Austrian millionaire gives away his fortune... - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

tvp2003 · 02-09-2010, 08:13 PM

http://www.calgaryherald.com/busines...tml?id=2537790

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For many years, he said, he was simply not "brave" enough to give up his comfortable existence. The tipping point came during a three-week holiday with his wife in Hawaii.

"It was the biggest shock in my life, when I realized how horrible, soulless and without feeling the five star lifestyle is," Mr Rabeder said.

"In those three weeks, we spent all the money you could possibly spend. But in all that time, we had the feeling we hadn't met a single real person - that we were all just actors. The staff played the role of being friendly and the guests played the role of being important and nobody was real."

Suddenly, he realized that "if I don't do it now I won't do it for the rest of my life".

Interesting... I wonder what Mrs. Rabeder thinks about this...

JFK · 02-09-2010, 08:24 PM

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The staff played the role of being friendly and the guests played the role of being important and nobody was real.

What the hell does that even mean?

Winsor_Pilates · 02-09-2010, 08:27 PM

Power to him. Don't think it's something I would do, but if it makes him happy it's the right move.

Ozy_Flame · 02-09-2010, 08:27 PM

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Originally Posted by JFK

What the hell does that even mean?

Money turns people into lemmings - feed them a fish, and watch them slap their fins.

jayswin · 02-09-2010, 08:47 PM

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The staff played the role of being friendly and the guests played the role of being important and nobody was real.

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Originally Posted by JFK

What the hell does that even mean?

You don't what that means? Seriously?

rockstar · 02-09-2010, 08:48 PM

Good on him.

If I had that kind of money, I'd throw it all away too, leaving me in the exact position I am in now.

ClubFlames · 02-09-2010, 08:58 PM

If he really wants to give it away then he should give part of it to the people in Haiti. They need the money more than anyone else at the moment.

ben voyonsdonc · 02-09-2010, 09:02 PM

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Originally Posted by JFK

What the hell does that even mean?

Probably means that, when you go to a hotel or resort and have tons of money, the staff don't really care at all about you or your well-being but treat you well because of your deep pockets.

Muta · 02-09-2010, 09:02 PM

I thought the story was pretty cool. Not everyone is always motivated by money and material goods.

I'm in the other boat, however, I want as much money as possible all the time, everyday. Money always buys me happiness over and over. And over and over and over. Anybody who says money doesn't buy you happiness obviously doesn't have enough money.

Kybosh · 02-09-2010, 09:06 PM

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Originally Posted by Muta

I thought the story was pretty cool. Not everyone is always motivated by money and material goods.

I'm in the other boat, however, I want as much money as possible all the time, everyday. Money always buys me happiness over and over. And over and over and over. Anybody who says money doesn't buy you happiness obviously doesn't have enough money.

I'm inclined to agree. I have so little money all that time that an increase in money would directly increase my happiness levels.

4X4 · 02-09-2010, 09:07 PM

Money may not buy love, but it buys alot of stuff. And I love stuff.

@theCBE · 02-09-2010, 09:10 PM

Well at least he is not pissing it away. I like the microcredit idea, out of all the ways charities spend money I see this as being one of the most innovative and sustainable. It provides an opportunity to create a lasting difference instead of a band-aid solution.

Having said that I think he will regret giving everything away. Not having money sucks way more than having money and having everyone around you act fake. More money would make me happier.

FireFly · 02-09-2010, 09:12 PM

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Originally Posted by @theCBE

Well at least he is not pissing it away. I like the microcredit idea, out of all the ways charities spend money I see this as being one of the most innovative and sustainable. It provides an opportunity to create a lasting difference instead of a band-aid solution.

Having said that I think he will regret giving everything away. Not having money sucks way more than having money and having everyone around you act fake. More money would make me happier.

But he started poor so I'm sure he knows what it's like to be poor....

@theCBE · 02-09-2010, 09:23 PM

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Originally Posted by FireFly

But he started poor so I'm sure he knows what it's like to be poor....

I guess... but when he was poor before he didn't know how much cooler it is being rich. Now his perspective has changed.

Like when I was a little kid I didn't now how nice a cold beer is on a hot day. Now that I know what beer tastes like if I gave it up I would miss it so much more than I would if I had never tasted it. Despite the fact that having it often creates hangovers.

I guess I would need to be in his shoes to understand it because from where I am sitting (not rich) I don't get it.

FireFly · 02-09-2010, 09:25 PM

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Originally Posted by @theCBE

I guess... but when he was poor before he didn't know how much cooler it is being rich. Now his perspective has changed.

Like when I was a little kid I didn't now how nice a cold beer is on a hot day. Now that I know what beer tastes like if I gave it up I would miss it so much more than I would if I had never tasted it. Despite the fact that having it often creates hangovers.

I guess I would need to be in his shoes to understand it because from where I am sitting (not rich) I don't get it.

When he was poor, he wanted to be rich. Now that he's rich, he's discovered it's not the be all and end all that he thought, and that many people here clearly think as well. I'm sure he's not going to let himself starve.

Hack&Lube · 02-09-2010, 09:27 PM

And his wife didn't kill him? Good wife!

wooohooo · 02-09-2010, 09:29 PM

If I was rich like that, instead of giving away all my money I would just do charity work all the time. That way you feel like you're doing a good job and can buy whatever you want.... Bill Gates style

Hack&Lube · 02-09-2010, 09:30 PM

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Originally Posted by ClubFlames

If he really wants to give it away then he should give part of it to the people in Haiti. They need the money more than anyone else at the moment.

That's very shortsighted. There are big event disasters almost every year (Haiti, Tsunami, etc.) that seem to grab public and media attention but there is suffering and poverty and disaster everywhere in the world on a daily basis.

He choses to send money to charities that benefit poor people to help them get employed or helps self-employed people. He obviously believes in trying his best to direct his money in a manner that goes to people that are working hard for themselves (not that others do not, but blank cheques to charities can sometimes be like giving money to the homeless).

JFK · 02-09-2010, 10:06 PM

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Originally Posted by flameswin

You don't what that means? Seriously?

I understand the staff being phony, but why doesn't he think any of the other guests were 'real'? When you travel, it's not like the other tourists know or care how wealthy you are, nor do they expect handouts.

Da_Chief · 02-09-2010, 10:18 PM

You have to experience both ends unfortunately not all of us will.

If you have the money than everyone around you is you puppet unless they don't care for our money. If you don't have it well than no one really cares for you.

People need to find a middle ground, thats why I wonder when politicians in corrupt countries screw over their nation just to fill their pockets, where you gonna take it all?

Good for him, one person doesn't need that much but thousand others can make their life lil better cuz of it.