Author Topic: Crabs In A Bucket  (Read 3259 times)

mikefixac

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Crabs In A Bucket
« on: April 24, 2013, 10:34:42 AM »
I just read this over at Jacob's ERE forum--From Dragline Master. I believe he posts here too.

Crabs in a bucket is an analogy about those living below their means and seeking early retirement. It's a great analogy. When crabs are in a bucket, they could easily all escape, but as the crab will try and leave, another crab will pull it down. Hence a constant game of King of the Hill in which no crab escapes.

Same with us--by LBOM, saving money, intent on ER, it draws mostly sarcastic comments, instead of "congratulations, how did you do that, can I learn from you".

NumberCruncher

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Re: Crabs In A Bucket
« Reply #1 on: April 24, 2013, 10:48:47 AM »
Ha, that's pretty good.

I have a friend that I mentioned early retirement to - it was pretty much "That sounds like a bad idea" without any thought. She makes slightly more than I do, but she spends way more  -  rent of 1400/mo living alone vs the 1000/mo I share with my husband, etc.   Living on less to her would mean suffering.

Jamesqf

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Re: Crabs In A Bucket
« Reply #2 on: April 24, 2013, 12:32:00 PM »
Crabs in a bucket is an analogy about those living below their means and seeking early retirement.

Not just an analogy for that.  Consider the reactions of some of the crabs here when I mention that I enjoy working (in reasonable amounts), and my only "retirement" plan is a shovel.

velocistar237

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Re: Crabs In A Bucket
« Reply #3 on: April 24, 2013, 02:24:18 PM »
Not just an analogy for that.  Consider the reactions of some of the crabs here when I mention that I enjoy working (in reasonable amounts), and my only "retirement" plan is a shovel.

Shut yer yappin & get back in the bucket!

The crab mentality of "if I can't have it, then neither can you" is everywhere. Yes, if you get satisfaction from your work, and I don't, then I'd be a crab to say that you shouldn't have that. But mostly I'm fine with you liking work, just not fine with you not liking my dislike for work. I do appreciate your perspective, though, as I'll probably enjoy work more as I approach FI.

kisserofsinners

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Re: Crabs In A Bucket
« Reply #4 on: April 24, 2013, 02:55:39 PM »
Yea, it's the similar metaphors for kids who get out of poverty, "Come out the hood now you wanna pull me back? Right..."

It's sort of a level up from there to here, but it's really the same struggle. People really just want to be just like everyone around them in spite of any, "I'm an individual." talk.

Jamesqf

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Re: Crabs In A Bucket
« Reply #5 on: April 24, 2013, 04:03:47 PM »
People really just want to be just like everyone around them in spite of any, "I'm an individual." talk.

I dunno about that.  I've never had any urge at all to be just like the people around me (no matter what sort of people they were).  Though I'll grant there have been times when I wished the rest of the world was more like me :-)

 

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