Simplify me

[PEACE FROG]

Why is it that in America most of us feel the need to fill our lives with junk we don't need. We have these outraegously priced "trophy Homes" that we stuff, with all the latest impulse "bling" that money can buy. I don't think that anyone really needs a 50 something inch plasma screen anything. Or a 4X tactical family monster truck with leather seats and dvd in the back for the little ones. But... "IT'S BIGGER, BETTER,FASTER,REDDER, WHITER, BLUER-YOU DESERVE IT!!!!" Truth be known, most folks stay far away from what they really deserve! So, why are we, as a culture so obsessed with obscene consumerism? To make us feel good? Why don't we already feel good? BECAUSE THE FLESH IS NEVER SATISFIED! We need to SIMPLIFY, look inside ourselves, we are wonderfully made and capable of so much! We're not what we have! What a stressful burden to maintain such a lifestyle, SIMPLIFY, Thoreau said " simplify, simplify, keep your accounts on your thumb nail." We need to scale back to sustainable levels, while we can still do so by choice. :cool:

[LIBRA]

Well spoken peace frog!!! I agree, but for most of those people its to late for them to change there ways of over doing and being the best at everything, I fear it will only get worse too!! I know I dont live my life that way, I live pretty simple, dont buy anything I am not going to fully use. america is full of nonsense items and paid advertisments its sick!! pretty soon it will be one big walmart of shit and there will be no family owned buisness, markets or anything it will all be commercialized, we need action!! I try, only buying from locals and its expensive but worth it in the long run!
keep on keepin on and simplify!!!

[NeverNeverLand:)]

There are goals to put up in societys an this one stands for the progress of new inventions a way for people to have things to do(work)to be afraid of become unemployed but there are also not so mainstream ways to live an the societys that makes them possible aswell as the mainstream one is usually a good one.
But the means to progress with the science without harming the nature is important and seems to be forgotten by the rulers.

[Sunnydaydreams]

Ah yes, peace frog, i agree w/ your post. I offer an answer to your question of "why".

It's mass society that creates consumerism, in that "keeping up with the Jonses" way. You know, it's those "hot" and "not" item lists. Its the idea of purchasing something to show off your supberb taste, to separate you as "hot" from all those dreary "nots" who don't have your "je ne sais quais'.

Here's a theoritical example: Paris Hilton buys a Hybrid car to stand out from the Hollywood crowd, the most expensive that money can buy. Soon the Hybrid market takes off b/c everyone who can buy one will b/c its the new "hot" item. Why is it hot? B/c Paris bought it first. Soon she becomes tired of seeing everyone drive "her" car around, so she moves on to Italian cars. The market follows her purchases and the hybrid is yesterday's news. Sickening, isn't it?

I could go on about why this exists b/c of our capitalist system but this post would be 2 or 3 pages long! I've wrote an essay or two on this subject & I need to get back in school to finish & get a sociology degree.

Any other perspectives about 21st century consumerism? What about abroad?

Peace & Love

[nappydread]

hey peace_frog...
i totally understand...and...I have a question for ya?
Do you ever wonder why car companies need to make a NEW car every year??? WTF, take a year off!!! They only change minute details from model to model anyway!
...heehhe....yes BIGGER, FASTER BETTER!!!

peace

[PEACE FROG]

Hey Nap, the answer is probably not as strange as why someone wants to wait for the "next model". ;)

[nappydread]

Hey Nap, the answer is probably not as strange as why someone wants to wait for the "next model". ;)

...heheh.....yeah, i guess if no one was waiting...then none would be made!
Thanks...i've been looking for the answer for awhile :D

peace

[toman]

I gree with how idsgusting many people are when they get sucked into this mindset.


However.


