Envy is everywhere

[Lentilweaver]

I don't know if anyone has felt this, but am sensing a deep envy in my immediate circle, between those who have less and those who have more. And then I come onto MN and half the posts are about posters not getting inheritance, or earnng less than they think they should, or not getting childcare from parents... It's so divisive and miserable.

People like to whinge. I would be bored if posts said ‘my life is great’, ‘my DMIL/DGPs/ DH is a wonderful person/s’

Agree totally. Friend contacted me with a whatsapp photo saying she was in London and showing a picture from London. I responded with a photo of my parent's home abroad, where I was born saying 'good to be in my childhood home'. The response came within 1 minute 'How many houses do you actually have? One in ..., one in ..., one in .... and another one in ....You have four houses????'. To calm her the f down, I had to explain that the husband owns the flat we live in in the UK, the flat in London she visited was left by my husband's parents to our dc, bypassing us, and that I only have an apartment abroad in my name since the log cabin in the mountains belongs to my brother now (she visited the log cabin years back with me and thought it was mine). I saw she had experienced physical pain, not just envy when she imagined I had four houses. And that is a close friend, btw.

Absolutely, seen it in my family. Some have less children or just one or put money aside for inheritance instead of cruising or spending. I know people who did not split up because the money would get divided up.

Also, what have they lost? Very common to have made bad choices or sold a property too soon or not bought when they could have. There are plenty of ppl that would have inherited or had more money, but for choices.

All very well looking at what other ppl have, but what did generations sacrifice to get to that point? If you did not get any financial help, blame your own family not other peoples.

Some people are rich but many rich people don’t have rich lives.
i know money buys comfort, lack of worry and choice but it definitely does not buy happiness, kindness or a family. You can be surrounded by an abundance of good things (as in a lovely family, a decent enough home, health, friends) and squander it all or not appreciate it as you are envious of someone else whose life appears richer financially than your own.

Social inequalities based on rigid class divisions are awful and unfair but compared with 100 - 150 years ago, we now do have the opportunity for more social mobility through education and employment.

Imo, envy has been reinforced by social media, divisions in society that were already there entrenched by the behaviour of some of our leaders at the height of the pandemic (us and them mentality), the polarisation of Brexit, an individualistic culture encouraged by western capitalism and yet, I still see good around me every day and people acting in a community spirited way. I have to admit I try to avoid people who are overly materialistic, boast a lot or who put others down based on possessions. Life is way too short for that crap.