Quality Versus Quantity
An Internal Struggle
from 
JoeUser Forums
JoeUser Forums
A few years back I was at a carnival with my then girlfriend at one of the games which you play to win certain prizes. Needless to say machismo took over and I emptied my resources on the game. The game consisted of shooting an air-gun at balloons that were 20 feet away. After many tries and with much bravado I actually won in a flurry of popped balloons. I gave my girlfriend the “I told you so” look at which point she pointed at my empty wallet. Although I wasted more money than I would humbly admit to the anticipation was awarded with a choice of two prizes. I could either have two small teddy bears-one for me and one for my girlfriend-or I could choose a giant pink rabbit. Herein lies the argument I pose in this blog. The choice came down to a basic quantitative decision, the old quality versus quantity curse we fall prey to when making similar decisions. In this instance I could opt to share a prize of higher quality or have one of my own to keep. I opted to give her the rabbit considering the amount of money I had spent and the fact that I didn’t feel like carrying around a teddy bear. Not all decisions are this easy when it comes to quality or quantity. The aforementioned example was to place the concept into terms which anyone can relate to. Life itself is full of such decisions on smaller scales to life altering decisions.
In this blog I will go over certain instances, situations, and/or decisions which involve choosing between a higher quantity of an object we desire at the cost of its quality (how much it’s worth, how much we personally value each one) or choosing one or a few of that same desire which yields a higher satisfaction per each one. We are often confronted with deciding which one we want and usually cannot have both. This applies in most cases that involve objects of value, time, worship, life, love, and finances. Each one of these I have mentioned can place that dilemma in our path which acts like a fork in the road. The analysis of the argument can be different for any individual. Value in itself is intrinsic for what one individual may hold dear another finds worthless. This argument in essence is an argument for value, or what holds the most importance to any given person. Collectively it is nearly impossible to define everyone’s values universally. With that said I’m going to give it a shot based on my own opinions and on common sense.
TIME (FAMILY)
Time is unforgiving in its constant advancement; it never stops and wise men would say to use it wisely. When it comes to loved ones time matters greatly or in other words how much you spend it with a person can determine the outcome of the relationship. With today’s busy lifestyle many people are always on the run with 5 minute microwave dinners, cellular phones and I can’t fit you into my schedule attitudes. Comparatively there are those who hardly work and cannot attain the same financial status but have a lot more free time and live a sharply contrasting life to that of the overachievers. That’s where the issue of time spent reaches the symbolic fork on the road. We spend time with loved ones usually on a daily basis but the argument lies whether we should spend more time with loved ones or whether we should plan ahead and improve the quality of time we spend with people we care for. Let’s say I have kids who I spend time with everyday, I opt for quantity and spend a lot of time with them, all this closeness may cause tension especially when dealing with adolescents. The amount of time spent may or may not improve a relationship which consequently lowers the quality of the time. Each minute would mean less because there are more of them to go around. If I opt for quality then I would select a predetermined time and make sure I spend it well with whoever I decide to spend it with. Every minute would be anticipated and if spent well cherished. This also has its own drawbacks. When it comes to those we trust we tend to feel closer to people we are around with all the time. Remember your parents getting on your nerves because they were always on your back? When we no longer have them around we start missing them, it goes hand in hand with the saying you don’t know what you have until it’s gone. Personally I prefer to spend as much time as I can with my loved ones. The quality is not necessarily what is important in my opinion but one can become closer to someone else depending on the quantity of time.
