Consumerism and Its Discontents

[marmar]

Consumerism and Its Discontents

Monday, 27 May 2013 10:56
By Charles Derber, Truthout | Op-Ed


A quiet revolutionary struggle is brewing in the minds of the US "millennial" generation, those 80 million Americans between ages 16 and 34. They are wrestling with the fundamental edict of capitalism: Buy and you shall be happy. The millennials have not rejected consumerism, but they have also not embraced it fully. They experience its very real downsides - that also afflict millions of older Americans and go to the heart of capitalist sustainability and morality.

Recent polls by marketing firms and the respected Pew Research Center show strong environmental concerns among millennials, but hint at a broader issue: whether consumerism itself makes for a good life and society. Americans, especially the young, love their computers and sleep with their iPhones next to their pillows, but still worry about the negative sides of consumerism.

Technology itself may be contributing to what commentators have called the "death of ownership" culture, since the issue is not owning a book or television set, but having access through the web. Technology is changing the very idea of ownership. But broader factors - including the very availability of so much "stuff" - are contributing to making consumerism less new, exciting and "cool." ...................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://truth-out.org/opinion/item/16582-consumerism-and-its-discontents

[marions ghost]

1. Downside of consumerism

from the article:

* It creates fierce competitive pressure to have more and newer "stuff."

* It complicates their lives, always worrying about how to maintain, pay for and use all the things they buy.

* It distracts from a quality life with their family and friends.

* It creates a "dirty" lifestyle that makes them and the planet sick.

* It leads to more inequality, with people seeking more at the expense of others.

* It distracts from political engagement - President Bush told them to go shopping as he was gearing up for war with Iraq after 9/11.

* It imprisons them in a life full of products and empty of meaning.

[marions ghost]

6. These downside statements were made

by young college students. They are seeing the issues. Yes they like their communication devices, but there is not the expectation of a life of consuming products.

So you're a little off base in the criticism, but it is a spiritual disease in the sense that if you take away consuming, what will people do for recreation and retail therapy? What do people replace the constant buying, maintaining, and recycling of consumer products with?

We have to have answers that involve creating more meaningful pursuits and experiences so that the endless quest for things--the right thing, the perfect thing, the latest thing--does not have such an attraction.

Everything you own eventually owns you.

[marions ghost]

10. Why not blame those who glorified consumption

instead of the kids who were influenced by it? (I think the issue of "bad behavior" is kind of a separate issue).

We all are having to do with less, downsizing, finding alternatives to over-consuming. Advertisers aren't really getting the message.

Want less. Only buy what you really need--these ideas are not cool to the business sector always creating a sense of lack.

This is the wave of the future and (plenty of) the younger generation are on the wave.

[marions ghost]

17. My point is

I don't "blame" the parents OR the kids of the 80's. I blame the "glorifiers of consumerism" and we all know who they are. Creating the need for image and keeping up with others. I think of the neighborhoods where everybody owns a couple of riding mowers for their yards. Yes, time spent with people or doing more productive things is worth far more.

I'm agreeing with your conclusion but not where you place the blame.

[Rhiannon12866]

12. Congratulations on 14,000 posts!

We no longer have Milestone threads, but I noticed, so I had to acknowledge such an impressive Milestone!

[marions ghost]

20. Hey thanks!

I hadn't even realized...I'm getting up there, even at my snail's pace...

Rhiannon, may you be one of the first to reach 100,000--you can do it! Halfway there.

Thanks for making my day a little more fun. mg

[Rhiannon12866]

23. I remember when I never thought I'd reach 100, LOL!

It sure goes by fast, and I never think to check, either. I made most of my posts when I was a mod, since we discussed everything! And there are lots of posters with over 100,000. I don't know how they do it. I need to sleep, LOL.

Kudos on 14,000! And here's to 14,000 more!!!

[nadinbrzezinski]

33. We just post what is of interest to us

Though some of us have slowed down. This place is far from the fun place it used to be

[Rhiannon12866]

34. I agree with you on both points

Though I can't say that things are ever boring. I miss the Milestone and birthday threads, but those were from newyawker99. Back then it did feel more like a community. She welcomed me on my very first post, probably why I stayed...

[nadinbrzezinski]

35. It was what it was

But rarely it still feels like a community.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=2911167

[Rhiannon12866]

36. Thanks!

I helped someone with a dog wish before, no reason why I can't again...

