#Microblog Monday 257: Coveting Thought Experiment
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I read an interesting thought experiment recently:
Imagine that you woke up one day to discover that you were the only person left living on Earth. With no one else around, you’d be able to go and live in any house you wanted – Buckingham Palace even. But would you want to? “You would probably find somewhere that was just comfortable and practical.” The same goes for your expensive clothes, fancy cars, or the latest technology. “When you really follow that thought through, it’s amazing how much we acquire and want only to impress other people.”
It really gave me pause because when I’ve coveted houses, it has been based on location and size, but if given the chance, I would take a Hobbit-house (in a cricket-free Shire) over a palace every single time. Peek inside Buckingham Palace if the earth was empty: sure. But I wouldn’t want to live there.
What do you think?
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8 comments
I have a deep love of houses. Love to browse listings online and used to go to open houses with my grandma. I suspect I’d be a bit like Goldilocks, going from space to space till I found the perfect mid-century modern with the dream view!
As for other types of ownership, I got tired of caring what others think long ago, now my purchases are all things that make my life easier or better. No change there.
I LOVE houses and I have this idea of a perfect house. However, if I was the only human alive, I would find myself a nice little ranch. Just enough space to live comfortably and enough exits for me to run out in case of emergencies.
I’m with you. I’d rather have a home than a house. The difference it the people. So the experiment makes me sad.
That said, I would like to peek. But I’d not settle in something that feels so not-me.
Yeah, I’d probably take one of those fairy tale castles in Germany. I don’t do much to impress others, but I know I am unusual in that respect.
On the other hand, if I’m the last person on earth…I won’t need a lot of space to get away from other people in my family. So, anyplace will do, as long as it’s close to nice scenery and fun stuff to do.
Ha, I snorted at the (cricket free) Shire. 🙂 I thought of you yesterday when I was gardening and I moved the mulch bag and 5 crickets came hopping haphazardly out and I screamed, even though I don’t feel the same about crickets as you do!
I’m with you, I’d want to hole up somewhere cozy. Peeking around would be interesting for sure — when we lived in a more populated neighborhood, Bryce and I would go for walks at night and if there were no cars we’d call it a “Zombie Night,” and imagine everyone else was gone and we could walk into any house. We could see into the other houses and get a sense of which ones we’d want to go into. I wouldn’t mind looking at a castle, but I feel like they tend to be all sterile and steeped in tradition, so a hobbit house would be so much more welcoming. Maybe a tree house. 🙂
Buckingham Palace? No! I wouldn’t want the job of cleaning it. And if I’m the only one left, I can move from house to house–when I get bored or it’s time to clean. LOL! I don’t want a palatial home for that reason. I’d have to clean it! But I do need space for all our hobbies and thinking and writing.
I laughed at cricket free Shire too – but went immediately to the sport of cricket! lol
Yes, I’d find somewhere comfortable, preferably with a lovely view. Wait a minute – that’s where I live.
And I’d definitely only wear what made me feel good. The comment about impressing other people matches with my Separate Life post today perfectly.
Interesting topic! Thinking about it I can see how it wouldn’t make sense to be carrying around designer handbags or whatever- what would be the point. Having your choice of houses would be cool. I would get really lonely if I was the last person left on earth though!