Author Topic: For Sale or Trade: My Soul  (Read 31655 times)

Offline EMCC

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For Sale or Trade: My Soul
« on: March 23, 2015, 12:15:16 PM »
I have been in this game for about a year now. In this past year I have flown around the world several times and stayed 50-100 nights in 5 star hotels. I am looking back now and wondering, is it worth it?

I go to a hotel now and I will not stay there if I do not get a decent room. I will walk out and be upset. I now get very irritated when I have to wait in lines anywhere. I can no longer fall asleep in economy class. I have raised my lifestyle. This lifestyle has cost me financially more than I wish to admit. I will now pay a lot more for comfort than I would have a year ago. The feeling is amazing and I do not think I can go back.

The average several star DDFer has spent days, weeks if not months of their time on DDF. Yes, hobbies are great, but this is more. This eats up so much of our time. Conversation topics with other travelers always end up being about this lifestyle. Which airline, which hotel etc. All of these hours used (wasted?) playing the game could have been used better elsewhere. In retrospect, if I had spent all of these hours really working hard at work, I would be able to afford to pay the full cash price of this lifestyle. (ok, not a 20k flight to MLE and 2k per nights, but there are more affordable options)

Here is the main problem: I think the ethic standard I set for myself also lowered in the past year. My business ethics have not changed, but I now do some things that I would have never done. I am afraid it will only get worse. We can give excuses for ourselves for SBS and CC sign up bonuses, even MS and corp codes with fake corp ID's. But those are just excuses. At the end of the day, if it was in a different context, we wouldn't do it.

Is it worth lowering my ethics level to save money? I feel like I am trading my soul for comfort and pleasure.
 
#RANTOVER #IAMTOOADDICTEDTOLEAVE
 
« Last Edit: March 23, 2015, 12:23:24 PM by EMCC »
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Offline AsherO

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Re: For Sale or Trade: My Soul
« Reply #1 on: March 23, 2015, 12:17:58 PM »
Misleading title, flamebait... Etc. Etc.

hmmm, how to moderate...
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Offline EMCC

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Re: For Sale or Trade: My Soul
« Reply #2 on: March 23, 2015, 12:19:08 PM »
Misleading title, flamebait... Etc. Etc.

hmmm, how to moderate...
It's in JS Mod away though.
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Offline ckmk47

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Re: For Sale or Trade: My Soul
« Reply #3 on: March 23, 2015, 12:25:07 PM »
I agree with some of what you're saying.
The time I've spent here would have been more profitable if used elsewhere.
My moral threshold on 'deals' has slipped.


I've started trying to slow down, but DDF is my default place to hang out on the computer.
And then there's some great deal to suck me back in.
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Offline hvaces42

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Re: For Sale or Trade: My Soul
« Reply #4 on: March 23, 2015, 12:30:55 PM »
There is no such thing as too addicted to stop. It takes 2 weeks to change your habits. There are no physiological addictions to DDF. The psychological addiction is the only thing you must overcome. So...you have a choice to make, like any other addict. Do i want to stop or will i allow this addiction to consume me. If you choose to stop, its simple. Put roadblocks up. Block DDF and DDMS with a filter on your computer that is set with a password that someone else controls. You will feel sick for a few weeks but then it gets easier.
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Offline EMCC

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Re: For Sale or Trade: My Soul
« Reply #5 on: March 23, 2015, 12:33:20 PM »
There is no such thing as too addicted to stop. It takes 2 weeks to change your habits. There are no physiological addictions to DDF. The psychological addiction is the only thing you must overcome. So...you have a choice to make, like any other addict. Do i want to stop or will i allow this addiction to consume me. If you choose to stop, its simple. Put roadblocks up. Block DDF and DDMS with a filter on your computer that is set with a password that someone else controls. You will feel sick for a few weeks but then it gets easier.
DDF starts in my wallet with my CCs. There CAN be a physiological addiction to the game. I get a feeling every time I walk into a beautiful suite that I love and I am not ready to give up yet. Plus, I live in an area with very few Jews and very few western faces. I use DDF as a community as well.
"Disclaimer: I don't believe everything I write."  - ChaimMoskowitz

Offline hvaces42

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Re: For Sale or Trade: My Soul
« Reply #6 on: March 23, 2015, 12:35:41 PM »
DDF starts in my wallet with my CCs. There CAN be a physiological addiction to the game. I get a feeling every time I walk into a beautiful suite that I love and I am not ready to give up yet.
Thats psychological not physiological. The former is in your head,  the latter is in your blood. Big difference. And you're not ready...yet.

