# Do I Live Better Than JP Morgan Did? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 19, 2011, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-live-better-than-jp-morgan-did/600188 "2011-10-19T21:19:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2011, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-live-better-than-jp-morgan-did/600188/21 "2011-10-20T06:05:48Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > Why on Earth would he _need_ porn? Life is a pussy buffet for a rich man. Even back then. This point alone is going to make this thread take a bad ass turn, w ire of Mods and everything. Pussy in the **19** 70’s was a mess. Huge, hairy, stinky, goopy, full of dingle berries. I was there, man! _I was in the bush with the grunts!_😛 What on Earth was poon like in the 1870’s? I don’t even want to freaking know! I really don’t! When the funk are we going to get out “Mr. Yuck” smilie? ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2011, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-live-better-than-jp-morgan-did/600188/22 "2011-10-20T06:16:09Z")
> [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#): > > Could be he’d do better in this thread also, at least with regard to this post. Warning issued. 😕😕😕 Warning against what? Unless the OP happens to be Justin Timberlake. I thought JB’s response was pretty funny, myself, and he was making a point in an offbeat way. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2011, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-live-better-than-jp-morgan-did/600188/23 "2011-10-20T09:28:13Z")
> [@Koxinga](#): > > I think a more interesting question, though, would be whether one prefer to be a poor-ish white man now or a very rich woman or black man of 100 years ago. From what I’ve heard that was pretty close to a contradiction in terms; if a black person _did_ somehow become prosperous, the local white authorities would take it all away from them. It wasn’t _allowed_ for them to be rich. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2011, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-live-better-than-jp-morgan-did/600188/24 "2011-10-20T09:39:34Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > Why on Earth would he _need_ porn? Life is a pussy buffet for a rich man. Even back then. Elderly Morgan couldn’t afford an erection, but they only cost a few bucks today. There seems to be a dilemma. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2011, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-live-better-than-jp-morgan-did/600188/25 "2011-10-20T09:44:15Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > From what I’ve heard that was pretty close to a contradiction in terms; if a black person _did_ somehow become prosperous, the local white authorities would take it all away from them. It wasn’t _allowed_ for them to be rich. [Madame C. J. Walker](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madam_C._J._Walker), the first African-American millionaire, and the first self-made woman millionaire. In 1910, when a million was still a lot of money. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2011, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-live-better-than-jp-morgan-did/600188/26 "2011-10-20T09:58:59Z")
> [@Koxinga](#): > > [Madame C. J. Walker](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madam_C._J._Walker), the first African-American millionaire, and the first self-made woman millionaire. In 1910, when a million was still a lot of money. I said “pretty close” because I was sure there was an exception somewhere. That doesn’t change what happened to _most_ black people who “got uppity”. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2011, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-live-better-than-jp-morgan-did/600188/27 "2011-10-20T10:10:58Z")
Gosh, Der Trihs, thanks for enlightening us, we had no idea that life sucked for black people back then! Also, if you have a cite for legal **authorities** _throughout_ the US following an explicit policy of wealth confiscation, or an example of a wealthy black person’s assets being confiscated through legal channels – _which is your assertion here_ – please do provide a cite. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2011, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-live-better-than-jp-morgan-did/600188/28 "2011-10-20T10:58:59Z")
A major thing that Morgan had is this: **relative wealth**. I read a study awhile ago in **The Blank Slate** talking about how your perception of your own material success isn’t based on some sort of absolute standard, but rather relative to the people around you. If you’re doing better than the people around you, you feel like you’ve got it made, whereas if you’re doing worse than them, you feel poor. Given that, Morgan would feel a lot better about his material success than most of us do. ---
