Is consumerism destroying us?

Anothe rforum has carried out a poll on this question; I would be interested to know how the figures compare.....
We want the latest dvd recorders, Ipods, and fashions, we regularly upgrade perfectly useable phones, computers and cars for the latest models. But is this quest for a better lifestyle actually good for us and the planet?

Are we using up and destroying the worlds finite resources in a desperate bid to fill our lives with material goods at the expense of spiritual fulfilment? Or should we embrace 21st century consumerism - it's what makes life worth living! What do you believe?

Argh, i don't know what answer to put. In some ways it is, but in others, its helping us.

Yes, but then im a bit of a post-marxist so I would say that..

I guess I'd better give this 48 hrs, to be fair.....

Yes but then I'm a great big hypocrite .

Fluffy said:

Yes but then I'm a great big hypocrite .

Click to expand...

Que ?

Que ?

Click to expand...

Well because I do think it is destroying us but this knowledge is not enough to have stopped me from recently buying the latest model computer when my old one worked perfectly fine or wanting to upgrade my Nokia 3310 etc. I need to work up a good deal of will power before tackling something that has so deeply integrated itself into my life.

Consumerism:

Attachment to materialistic values or possessions: [size=+0]deplored the rampant consumerism of contemporary society.[/size]

Click to expand...

yes, i think consumerism is silly and meaningless. however, i also feel it's possible to have alot of stuff and still be a spiritually alive, decent person. greed does get in the way of that, however.

my step-father is a generally kind, nice guy, but he does get pretty defensive about his expensive stuff to the point of absurdity. i remember one instance where a young cousin of mine was at our house feeling unwell, so we put her on the couch to lie down. the poor kid got sick and puked all over the couch, and my step-dad got rather upset and started yelling at her, as if puking isn't upsetting enough for a little kid. he was so insensed that the five-year-old would have the gall to get sick on his stupid leather couch he was ticked off for days.

are things bad? no. is getting overly attached to things stupid? if you ask me, yes.

Websters (just so we're talking about the same thing ):

1 : the promotion of the consumer's interests
2 : the theory that an increasing consumption of goods is economically desirable
3 : a preoccupation with and an inclination toward the buying of consumer goods

I think it is. The promotion of the consumer's interest has led to gas guzzling SUV's and throwaway convenience products that end up in landfills. It has led to entire forested areas and farmland being destroyed to build brand new housing developments while older neighborhoods continue to deteriorate and become suburban blights. We've created this image where new is always better...while at the same time trying to replicate the past. We have some lovely old victorian houses in our area but they're in the "wrong" section of town. So people are building faux victorian houses on pristine farm and forest land.

While it may appear to be economically desireable because the consumers are buying more, so manufacturers are providing more jobs, so people have more money to spend....I think that's a false appearance. People are just getting into more debt to buy the things they can't afford and at some point the bubble is going to burst (as it has done here in the U.S.) and the economy falls drastically.

We want what we want, when we want and be damned to the consequences to our planet.

My younger brother is consumerism's anti-christ. He has this lovely marble border around some of his flower beds. Look more closely and they turn out to be broken pieces of cemetary head stones. His wife is an engraver and has access to all of the headstones that were improperly engraved (not by her) and were headed to a landfill! She rescued the marble ones and recycled them in her yard. Look closely on the back and you can read the inscriptions. He's my hero.

Just over 24 Hours to go, andyou're going to disagree with the poll on the other forum!!:help:

What type of forum was this by the way? Right wing Catholic by any chance?

Are you suggesting, Tawn, that there is a correlation between right wing Catholics and approval of consumerism?

Tawn said:

What type of forum was this by the way? Right wing Catholic by any chance?

Click to expand...

I don't know if you've ever watched 'Heaven and Earth' on BBC 1 on sunday, Tawn - whether you are religious or not, it is still an interesting programme. The forum was carried out here, in England; I was interested to see how American and English ideas differed.

Well, those of you who voted, Voted 100% in acceptance that consumerism is destroying us - in England the results were 84% "yes" 16% "no".

I'm not sure what that means; maybe you are destroying yourselves 16% More ?

lol I think a closer figure would be much larger than that. If every single person on the planet had the life style of the average American then we would need an extra 3 planets of equivilant size to Earth in order to sustain ourselves compared to 'just' 2 planets if every person lived the life style of an average European.

Fluffy said:

lol I think a closer figure would be much larger than that. If every single person on the planet had the life style of the average American then we would need an extra 3 planets of equivilant size to Earth in order to sustain ourselves compared to 'just' 2 planets if every person lived the life style of an average European.

Click to expand...

Average Europeans don't live in houses?? I'm serious. I don't know if this is an accurate statement.

That would not be the environmentalist changes which is a personalizing issue for the value care and faith in progress; but the revolution in communications may make us the consumers relevant to a new religious sociology. The new millenium was only an attempt at the conservation of an old way: Levathion and the alternative semblance for self-cause of something anti-personal to fight off our natural tendency to accept they have minds on their heads at work. The message is never the medium; it only appears to be.

The medium may actually seice to be a concept for art faking we use NOW.:biglaugh: Instead, it will be the instrumental intention.:canadian:

Average Europeans don't live in houses?? I'm serious. I don't know if this is an accurate statement.

Click to expand...

It is very accurate and from a copy of New Scientist. I can possibly find you the issue number if you wish to verify the statistics? .

Fluffy said:

It is very accurate and from a copy of New Scientist. I can possibly find you the issue number if you wish to verify the statistics? .

Click to expand...

See if you can find a link. I think that it would be very interesting.

In a way, i think it is. Consumerism is the force that buying things will make you happy. As i see it, when I see people buy brand name items and they have so much glee about having just purchased something because it is Nike, or Burberry, or whatever is in fashion, I am somewhat disappointed. They buy it for the name, and not for the commodity. I just bought some cheap t-shirts and a cheap jacket, and i love them, because they look nice, and keep me warm. Spending ten times as much on something because it is Nike or whatever isn't something that would make me happy.

I do think consumerism is destroying us to some extent. not literally, but it is causing us to forget who we are, that we are human beings, and we are here to love, to be loved. Well, i don't know what we are on this planet for, but one thing I know is that it is not for buying nike products!

of course, we do ned a system based on consumption, but I would prefer a more simplified version, where we buy what we need, and maybe splash out on luxuries every once in a while. (Well, I didn't really need that new guitar, but I love it!) People don't buy products any more, they buy names, and i just wish more people could see past that, and learn that happiness is not a piece of plastic that fits in your wallet, and how many times you use it. To me, happiness is enjoying good company, and maybe a pint or two of good ale to compliment it!