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from the how-much-less-do-I-have-than-others dept.
Since social scientists and economists began measuring poverty, the definition has never strayed far from a discussion of income.
New research from Georgia Tech economist Shatakshee Dhongde shows there are multiple components of poverty that more accurately describes a household's economic condition. Dhongde looks at "deprivation" more than simply low income, and her work finds that almost 15 percent of Americans are deprived in multiple dimensions.
"This study approaches poverty in a new way," said Dhongde, who recently published "Multi-Dimensional Deprivation in the U.S." in the journal Social Indicators Research.
"We tried to identify what is missing in the literature on poverty, and measure deprivation in six dimensions: health, education, standard of living, security, social connections, and housing quality. When you look at deprivation in these dimensions, you have a better picture of what is really going on with households, especially in developed countries like the United States."
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday November 21 2016, @12:34AM
Hint: those aren't your real friends.
(Score: 2, Insightful) by anubi on Monday November 21 2016, @09:02AM
Agreed. Those kind of friends are worse than no friends at all. If one is in a friendship relationship for financial reasons, that's not a friend... that's a parasitic relationship.
I will cite most Hollywood friendships I have observed in the media rags as "predatorial". Frankly, I do not think I could tolerate them in my life. Fancy cars. Snobby bitches. Real pain in the ass to try to please them. Spoiled rich brats.
I have no use for "beer friends". I need the kind of friend who will help me when I am down and I will do the same for them.
I do not exchange "gifts". Nor do I buy rounds. Nor do I expect to be treated to any either. Most of this is a damn trap of obligatory behaviour spurred on by those trying to sell overpriced beer. However, if a friend drops by, of course I'll share the same cheap stuff I normally drink if he likes it, or if they like soft drinks, I'll give 'em the carbonator bottle and we'll go outside and shake ourselves up a few drinks off the CO2 bottle I keep out there.
The type of friend I seek is the one who sees I am having a problem with something and helps... just as I have seen others having a problem with something and I pitch in.
Example: An unusual storm hit several years ago and made a huge mess in my neighbor's yard with tree branches. I have a mulcher. So I drag the thing over to his yard and helped him clean up the mess. Later that year, he found me trying to work on my car, and he knew what the problem was and got it running again for me. That kind of thing is for friends. No, I do not expect him to be my servant, nor am I his. Most of our interactions are nothing more than bullshit sessions. Maybe we go off somewhere just for a change of scenery and shoot the bull there.... aka "fishing" or "hunting", but we are both out just for the walk in the woods and could care less if we were "successful hunters". Actually, I had just as soon not shoot anything. I just like looking at things.
I hate gift-giving spirals - I do not engage this with anyone. If they come to me with gifts, now I feel obligated to reciprocate, and usually the only ones benefiting from this are merchants - and most everyone I know is already into debt. Fer crying out loud, don't go further into the debt hole buying something for me - I need very little.
The people I hang around with also need very little. For me, the tax man is the number one taker of money, for as far as stuff goes, I have everything I have a use for, and much more than I need - which is mostly kept so I have things to share with anyone else that may need it. Some people may call me a "hoarder", but the main reason is that I know I do not want to be so dependent on money to buy stuff. I also want to have stuff to give away, because others have also given me so much.
My greatest disappointment is with people who need to be "entertained". I can have a ball making something I want out of something someone else was throwing away.
People who will actually pay to be entertained? Geez! Just the thought of spending a whole afternoon watching someone else do something useless to me is an indication of just how little they value their own creativity.
Currently, I am making an outside lavatory from an old sink and a washing machine one of my neighbors tossed. Also making a battery bank out of an old oven. Its fireproof, so if things get out of hand, at least it won't catch fire. I love building things. Any friends I have will be the same way. As far as I am concerned, "beer friends" can just go take a hike. I flat have no use for them, nor do they have much liking for me. I'd rather be alone, building my stuff, than be caged up with them anyway.
"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." [KJV: I Thessalonians 5:21]