**Author:** ![Capitaine\_Zombie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@Capitaine\_Zombie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capitaine_Zombie)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2011, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-live-better-than-jp-morgan-did/600188/29 "2011-10-20T11:10:09Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > — … / -.-- . .- … / -… .- -… -.-- --..-- / -.-- — ..- / -.- -. — .-- / -.-- — ..- / .-.. .. -.- . / .. - / .-.. .. -.- . / - … .- - .-.-.- Holy shit, that’s some wild stuff there. Hmm… ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2011, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-live-better-than-jp-morgan-did/600188/30 "2011-10-20T12:50:48Z")
> [@Polerius](#): > > Awesome, and an apt reply to the OP 🙂 Apparently not. > [@Koxinga](#): > > 😕😕😕 > Warning against what? Unless the OP happens to be Justin Timberlake. I thought JB’s response was pretty funny, myself, and he was making a point in an offbeat way. Apparently I was warned for ‘derailing the discussion.’ I thought I was laser focused on the discussion, but I guess not everyone apreciates a good Timberlake/blow job joke. Whatever. ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2011, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-live-better-than-jp-morgan-did/600188/31 "2011-10-20T14:13:45Z")
Depends on the millionare. Vincent Astor, one of the richest men of his day, was sterile from mumps acquired as an adult. So if you’ve had the MMR shot in childhood you’re arugably better off than he was. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2011, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-live-better-than-jp-morgan-did/600188/32 "2011-10-20T14:20:35Z")
NM ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2011, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-live-better-than-jp-morgan-did/600188/33 "2011-10-20T14:49:14Z")
While the question boils down to the quality of life of the Middle Class today vs. the Upper Class back in the day, I prefer to lust after his [Book Collection](http://www.themorgan.org/home.asp). The dude had 3 Gutenberg Bibles and a bunch of Shakespeare Folios - and that barely scratches the surface of the highlights… ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2011, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-live-better-than-jp-morgan-did/600188/34 "2011-10-20T15:20:20Z")
> [@Koxinga](#): > > 😕😕😕 > Warning against what? Unless the OP happens to be Justin Timberlake. I thought JB’s response was pretty funny, myself, and he was making a point in an offbeat way. I’ll second this. Warning for WHAT?!? I disagreed with the sentiment expressed, but I laughed and thought it made his point very well. What exactly is he being warned for Mr. Moderator? ---
**Author:** ![medstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f07891/32.png) [@medstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/medstar)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2011, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-live-better-than-jp-morgan-did/600188/35 "2011-10-20T19:12:17Z")
He was able to get porn right in front of him; up close and personal. ::d&r:: ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2011, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-live-better-than-jp-morgan-did/600188/36 "2011-10-20T19:18:11Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > Am I living better than him? A lot depends on what you value in life. For example, if you’re a movie lover—if watching movies is one of your great passions and sources of enjoyment in life—then obviously in one way you’re living better than if you were in J.P. Morgan’s shoes. ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2011, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-live-better-than-jp-morgan-did/600188/37 "2011-10-20T19:31:46Z")
Define better. He lived without central heating, AC, inflatable hemorrhoid pillows, or antibiotics–I’m not sure how many servants or yachts or pussy buffets it takes to to make up the balance when it’s January and you’re heating with fire, or August and you’re wearing a full suit, or your ass is aching, or you have an infection that may well kill you. ---
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2011, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-live-better-than-jp-morgan-did/600188/38 "2011-10-20T19:53:54Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > I’ll second this. Warning for WHAT?!? > > I disagreed with the sentiment expressed, but I laughed and thought it made his point very well. What exactly is he being warned for Mr. Moderator? I have also missed how the response was germane. Justin Timberlake is a contemporary. How is he relevant to 1901? ---
**Author:** ![heavyarms553](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/779978/32.png) [@heavyarms553](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/heavyarms553)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2011, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-live-better-than-jp-morgan-did/600188/39 "2011-10-20T20:03:41Z")
> [@](#): > > I have also missed how the response was germane. Justin Timberlake is a contemporary. How is he relevant to 1901? I think Jack’s interpretation of the OP did not account for the temporal separation between the OP and JP Morgan. Rather, he focused on the question, “Do rich people live better than I do?” instead of “Did rich people in the near past live better than I do?” If taken in that context, his response was relevant, albeit somewhat low brow. Didn’t necessarily deserve a warning imho but I’m not the moderator. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2011, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-live-better-than-jp-morgan-did/600188/40 "2011-10-20T20:18:50Z")
I think Jack’s response was a joke. I’ll wear the warning around my collar – no big deal. Lighten up, people. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-live-better-than-jp-morgan-did/600188.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-live-better-than-jp-morgan-did/600188.md?page=3)