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In reply to the discussion: Advertising, excess consumption and climate change [View all]Scrivener7
(52,115 posts)1. This is a really important observation. It's astonishing what advertisers have convinced Americans
we need that we absolutely DON'T need.
Here are some facts that back up your observation:
https://www.becomingminimalist.com/clutter-stats/
1. There are 300,000 items in the average American home (LA Times).
2. The average size of the American home has nearly tripled in size over the past 50 years (NPR).
3. And still, 1 out of every 10 Americans rent offsite storagethe fastest growing segment of the commercial real estate industry over the past four decades. (New York Times Magazine).
4. While 25% of people with two-car garages dont have room to park cars inside them and 32% only have room for one vehicle. (U.S. Department of Energy).
5. The United States has upward of 50,000 storage facilities, more than five times the number of Starbucks. Currently, there is 7.3 square feet of self storage space for every man, woman and child in the nation. Thus, it is physically possible that every American could standall at the same timeunder the total canopy of self storage roofing (SSA).
6. British research found that the average 10-year-old owns 238 toys but plays with just 12 daily (The Telegraph).
7. 3.1% of the worlds children live in America, but they own 40% of the toys consumed globally (UCLA).
8. The average American woman owns 30 outfitsone for every day of the month. In 1930, that figure was nine (Forbes).
9. The average American family spends $1,700 on clothes annually (Forbes).
10. While the average American throws away 65 pounds of clothing per year (Huffington Post).
11. Nearly half of American households dont save any money (Business Insider).
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This is a really important observation. It's astonishing what advertisers have convinced Americans
Scrivener7
Jul 2023
#1
I can see how it would be difficult during child rearing years. But you are right that a lot of
Scrivener7
Jul 2023
#4
ADDING: I think you might have inspired someone. It's a great conversation and I'm glad
Scrivener7
Jul 2023
#6
The techniques are the same as the 20s and the sophisticated tech has enabled it to be targeted
lostnfound
Jul 2023
#21
As a way of assessing our economy, the GDP is the fastest track available to a dystopian future.
Magoo48
Jul 2023
#7
Advertising is the function for establishing standards and impossible-to-attain ideals
Auggie
Jul 2023
#14
The economist John Kenneth Galbraith made the point that advertising skews capitalism
c-rational
Jul 2023
#19