You're completely neglecting the fact that he still has Microsoft stock.. plus, he's certainly holding stock in other companies. It's disingenuous to say that his increase in net worth between 2008 and 2024 is solely due to the money he's donated.
For what it's worth, I'm not pro Bill Gates or billionaires - I just feel like it's important to speak factually when trying to address an issue.
The comment left by johannes is spot on. I can relate to a lot of how you describe your mom, but I very much share their mentality on the matter. At some point, you have to own that you are who you are because of your choices. Just because someone/something may have influenced or caused your flaws doesn't mean you have to lay down and take it forever. If you do, that's your choice and the blame shifts to you, whether you want to accept it or not.
It's hard, but you've gotta realize that you have 2 "good" options. Either cut her out of your life and figure out how to be self-sufficient, or keep her in your life, but set boundaries. You cannot expect her to just change on her own, because thats not going to happen. It's really difficult to set boundaries, but it worked for me and my mom. Granted, I needed to not be living with her or dependent on her to be strong enough to do it. If she is housing you, feeding you, cleaning for you, etc., she has a lot of power over you, and will continue to use that as leverage to get her way. And when she doesn't have that power over you anymore, she'll likely focus hard on the emotional power she has over you. You need to focus on getting out of her house so you can stand a chance at successfully setting boundaries.
Also helped a lot that my brothers helped pave the way. Maybe talk to your brother about starting the practice of setting his own boundaries since he's more independent. Lean on each other. I would've struggled so much more without my brothers, and they are the only ones that truly knew what I was going through since they grew up with the same mom.
Good luck. It's going to be a really difficult road, but don't give up. Once you make it through, I promise life will be so much better, and you'll be a stronger person for it.
Not what I said, or what I meant.. Just typed out the first thing that comes to my head when I see large crowds nowadays. Apparently, I'm the only one lol
I can smell the covid from here
I agree, but i can't help but wonder if the internet changes this.
I started working at a local restaurant/bar when I was in college. I started out as a server and worked my way to bartender. One of the nights that I was running the service by myself (we had really slow Tuesday nights), this couple came in and sat at the bar. They were super cool, ordered a ton of food and drinks, and we just fucked around and had a great time together. I walked to the back to take their dirty plates away, and when I came back like 45 seconds later, they were gone. Bailed on the tab.
The little money I had made that day was taken from me to cover their bill. Plus the owners demanded I pay the rest of it with my future tips - i.e. I wouldn't get any money until it was all paid back. They paid me $2/hr, and they were going to take another $200 of my money. The place didn't get a lot of business, so it would take me like 1.5 weeks to pay that back without making anything myself. It was a huge punch in the gut. I had worked hard for these guys for at least a year. Unheard of at this restaurant cause most people left after like a month.
I cried like a baby in the manager's office when she told me what the owners said, and I quit that night.
I find it less creepy and more disingenuous. But I can appreciate the intention.
I've been a serial monogamist since I started dating (way back in middle school), and my major relationships have been 1.5 years, 5.5 years, 2 years, and my current relationship which is 8+. My "ones that got away" were actually people that I wish I had messed around with in a no-strings-attached sort of way when I happened to be single. Problem is that I was never single for very long. Should've seen that as a personal red flag at the time, but I lacked the maturity and clarity.
Anyways, it's not like an active desire I have. I'm really lucky - I'm married to a great guy, and I truly believe I've chosen an excellent life partner. Certainly the best fit for me from all the guys I've met. Just sometimes I wish I hadn't taken love and sex so seriously when I was younger, and tried to have more fun.
If any young person is reading this, get it out of your system! Anybody that's gonna judge you isn't worth your time. Just be smart and safe about it, but you've got your whole adult life to be serious.
That's such a weird way to execute that... like if you're gonna steal someone's style, just go buy copies or something very similar. Still weird, but way less weird than what this chick did.
Maybe she was trying to be you or some shit.
Thanks for sharing. This gave me a new perspective on the match.
Everyone hates billionaires for hoarding their money, but then it's also a problem when they're giving it away to charity.
Billionaires suck and shouldn't exist, but they do. I know this is going to get downvoted to hell because it seems a majority of the users here can't stand anything remotely positive being said about billionaires. But guys - it's an isolated good thing when billionaires give away large sums of their money to charitable causes. Doesn't mean that they shouldnt pay more in taxes, or that they're wonderful people, or that they accumulated their wealth in moral ways. All of these things can be true at the same time.