Class and Money

What happened to class? I think that sometime during the 90s everyone decided that it was casual Friday all the time. I am conservative, but it seems like my opinions these days make me sound like a grumpy old man yelling at kids from his porch. I know it's hot during the summer, but unless it gets cold, everywhere you look all the girls are wearing clothes that would have been scandalous even 20 years ago. You can't tell me that the way people dress doesn't affect how they are perceived by others, particularly by the opposite sex. I'm just glad women don't like pictures of men in thongs. *shudders*

This post isn't really about modesty. I have opinions about how people dress, but I feel sort of uncomfortable saying too much. I believe that how you view yourself and how you present yourself to others is very important. If girls expect men, who are visual, to treat them well, maybe they should think twice about suggestive clothing. But the thing is, women don't view the clothes they wear as suggestive (for the most part). Society's view of women has drastically changed the way they see themselves, and now, today, showing a lot of skin is perfectly normal. Fine, I don't want to judge anyone. People can think for themselves. Maybe Dave Chappelle can smooth this over for me. But is anyone else sad that chivalry is dead? (this video has some language)

So what happened to class? Manners? Responsibility, values, morals, respect? I used to spend more time online at sites like fmylife.com, textsfromlastnight.com, peopleofwalmart.com, and others. They just make me question humanity.

The other thought I've had for a while is about money. How should I live my life? On the one hand, I was raised by upper class, wealthy white parents. Although my parents aren't rich, my grandparents are very well off. I went to a nice private high school and have graduated from Vanderbilt University with no debt. To be honest I'm not even sure how I got the scholarship money that I did. I don't know exactly how large my house is but it is full of nice things.

I have a fairly easy going approach when it comes to handling money. It is on the agenda to create a solid budget and stick to it. I don't really keep track of where my money is going at all times. I have a general idea, but I tend not to concern myself with my money. That's foolish and irresponsible. But I am glad that money doesn't have an obvious hold over me. I feel that I am fairly generous. In high school I remember one year that I bought Christmas presents for all of my friends. And to be honest, in the back of my mind I always hoped someone would get me something, and it bothered me when no one did. But that was never their fault, and of course I didn't give in order to get gifts in return. There is just one corner in the back of my mind that is very insecure and selfish, and all it wants is to be thought of as important. The most important.

I'm getting off track. My point was that I am used to a certain lifestyle. I try hard not to spend too much at Borders and Barnes and Noble. Yet I have many books I started in stores that I haven't touched since buying them. They sit on my bookshelf in my room or in the library. As I have matured, I will say that my taste in movies has become refined. I haven't bought a non-foreign film since Inception, I believe. However, the foreign movies I buy are so expensive.

My room is overflowing with things. And I know I don't need them. When I move out and get my own place, I don't want to have 40 boxes of things. This thought ties into my overall desire for a healthy, balanced life. I want to be free from the addiction of Facebook and other social networks. I have truly enjoyed living this summer, but I know I am not yet living life to the fullest. And part of seizing the day is getting rid of clutter; finding a simpler way to live. I wouldn't claim to be a Luddite but I have long been attracted to the philosophy of asceticism.

Part of me wants to take a box of books, my computer, and my violin and buy land in the country and live there. The other part wants to buy a big house in the suburbs and fill it with nice things. I think I want to move to Europe. I could rent a tiny apartment and read my books. I could walk everywhere, with public transportation. I could see beautiful old buildings and artwork and other things in museums. There would be a mix of old and new culture, but there is definitely a sense of propriety and class there that we have lost in the US. And I could go to world class concerts as often as I wished.