FINANCES
Finances are held to be important and have been since advent of currency. This obsession of ours with money can be traced back to the beginning of recorded history in clay Sumerian tablets depicting counting of an individual’s possessions. There is no argument when it comes to money, quantity is the aggressor and almost all possession can be defined into monetary units. Taking that into consideration the real argument seems to be how we spend any accumulated wealth whether it is through possessions or sheer amount of currency. As a college student money is not in abundance and I must entertain the notion that how I spend it is what counts. Purchasing any thing I want or need is usually something I must reflect on and weigh comparatively. Let us say for instance that I go grocery shopping I must weigh my options when making purchases. If I come across the meat section I must select what I will eat between many different options. Here is the symbolic fork in the road. If I want to eat filet mignon it will cost around the same amount as four pork chops. I would likely enjoy the filet mignon considerably more than one generic pork chop of no particular brand. The quality would win out when putting the same amount of filet mignon and pork chops, but we are purchasing four pork chops which will last longer than one single filet mignon. Should I eat very well for one meal or enjoy four separate meals that I would consider bland? This situation can be considered for any purchase as there is always something of higher quality with a higher price. Unfortunately there are other variables that one must consider. I would need to buy more filet mignon to eat for a couple days but it would be over my budget so although I would enjoy it more, I would not want to be hungry for a couple days with nothing to eat and only a memory of the filet mignon. It seems that in this stage of my life practicality will win out and I would opt for the sensible larger quantity. It seems the argument of quality versus quantity is one of sacrifice when dealing with financial decisions.
WORSHIP
I know some will gasp and some will object but I will go into the religious realm of spirituality. Quality versus quantity can be applied concerning beliefs so I will try to define it as clearly as I can. In this world there are numerous different organized religious beliefs as well as individual beliefs that are as different as night and day. Describing all of them with credibility and justice would be too much of a diverging path from the subject matter so I will simply generalize it into spiritual terms. When it comes to believing in a religion or way of life an individual can go from the extremes of devoting their whole life to their beliefs to simply not believing anything at all. The argument of quality and quantity comes into play in that same way. Organized religion would prefer that one devote their life and live according to any values or rules of that religion. You have to devote time into going to church or a temple of some sort two to three times a week and as such are expected to follow any established regimens such as praying to Allah at a certain time or praying to Jesus before going to bed. All beliefs should and can be respected so the quantity of time you spend on it is all up to the individual. The quantity of time an individual devotes to spirituality does not directly impact the quality of that relationship. In the real world someone can go to church 7 times a week but not necessarily have a real passion for what they are doing. It can be done to uphold an image or even to conform to the norm but deep down inside one may not truly embrace their spirituality. Quality it seems is considered important in most religions. One must maintain a life according to their beliefs and must be passionate enough to maintain it through the course of their life. Without quality of worship, the amount of time that is spent is not as meaningful and in some beliefs a negative aspect. So is the amount of time one devotes in spirituality even important? This question is different for most individuals but in my opinion is not as important as the quality.
RELATIONSHIP/SEX
Relationships are as varied as there are stars in the night sky. Most people have had at least one bad relationship that did not work out and depending on age it might include several. Many are frustrated with their inability to find Mr./Ms. Right and some are simply not looking and complacent with their current life. The perspective one can take here is influenced by many variables from what age we are to where and how we spent our childhoods. The concept of relationships can vary and occurs at times spontaneously. The argument for quality over quantity in relationships is simple yet the solution remains obscure. Essentially there are two viewpoints; the desire to have many different relationships or sexual partners and the desire to find one singular meaningful relationship. In this instance one’s background heavily influences what type of relationship will make us happy. Age is also an important factor because one must be truly mature before completely establishing what will make them happy and how to treat their partner. When we are younger especially in our teenage years, inexperience can be a disadvantage. Every adult I met when I was younger advised me to not settle down until I was older and more experienced. Of course teenagers in love rarely listen to reason and if love is blind than one can be seen as deaf and blind when in love while still young. This does not mean that one cannot have a fulfilling relationship it just proves to be more difficult. So the aspect of quantity or to have many relationships might be a better choice while one is younger. As one ages and gains wisdom, likes and dislikes are much more established and understanding of what makes us happy is more defined. Through middle adulthood after age thirty, I believe quality is more important. Finding someone to settle down with can be rewarding experience if we want to embrace the traditional family role.