I disagree with what you guys are saying in general. I think if our species wants to continue to evolve, or indeed reach that evolutionary 'jumping off point' I feel is imminent, this syndrome is a more or less healthy thing. Mankind has always wanted to have more things, better things, more power, more respect, and in general make himself as much as he could be. All plants and animals are this way to an extent; mankind's dominating power in this aspect is what has made him the most powerful species on this world.
What we are doing now is nothing more than what we've been doing for millions of years, just that the process has been sped up exponentially and along the way much of it has gotten out of hand and even become destructive. Not that there hasn't always been a destructive aspect to it; just that on this massivly blown up scale, it's much more prominent than ever before.
So I say yes, do whatever you can to get as much as you can. Make yourself everything you can be, and want to be. Immerse youself in this wonderful new technology because it is what's going to be our future, it will make us more than animals someday. Just don't let it take over your life. Humanity is more important than things, always; if you let possesions, power, greed, jealosy and hate take over your life, than you are no more than those things, which by themselves, without a human to belong to, are nothing.
So why simplify yourself? If you are not advanced enough to handle these things and you realize this, (as so many people can't) then yes, by all means, simplify. But it's the people who can earn these things for themselves and still maintain a handle on them that are the leading edge in our evolution.

[nappydread]

hey toman...
firstly i can't disagree....b/c you really make sense...and it is "Survival of the fittest" after all!!!

anyway, just 3 comments for discussion, fwiw:

reach that evolutionary 'jumping off point'
...is this the breaking point where we ALL must start simplifing...where millions of '3rd world' people are dying of starvation every month and where 'westerners' are literally burning their money/possessions to stay alive?

Humanity is more important than things, always; if you let possesions, power, greed, jealosy and hate take over your life, than you are no more than those things, which by themselves, without a human to belong to, are nothing.

Great point, and i think the thesis of this thread:)
However, i think that the more possesions someone obtains, the more they want...which makes them blinded to the nothingness aspect. The goal seems very focused- BIGGER, FASTER, BETTER!!!...up to a point.

But it's the people who can earn these things for themselves and still maintain a handle on them that are the leading edge in our evolution.
...and here I'll ask, "what if people don't EARN these things, but are rather GIVEN them instead?"
are they still leading?...or are they the 'smart' leaders:D

peace

[Dead Fan]

I agree with most of what everybody says. But what upsets me isn't when people buy, buy, buy, but rather when others envy what other people have simply because they don't have it. It just makes more sense to be happy with what you have and enjoy life. :D

[Pedata]

It's keeping up with the Jones's that's putting the Smith's into bankruptcy :p

Peace,
Pedata

[PEACE FROG]

TOMAN :rolleyes: I don't think evolution is purchased at the dealership, Best Buy or Circuit city. ZERO down ZERO percent, apr, some restrictions apply!!!Evolve??? Do you think that eventually the skin around our ears will grow over our cell phones and we will morph into this wonderful evolved creature with unlimited anytime minutes? My original point was that I feel we waste our time in pursuit of things outside of ourselves when we should be looking inside ourselves. The changes made inside you last a life time and beyond. And that I think the endless pursuit of the temporary trappings of this world are not only foolish but UNSUSTAINABLE!!! So why not invest our time in fruitful pursuit of that which benneficial SIMPLIFY MAN!!! BTW I dig the way you write, you are very smart and I have always enjoyed your posts,USE YOUR POWERS FOR GOOD LUKE! (Darth Vader voice) Ha Ha ! Peace Bro! :D

[toman]

Implantable cell phones? Absolutely, the technology allready exists. As for what is inside us, at this point we are unable for the most part to utilise the vast majority of it. Technology is one gift that is going to allow us to make use of this awesome piece of meat we have evolved into. A good way to look at it is this: The human body is like this super kick-ass computer with all the latest hardware, tons of HDD capacity, a motherload of RAM, and lacking the software needed to make use of it, as well as a fast internet connection. The knowledge we are developing of everything around us is the software we need, and the technology we're inventing is the internet connection. The more we learn and the more technolgy we develop, the better we can use ourselves and the better we can make use of each other and the world around us, hopefully eventually creating one huge, perfect ever growing and ever evolving network of beauty.

[PEACE FROG]

HaHa!! :D I see your point, well put! I guess I'm hoplessly DOS. Good night dude.

[Sunnydaydreams]

toman, I disagree w/ social Darwinism, although I'm not for sure if what you are talking about is "technological darwinism". I can't agree w/ that either. how is human life bettered by a 50" plasma tv? Rather, I think this is greed, jealousy, selfishness in humans. Does this do any good but destroy the enviroment, making the world uninhabitable for all people? How is the advancement? If that happens, there won't be anything left for anyone... and it will be survival of the fittest!

