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I think consumerism does make people happy. Call it shallow, but people enjoying buying new things like TVs, cars. Its not like we have all been brainwashed t

by calsy 10y ago

I think consumerism does make people happy. Call it shallow, but people enjoying buying new things like TVs, cars. Its not like we have all been brainwashed to think that way (contrary to what some people think). Even as children, we have this urge to get things that other kids our age have, a new console, a new toy. Consumerism and capitalism allows a particular level of freedom where if I want something I can get it if I do enough work. The machine is almost a socialist construct, with limited jobs available, its up to the machine to determine whether I can have something or not.

ue_ 10y ago
If consumerism makes people happy than let it be so. I'm not proposing to stop that, rather I am saying that in my judgement it is unfortunate that capitalism, thanks to the powerful hand of advertising has convinced many people that they need things that they don't really need at all; in fact, this is a large part of for example the entertainment business. Stupidly large amounts are spent on advertising. We produce for the sake of production, for the sake of handing our product (labour) over to other people. I think it's horrible. A lot of the reason why children want toys is thanks to advertising, either direct (TV, internet, and nowadays Youtube) or indirect (seeing their friends playing with one). Whether it's most of the reason or not, I don't know. But I know that there would be fewer wants if the people wanting didn't know that it existed. Both direct and indirect advertising do not present the object in an objective light, intentionally or not. The idea that children wouldn't be happy without the newest toys and consoles is dubious at best. >if I want something I can get it if I do enough work. It's a good thing that you don't want the product of your labour, because nobody is going to hand that to you, regardless of how hard you work. Can the sweatshop workers get themselves out of their predicament by doing enough work? How about the programmer? How many people have worked under this puerile delusion that they will be rewarded if they work hard enough? I say to abolish the reward and the giver of the reward. It is not enough to say that people should be rewarded. There should be no concept of reward to start with. You get what you work for, and it isn't appropriated. That's not a reward any more than getting the wood from a tree is a reward.

by calsy 10y ago

ue_ 10y ago

If consumerism makes people happy than let it be so. I'm not proposing to stop that, rather I am saying that in my judgement it is unfortunate that capitalism, thanks to the powerful hand of advertising has convinced many people that they need things that they don't really need at all; in fact, this is a large part of for example the entertainment business. Stupidly large amounts are spent on advertising. We produce for the sake of production, for the sake of handing our product (labour) over to other people. I think it's horrible. A lot of the reason why children want toys is thanks to advertising, either direct (TV, internet, and nowadays Youtube) or indirect (seeing their friends playing with one). Whether it's most of the reason or not, I don't know. But I know that there would be fewer wants if the people wanting didn't know that it existed. Both direct and indirect advertising do not present the object in an objective light, intentionally or not. The idea that children wouldn't be happy without the newest toys and consoles is dubious at best. >if I want something I can get it if I do enough work. It's a good thing that you don't want the product of your labour, because nobody is going to hand that to you, regardless of how hard you work. Can the sweatshop workers get themselves out of their predicament by doing enough work? How about the programmer? How many people have worked under this puerile delusion that they will be rewarded if they work hard enough? I say to abolish the reward and the giver of the reward. It is not enough to say that people should be rewarded. There should be no concept of reward to start with. You get what you work for, and it isn't appropriated. That's not a reward any more than getting the wood from a tree is a reward.