Philosophically the two paths in relationships are more complex. Depending on one’s life and influences an individual may not be happy settled down. Some of us even during relationships that are stable may desire other partners being faithful can prove to be a challenge. When this occurs we must weigh our options and decide what would be more satisfying in the long run. To live a life full of physical gratification may not provide someone with the emotional fulfillment that a long-term relationship will provide. Consequently having more partners may not truly make a person happy but will give them some satisfaction. There are many different influences that affect one’s love life and I think the question of quality versus quantity should be answered taking age into account.
LIFE/DEATH
If this article was a human body then this portion would be the heart or the one that affects and includes all others. How to live our life is the most important decision that anyone can make. Our parents try and teach us and slowly prepare us for the decisions that will lead us past that aforementioned fork in the road. Everyone seems to have an opinion and advice about this subject. Well once again it all depends on personality. Each person’s life structure is unique and decisions are made daily that may impact us in the future. The different paths we can take can be thought of as a scale with the extremes lying on opposite sides. Unfortunately Since I cannot post an image at this part I will try to explain the scale as best as I can.
Extreme one on the left side is simply living your life in the moment embracing immediate self-gratification with a disregard for the future emphasizing the quality of life over the length or quantity. Extreme two on the right side is living your life completely focusing on the length, “playing it safe” always being cautious concerning decisions, and not living in the moment or in other words analyzing decisions before making them. Extreme two embraces the notion of a longer life or quantity of life. It is a scale that increases in extremity the farther you go right or left. There also middle ground life structures which would lie directly in the middle of the scale. Middle ground one is living a life planning ahead but also making decisions based on wants or desires. Middle ground two is basically living in the moment while young but planning on settling down once one reaches a certain age. Between the two extremities of quality and quantity lie an almost infinite amount of choices which would determine each individual’s life. The concept of which one is better depends on what a person wants to do with their own life. I cannot give an answer that will solve this question for everyone. The choice is left to the individual but the advice I can give is to live using the middle ground philosophy, you must enjoy life now but plan accordingly so you can enjoy life in the future and for a long period of time.
The concept of quality versus quantity is a long running argument. It can be considered as complex and difficult to answer as the concept of morality. To establish a certain solution or law everyone would have to have at least similar desires. The question can also change depending on the situation. Throughout my life experiences I have learned to always have an open mind only then may I find a solution to a problem that seems over my head. Being a flexible person is important I believe. Please feel free to comment
I would like to thank Mignuna for the idea to write this blog.
In this blog I will go over certain instances, situations, and/or decisions which involve choosing between a higher quantity of an object we desire at the cost of its quality (how much it’s worth, how much we personally value each one) or choosing one or a few of that same desire which yields a higher satisfaction per each one. We are often confronted with deciding which one we want and usually cannot have both. This applies in most cases that involve objects of value, time, worship, life, love, and finances. Each one of these I have mentioned can place that dilemma in our path which acts like a fork in the road. The analysis of the argument can be different for any individual. Value in itself is intrinsic for what one individual may hold dear another finds worthless. This argument in essence is an argument for value, or what holds the most importance to any given person. Collectively it is nearly impossible to define everyone’s values universally. With that said I’m going to give it a shot based on my own opinions and on common sense.
