for, decent car and like at least 20k in the bank would make life so easy. Get a job you enjoy doing and just chill and enjoy life.