Peace & Love

[Pedata]

Someone once said.....Man, who considers himself a god, cannot even create a worm.

Peace,
Pedata

[Sunnydaydreams]

You know what makes me really sick? It's going to the mall and seeing all the cheap plastic junk everywhere. It's too crowded (esp. in colder weather. Does anyone else have mall walkers or is that an IN tradition?) I remember when I was younger I used to like going to certain stores but now when I go to the mall I see stupid stuff that no one should buy.

Let's use Abercrombie as an example. The jeans look like $12 used jeans from a thrift store, yet Abercrombie charges well over $80 (I've heard $120) for a pair! Outragous! Doesn't everyone love the goods with the "used" look but the "new" price? Why on earth would someone buy shit like that when you can buy the originals for a fraction of the price? Why!?! :mad:

Consumerism kills me & I think it will eventually kill itself. How can people go on spending more & more while they're making less & less? Someday, only the wealthy will be able to waste money like this. By then, I will hopefully be selfsustaining! :)

Peace & Love

[knowledge]

Cannot we evolve as a better people without the mine is bigger complex? I mean seriously, do we need $50-60k cars to make us better? I may touch a nerve here and if I do I hope you all forgive me in the days to come, but I think that a person that needs these expensive automobiles and "toys" to feel good about themselves are in the same boat as those who need drugs to feel good. What happens when the toys or goodies are all gone? Do you still feel good about yourselves or do you loathe about and wish that you still had those things? Granted I am glad that people have the freedoms to have the things that they want and I am in no way saying that they are wrong for their wants, I am just curious to know what is it about these "things" that actually make life better? Is it only better while it is here? I admit that I do have things that I really don't need but it in no way dictates my happiness in any way. The sound of my alarm clock in the a.m makes me happy even though the thought of going to work doesn't. How does the sound of the alarm going off make me happy?, simply put; another breath, another day with my wife, another day closer to my daughter being born. These things make me happy and keep me growing as a person. I was once the kid who knew it all and had to have all of the bling bling as it is known as today, but when I had to sit in a prison cell for 1117 days from the age of 17 until I was 20, I realized that the things I missed the most was the things that can't be bought. Life if you think about it is really simple so why do we try to complicate it anymore than it needs to be? To disagree with the idea that technology makes us a better people is to be branded as simpleminded. I ask you all this, is it really that bad to be simpleminded? I am sorry if this turned into a rant especially with this only being my second or third post but I just had to contribute my $0.02. One love

[Sunnydaydreams]

My favorite quote by Bertrand Russell about greed:"It is preoccupation with possessions, more than anything else, that prevents us from living freely and nobly. "

Peace & Love

[treehugger]

For me it's about peace. I want to make my home uniquely mine and I want to feel good when I look around at the rooms I've created.

I personally feel peaceful when I look around and see a clean, uncluttered, spare, (but not spartan!) room. But the stuff I do have, since I tend to be a little of a minimalist...I like the stuff I DO have to look nice and be attractive.

I want to be able to sit in my rooms and not see a bunch of cheap junk...but any stuff in too much quantity just makes clutter.

If there are twenty-five little figurines on your table, it doesn't matter if each one is worth $1,000. It just deteriorates in my eyes and my mind sees it as clutter.

But one great piece even if it's a $200.00 piece....the whole thing is much cheaper but looks much more pleasing to the eye. :p

I just want to look around my room and love everything I see. I don't consider myself materialistic though. Just have aesthetics as one of my priorities!

I think there's a difference if you're just buying this stuff to impress...like those big fancy houses with a three-story tall entryway ( "great" room )...those entryways are NOT made for the family to feel comfortable. Do you feel comfortable in Grand Central Station? Nope, they're made to awe and impress guests. :rolleyes:

Better yet...Can YOU live with it, not considering the *Jones's*???

Many people might consider my tastes quite simple...I live in a dumpy house and my car has a dent in it (poor deer! :( )

But I surround myself with the things I love because they make me feel peace.

Kath