TIME (FAMILY)
Time is unforgiving in its constant advancement; it never stops and wise men would say to use it wisely. When it comes to loved ones time matters greatly or in other words how much you spend it with a person can determine the outcome of the relationship. With today’s busy lifestyle many people are always on the run with 5 minute microwave dinners, cellular phones and I can’t fit you into my schedule attitudes. Comparatively there are those who hardly work and cannot attain the same financial status but have a lot more free time and live a sharply contrasting life to that of the overachievers. That’s where the issue of time spent reaches the symbolic fork on the road. We spend time with loved ones usually on a daily basis but the argument lies whether we should spend more time with loved ones or whether we should plan ahead and improve the quality of time we spend with people we care for. Let’s say I have kids who I spend time with everyday, I opt for quantity and spend a lot of time with them, all this closeness may cause tension especially when dealing with adolescents. The amount of time spent may or may not improve a relationship which consequently lowers the quality of the time. Each minute would mean less because there are more of them to go around. If I opt for quality then I would select a predetermined time and make sure I spend it well with whoever I decide to spend it with. Every minute would be anticipated and if spent well cherished. This also has its own drawbacks. When it comes to those we trust we tend to feel closer to people we are around with all the time. Remember your parents getting on your nerves because they were always on your back? When we no longer have them around we start missing them, it goes hand in hand with the saying you don’t know what you have until it’s gone. Personally I prefer to spend as much time as I can with my loved ones. The quality is not necessarily what is important in my opinion but one can become closer to someone else depending on the quantity of time.
FINANCES
Finances are held to be important and have been since advent of currency. This obsession of ours with money can be traced back to the beginning of recorded history in clay Sumerian tablets depicting counting of an individual’s possessions. There is no argument when it comes to money, quantity is the aggressor and almost all possession can be defined into monetary units. Taking that into consideration the real argument seems to be how we spend any accumulated wealth whether it is through possessions or sheer amount of currency. As a college student money is not in abundance and I must entertain the notion that how I spend it is what counts. Purchasing any thing I want or need is usually something I must reflect on and weigh comparatively. Let us say for instance that I go grocery shopping I must weigh my options when making purchases. If I come across the meat section I must select what I will eat between many different options. Here is the symbolic fork in the road. If I want to eat filet mignon it will cost around the same amount as four pork chops. I would likely enjoy the filet mignon considerably more than one generic pork chop of no particular brand. The quality would win out when putting the same amount of filet mignon and pork chops, but we are purchasing four pork chops which will last longer than one single filet mignon. Should I eat very well for one meal or enjoy four separate meals that I would consider bland? This situation can be considered for any purchase as there is always something of higher quality with a higher price. Unfortunately there are other variables that one must consider. I would need to buy more filet mignon to eat for a couple days but it would be over my budget so although I would enjoy it more, I would not want to be hungry for a couple days with nothing to eat and only a memory of the filet mignon. It seems that in this stage of my life practicality will win out and I would opt for the sensible larger quantity. It seems the argument of quality versus quantity is one of sacrifice when dealing with financial decisions.
WORSHIP
I know some will gasp and some will object but I will go into the religious realm of spirituality. Quality versus quantity can be applied concerning beliefs so I will try to define it as clearly as I can. In this world there are numerous different organized religious beliefs as well as individual beliefs that are as different as night and day. Describing all of them with credibility and justice would be too much of a diverging path from the subject matter so I will simply generalize it into spiritual terms. When it comes to believing in a religion or way of life an individual can go from the extremes of devoting their whole life to their beliefs to simply not believing anything at all. The argument of quality and quantity comes into play in that same way. Organized religion would prefer that one devote their life and live according to any values or rules of that religion. You have to devote time into going to church or a temple of some sort two to three times a week and as such are expected to follow any established regimens such as praying to Allah at a certain time or praying to Jesus before going to bed. All beliefs should and can be respected so the quantity of time you spend on it is all up to the individual. The quantity of time an individual devotes to spirituality does not directly impact the quality of that relationship. In the real world someone can go to church 7 times a week but not necessarily have a real passion for what they are doing. It can be done to uphold an image or even to conform to the norm but deep down inside one may not truly embrace their spirituality. Quality it seems is considered important in most religions. One must maintain a life according to their beliefs and must be passionate enough to maintain it through the course of their life. Without quality of worship, the amount of time that is spent is not as meaningful and in some beliefs a negative aspect. So is the amount of time one devotes in spirituality even important? This question is different for most individuals but in my opinion is not as important as the quality.