Im sure there are other ways to connect to a community.
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Offline sky121

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Re: For Sale or Trade: My Soul
« Reply #7 on: March 23, 2015, 12:41:05 PM »
I think there are two different issues here. One is the spending too much time on DDF or any other place on the internet or with technology. The other is getting used to higher standards and it costing you in more ways than one.


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Offline dealfinder85

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Re: For Sale or Trade: My Soul
« Reply #8 on: March 23, 2015, 12:44:18 PM »
I think there are two different issues here. One is the spending too much time on DDF or any other place on the internet or with technology. The other is getting used to higher standards and it costing you in more ways than one.
you are probably right
for myself, and probably many others here, we cant get to #2 from #1 bc of job/kids/hoping to buy a house very soon
using this as a place to hang out when bored (at work) and/or advice and other ideas is healthy (i hope)
but if you pound the cc game, be ready to accept the (didnt realize until now they could be) bad consequences

Offline ChaimMoskowitz

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Re: For Sale or Trade: My Soul
« Reply #9 on: March 23, 2015, 12:45:44 PM »
If DDF or any forum is taking away from quality time to do other things then just stop. It is that simple.
I just found a new supply of forks!

Offline Achas Veachas

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Re: For Sale or Trade: My Soul
« Reply #10 on: March 23, 2015, 12:45:58 PM »


Im sure there are other ways to connect to a community.
Like for example, restricting yourself to JS :P

Offline ChaimMoskowitz

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Re: For Sale or Trade: My Soul
« Reply #11 on: March 23, 2015, 12:47:20 PM »
For those that think this a hobby then what should I call my 9-5 job?
I just found a new supply of forks!

Offline hvaces42

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Re: For Sale or Trade: My Soul
« Reply #12 on: March 23, 2015, 12:47:50 PM »
I think there are two different issues here. One is the spending too much time on DDF or any other place on the internet or with technology. The other is getting used to higher standards and it costing you in more ways than one.
Thats a learned behavior as well which can be unlearned rather quickly. I was a high earner with a taste for paid business class flying and 5 star hotels. When I lost everything it was a hard, but necessary adjustment. Today I dont have the need. Circumstances will do that to you. Continue overspending and you end up in debt. The debt gets unbearable and you can no longer sustain the lifestyle you stop overspending. Its a simple equation that really doesnt require much thought, unless you're in the psychological grasp of your supposed needs. In which case you cant see yourself living without whatever it is that will give you the dopamine rush.

Classic addiction
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Offline hvaces42

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Re: For Sale or Trade: My Soul
« Reply #13 on: March 23, 2015, 12:52:09 PM »
you are probably right
for myself, and probably many others here, we cant get to #2 from #1 bc of job/kids/hoping to buy a house very soon
using this as a place to hang out when bored (at work) and/or advice and other ideas is healthy (i hope)
but if you pound the cc game, be ready to accept the (didnt realize until now they could be) bad consequences
if youre bored at work and do some more work.
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Offline ChaimMoskowitz

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Re: For Sale or Trade: My Soul
« Reply #14 on: March 23, 2015, 12:54:06 PM »
but if you pound the cc game, be ready to accept the (didnt realize until now they could be) bad consequences
Like what?
I just found a new supply of forks!

Offline hvaces42

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Re: For Sale or Trade: My Soul
« Reply #15 on: March 23, 2015, 12:56:23 PM »
Like what?
I would suppose like treating it as a job. And they dont want to do any hard work (real or miles/point related)
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Offline ChaimMoskowitz

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Re: For Sale or Trade: My Soul
« Reply #16 on: March 23, 2015, 12:58:07 PM »
I would suppose like treating it as a job. And they dont want to do any hard work (real or miles/point related)
I now treat it as a job. I don't no any other job that is so much fun.
I just found a new supply of forks!

Offline hvaces42

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Re: For Sale or Trade: My Soul
« Reply #17 on: March 23, 2015, 01:00:06 PM »
I now treat it as a job. I don't no any other job that is so much fun.
Ive been in this since August just looked at the numbers today. I'm having a banner year. It is a second/third/fourth job for me.
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Offline dealfinder85

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Re: For Sale or Trade: My Soul
« Reply #18 on: March 23, 2015, 01:07:00 PM »
Like what?
what this guy was referring to

Offline dealfinder85

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Re: For Sale or Trade: My Soul
« Reply #19 on: March 23, 2015, 01:08:03 PM »
Ive been in this since August just looked at the numbers today. I'm having a banner year. It is a second/third/fourth job for me.
by selling?