[BrotherIvan]

18. I'm going to get a T-shirt made of "Want Less"

I think that's a great message for myself. Too bad I want to buy something to share it

[marions ghost]

25. I have this baseball hat by jenny Holzer

The irony of course, is that I had to buy it...

[BrotherIvan]

26. That's great

This whole discussion makes me want to get millions of copies of Henderson the Rain King and drop it from helicopters.

[marions ghost]

30. Well you dropped it here & I will read it

thanks!

Heres the plot on the book from 1959 by Saul Bellow from wiki --

"Eugene Henderson is a troubled middle-aged man. Despite his riches, high social status, and physical prowess, he feels restless and unfulfilled, and harbors a spiritual void that manifests itself as an inner voice crying out I want, I want, I want. Hoping to discover what the voice wants, Henderson goes to Africa.

Upon reaching Africa, Henderson splits with his original group and hires a native guide, Romilayu. Romilayu leads Henderson to the village of the Arnewi, where Henderson befriends the leaders of the village. He learns that the cistern from which the Arnewi get their drinking water is plagued by frogs, thus rendering the water "unclean" according to local taboos. Henderson attempts to save the Arnewi by ridding them of the frogs, but his enthusiastic scheme ends in disaster.

Henderson and Romilayu travel on to the village of the Wariri. Here, Henderson impulsively performs a feat of strength by moving the giant wooden statue of the goddess Mummah and unwittingly becomes Wariri Rain King. He quickly develops a friendship with the native-born but western-educated Chief, King Dahfu, with whom he engages in a series of far-reaching philosophical discussions.

The elders send Dahfu to find a lion, which is supposedly the reincarnation of the late king, Dahfu's father. The lion hunt fails and the lion mortally wounds the king. Henderson learns shortly before Dahfu's death that the Rain King is the next person in the line of succession for the throne. Having no interest in being king and desiring only to return home, Henderson flees the Wariri village.

Although it is unclear whether Henderson has truly found spiritual contentment, the novel ends on an optimistic and uplifting note."

[BrotherIvan]

32. That's awesome

I hope you enjoy it. Many who I have shared it with have said it became one of their favorites. It's so well-written and one of the easier reads by Bellow. And funny as hell.

[raouldukelives]

24. I sure hope so and agree with you. I find it hard to place much blame on consumers.

They are living in an apex of commercialism and marketing. Over the past 50 years Americans have spent more time, money and education on enticing the human mind into buying things than they have on combating disease. The finest minds in the world fixated on tricking people and playing on emotions. It is a beautiful creation to those with special kinds of eyes.
Combine that with a severe drop in the level of education the consumers receive and its no wonder they act like drug fiends looking for a fix.
The only people I find the blame fits are the ones who propagate & profit from it. Those who prefer to fleece the flock over defending it.

[marions ghost]

29. how to promote consumption

is a well-rewarded science. You are right-"the finest minds fixated on tricking people and playing on emotions." Look at what goes on in business schools--research designed to figure out exactly which product promotions will appeal to which kinds of personalities, etc. For example:

"Consumer psychology is the study of how people relate to the products and services that they purchase or use. Division 23, the Society for Consumer Psychology (SCP), is made up of people committed to bringing a wide range of psychological disciplines into this applied research endeavor. SCP - Division 23 also works to contribute its own theories, findings, and methodologies to other areas of psychology. Consumer psychologists study virtually all psychological and behavioral responses that can occur within the context of a person's role as a consumer. And consistent with the goals of psychologists from other areas, research carried out by consumer psychologists is designed to describe, predict, explain, and/or influence consumer responses to product- and service-related information and experiences. For example, research may be used to

provide information to companies and consumers on what the public needs or wants
help an organization (either profit or nonprofit) effectively develop and market products, services, or ideas
guide the work of government agencies that are responsible for product safety, identity of brand names, evaluation of advertising claims, and assessment of ethical marketing practices

Consumer psychology contains a broad range of theoretical, conceptual, and methodological perspectives. However, currently the strongest representation comes from researchers in the areas of cognitive psychology, social psychology, marketing, and advertising."
http://www.psichi.org/pubs/articles/article_52.aspx

[hrmjustin]

9. Welcome to DU my friend!

[el_bryanto]

3. What are the upsides?

I guess i'm not sure what is meant by consumerism - is it a way of life where you define yourself by consumption? Because outside of bad 50s stereotypes I don't see many people doing that - even people who consume quite a bit.