RELATIONSHIP/SEX
Relationships are as varied as there are stars in the night sky. Most people have had at least one bad relationship that did not work out and depending on age it might include several. Many are frustrated with their inability to find Mr./Ms. Right and some are simply not looking and complacent with their current life. The perspective one can take here is influenced by many variables from what age we are to where and how we spent our childhoods. The concept of relationships can vary and occurs at times spontaneously. The argument for quality over quantity in relationships is simple yet the solution remains obscure. Essentially there are two viewpoints; the desire to have many different relationships or sexual partners and the desire to find one singular meaningful relationship. In this instance one’s background heavily influences what type of relationship will make us happy. Age is also an important factor because one must be truly mature before completely establishing what will make them happy and how to treat their partner. When we are younger especially in our teenage years, inexperience can be a disadvantage. Every adult I met when I was younger advised me to not settle down until I was older and more experienced. Of course teenagers in love rarely listen to reason and if love is blind than one can be seen as deaf and blind when in love while still young. This does not mean that one cannot have a fulfilling relationship it just proves to be more difficult. So the aspect of quantity or to have many relationships might be a better choice while one is younger. As one ages and gains wisdom, likes and dislikes are much more established and understanding of what makes us happy is more defined. Through middle adulthood after age thirty, I believe quality is more important. Finding someone to settle down with can be rewarding experience if we want to embrace the traditional family role.
Philosophically the two paths in relationships are more complex. Depending on one’s life and influences an individual may not be happy settled down. Some of us even during relationships that are stable may desire other partners being faithful can prove to be a challenge. When this occurs we must weigh our options and decide what would be more satisfying in the long run. To live a life full of physical gratification may not provide someone with the emotional fulfillment that a long-term relationship will provide. Consequently having more partners may not truly make a person happy but will give them some satisfaction. There are many different influences that affect one’s love life and I think the question of quality versus quantity should be answered taking age into account.
LIFE/DEATH
If this article was a human body then this portion would be the heart or the one that affects and includes all others. How to live our life is the most important decision that anyone can make. Our parents try and teach us and slowly prepare us for the decisions that will lead us past that aforementioned fork in the road. Everyone seems to have an opinion and advice about this subject. Well once again it all depends on personality. Each person’s life structure is unique and decisions are made daily that may impact us in the future. The different paths we can take can be thought of as a scale with the extremes lying on opposite sides. Unfortunately Since I cannot post an image at this part I will try to explain the scale as best as I can.
Extreme one on the left side is simply living your life in the moment embracing immediate self-gratification with a disregard for the future emphasizing the quality of life over the length or quantity. Extreme two on the right side is living your life completely focusing on the length, “playing it safe” always being cautious concerning decisions, and not living in the moment or in other words analyzing decisions before making them. Extreme two embraces the notion of a longer life or quantity of life. It is a scale that increases in extremity the farther you go right or left. There also middle ground life structures which would lie directly in the middle of the scale. Middle ground one is living a life planning ahead but also making decisions based on wants or desires. Middle ground two is basically living in the moment while young but planning on settling down once one reaches a certain age. Between the two extremities of quality and quantity lie an almost infinite amount of choices which would determine each individual’s life. The concept of which one is better depends on what a person wants to do with their own life. I cannot give an answer that will solve this question for everyone. The choice is left to the individual but the advice I can give is to live using the middle ground philosophy, you must enjoy life now but plan accordingly so you can enjoy life in the future and for a long period of time.
The concept of quality versus quantity is a long running argument. It can be considered as complex and difficult to answer as the concept of morality. To establish a certain solution or law everyone would have to have at least similar desires. The question can also change depending on the situation. Throughout my life experiences I have learned to always have an open mind only then may I find a solution to a problem that seems over my head. Being a flexible person is important I believe. Please feel free to comment
I would like to thank Mignuna for the idea to write this blog.
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