Bryant

[marions ghost]

4. Even people who consume quite a bit

aren't defined by their consumption?

How do you figure.

[el_bryanto]

7. What does it mean to be defined by something?

Who does the defining, if not themselves? Are you, or the author of this article, deciding that you get to decide how people are defined? I generally leave that up to the people themselves. And with the exception of one very passionate apple fan I know, most people would get to their purchase 3-5th on the list of who they are.

Bryant

[marions ghost]

14. Anything you spend a lot of time doing defines you

whether you know it or not. Or whether you define yourself that way or not. It's just what is. Many people are delusional enough to think they are accomplishing a lot when they're only pawing over & shoveling their stuff around.

If you are consuming as recreation, consuming as therapy, consuming out of fear of scarcity or armageddon, consuming for a sense of security, consuming to make yourself distinctive (as in the constant pursuit of fashion--mostly a female thing) --this is what needs to be replaced by real experiences.

So yeah, I do think that anyone who spends a large amount of time shopping (whether on the net or otherwise) --and a large amount of time tending to that stuff--is in need of a Life.

And I think they know it.

[el_bryanto]

15. Must be nice to know what everybody else should be doing

I suppose I try to be more generous with other people.

Bryant

[BrotherIvan]

16. That's a great list

I can only hope this article is somewhat true, though I fear it is more complex. I see rampant consumerism in the next generation, almost as if it has been implanted in their DNA. They will not know a time when goods weren't cheap, disposable, damaging to the environment, and made by slave labor. Their corporate-created idols, such as the Kardashians, are truly the apex of consumerism: no talents or virtues to recommend them, only their lifestyle of rapacious consumption.

I especially like your last point:

* It imprisons them in a life full of products and empty of meaning.

Or as they say in Fight Club, "Advertising has us chasing cars and clothes, working jobs we hate to buy shit we don't need."

I do hope that more people find life paths that are more fulfilling than what the corporations have led us to believe is the highest form of happiness. We need to create the New American Dream. Before it was a house, a car, a couple of kids. That was out of reach for my generation, so we despaired (and moved in with our parents).

In my generation, I also saw the change in education, where my college peers were majoring in fields not that they enjoyed, but would make the most money--college had become trade school and we were all mercenaries. There was no sense of acquiring knowledge to take with you through life, to expand your quest through the world, to stoke your interests and talents. Just make money. And we as a society only applaud those who make money. If you're not a billionaire like Zuckerberg by the time you're 25, you're nothing. Do we applaud people for good works, good ideas, creating community? We need to find ways to do this so kids will stop chasing the all-mighty dollar which the PTB will never let them have.

What if the New American Dream, instead of the house and the car, was a life that included doing what you love (whether for work or not), building a community, growing your own food (see Jefferson), using your creativity every day and traveling the world? What if the "having it all" meme they push on the covers of magazines didn't mean a huge wardrobe and plastic surgery, what if it meant being a part of a movement (such as we have been discussing in other posts on farming and cooking), being an advocate for your causes, protecting the environment and being surrounded with like-minded passionate people? What if it meant something you could create for yourself, not something you need to beg the 1% to give you?

There is a way and many here know what I'm talking about (yes YOU hippies!). We need to frame these ideas and teach them to our children to guide their thinking and in order to stem the onslaught of corporate messages they receive every day. A new Walden that gets the next generation thinking. A Peace Corps mentality right here at home. Humans are not made to be robots and corporate slaves; we can see the toll it is taking on the human body which wasn't designed to fit into this paradigm. But it's also taking a toll on our minds and souls. But if we teach our children that following their bliss so to speak is more important than all the bling in the world--we win.

Sorry, I'll stop ranting now. Your post was very thought-provoking as you can see

[marions ghost]

31. Many good points

but what sticks out is

"We as a society only applaud those who make money."

[datasuspect]

13. i see plenty of them finger fucking $500 smartphones like dope fiends

all they need is to be covered in fur and you would mistake them for tight pants wearing chimps.

nuff said.

[Safetykitten]

19. Hilarious post! Love it.

[HappyMe]

21. lol!

That's funny.

It's funny to me that people who absolutely must have the latest phone or gadget are complaining about consumerism.

[Egalitarian Thug]

28. The disposable economy, disposable lives, disposable world.

Just maybe enough of them have caught on...