So what's your take on it as an economic and social force, to what extent does it play a part in your family life?
Me, I find it increasingly hard work, I've been needing/meaning to buy an oven, but comparing all the features, finding one to fit my exact needs is way too much effort, so 4 month down the line I've still not bought one. <_<
Despite the stroller jokes - not so much myself. My main weakness is in purchasing books I could just as easily get from the library. :blush:
The kid has toys and books, not a really excessive amount though. My wife isn't a big spender on herself.
I fail to see the connection between consumerism and not being able to decide on a new oven.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on October 07, 2014, 04:32:54 PM
I fail to see the connection between consumerism and not being able to decide on a new oven.
Overwhelmed by choice?
Somewhat. I mean I'm only human, and live in this society.
I do sometimes lust after the latest gadget or the shiniest new vehicle. I understand the allure of a bigger home.
I try (and think I mostly succeed) in resisting such urges - I'm old enough to know that the happiness material goods bring does not last very long.
But I still want to upgrade my 6+ year old Mac. <_<
Quote from: Malthus on October 07, 2014, 04:31:42 PM
Despite the stroller jokes - not so much myself. My main weakness is in purchasing books I could just as easily get from the library. :blush:
The kid has toys and books, not a really excessive amount though. My wife isn't a big spender on herself.
I could pretty much have guessed that, you probably save quite a bit and we know you have nothing, financial and emotional 'invested' in the car.
The book comment probably applies to 75% of posters here. :cool:
Quote from: Malthus on October 07, 2014, 04:34:47 PM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on October 07, 2014, 04:32:54 PM
I fail to see the connection between consumerism and not being able to decide on a new oven.
Overwhelmed by choice?
Indeed and more specifically over specified consumer products, features one often doesn't actually need in the product.
The second sucker punch is the short product cycle, no next year's or next season's model leaves the previously happy consumer feeling their purchase in now part obsolete.
You guys use consumerism differently than I do. I was thinking of something along the lines of Beeb's Apfelboner.
I'm sitting on a stack of TP packages right now.
Quote from: mongers on October 07, 2014, 04:39:45 PM
Quote from: Malthus on October 07, 2014, 04:34:47 PM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on October 07, 2014, 04:32:54 PM
I fail to see the connection between consumerism and not being able to decide on a new oven.
Overwhelmed by choice?
Indeed and more specifically over specified consumer products, features one often doesn't actually need in the product.
The second sucker punch is the short product cycle, no next year's or next season's model leaves the previously happy consumer feeling their purchase in now part obsolete.
My wife gets that way sometimes, more than I. If there are 200 kinds of toothpaste on the shelves, she wants to know which is the very best; I just pick whatever I was already using, or failing that, the first one I grab.
I'm not sure how brand loyalty implies consumerism.
I don't think consumerism and abundance of informed choice are even remotely the same thing.
Mom's a bit of a hoarder. Growing up that way gave me an aversion to collecting too much stuff. Having things is a burden. My kindle has like 70 books in it though. :p
Quote from: Tamas on October 07, 2014, 05:07:17 PM
I don't think consumerism and abundance of informed choice are even remotely the same thing.
You can't lust after things similar to those you already have unless they are NEW! AND IMPROVED!
The issue is that many of these IMPROVEMENTS are marginal, designed only to get you to buy more stuff.
Quote from: Malthus on October 07, 2014, 04:58:22 PM
My wife gets that way sometimes, more than I. If there are 200 kinds of toothpaste on the shelves, she wants to know which is the very best; I just pick whatever I was already using, or failing that, the first one I grab.
:lol:
I bought some toothpaste for us once. It will never happen again. my random choice was apparently so poor that all authority for purchasing has been stripped. Which is fine by me because, to answer Monger's first question. I buy very little and nothing at all if wine is removed from consideration.
Quote from: Malthus on October 07, 2014, 05:14:43 PM
You can't lust after things similar to those you already have unless they are NEW! AND IMPROVED!
The issue is that many of these IMPROVEMENTS are marginal, designed only to get you to buy more stuff.
This doesn't describe monger's situation.
I think what he's talking about is choice overload.
Quote from: crazy canuck on October 07, 2014, 05:22:41 PM
Quote from: Malthus on October 07, 2014, 04:58:22 PM
My wife gets that way sometimes, more than I. If there are 200 kinds of toothpaste on the shelves, she wants to know which is the very best; I just pick whatever I was already using, or failing that, the first one I grab.
:lol:
I bought some toothpaste for us once. It will never happen again. my random choice was apparently so poor that all authority for purchasing has been stripped. Which is fine by me because, to answer Monger's first question. I buy very little and nothing at all if wine is removed from consideration.
Yes and consumerism can be a bit of a double edged sword, as at our ages one's probably acquired most, if not all of the things we need.
And for me replacing worn out things is more of a driver than considering buying new types of stuff.
Sometimes I eat things I probably shouldn't. :(
Quote from: Admiral Yi on October 07, 2014, 05:28:33 PM
Quote from: Malthus on October 07, 2014, 05:14:43 PM
You can't lust after things similar to those you already have unless they are NEW! AND IMPROVED!
The issue is that many of these IMPROVEMENTS are marginal, designed only to get you to buy more stuff.
This doesn't describe monger's situation.
I think what he's talking about is choice overload.
He mentioned later most of the features he was bothered about were ones he did not need.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on October 07, 2014, 05:28:33 PM
Quote from: Malthus on October 07, 2014, 05:14:43 PM
You can't lust after things similar to those you already have unless they are NEW! AND IMPROVED!
The issue is that many of these IMPROVEMENTS are marginal, designed only to get you to buy more stuff.
This doesn't describe monger's situation.
I think what he's talking about is choice overload.
The OP had two separate questions, one about it's role in economic activity, the next, the part it plays in your own live.
Plus an observation from me, about dealing with one aspect of consumerism, to-wit unnecessarily large range of products with too many combinations of often complex functions.
Many things marketed as foods probably shouldn't be.
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on October 07, 2014, 05:35:30 PM
Many things marketed as foods probably shouldn't be.
Tell me about it.
The other day I found an Ocean spray cranberry juice/squash, that has 440 grams (all but a whole pound) of sugars per 1 litre bottle. :x
And the 'cranberry' themselves seem to be just the bitter skins of the fruit, ie a waste product that they've deluged with sugar to cover up the taste.
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on October 07, 2014, 05:35:30 PM
Many things marketed as foods probably shouldn't be.
:yes:
Still not bought an oven, despite a valiant attempt earlier. <_<
Have you considered a halogen oven?
We're going through a big house renovation/extension at the moment. The missus talks of nothing but pendant light finishes, underfloor hearing and polished concrete floors. I just hope there's a couple of grand left at the end of it for me to buy a ceramic bbq, a decent table football and to upgrade my Sonos system. So pretty consumerist at the moment....
I'm an early adopter 0.1% top Polish earner gay professional with no kids and a lot of disposable income. Make a guess.
Quote from: Martinus on October 09, 2014, 03:24:58 AM
I'm an early adopter 0.1% top Polish earner gay professional with no kids and a lot of disposable income. Make a guess.
You can invest the money and build an empire.
Quote from: Martinus on October 09, 2014, 03:24:58 AM
I'm an early adopter 0.1% top Polish earner gay professional with no kids and a lot of disposable income. Make a guess.
Not really then.
I guess he paid way too much for those bright red shapes he keeps on his bookcase.
Quote from: Gups on October 09, 2014, 02:42:50 AM
Have you considered a halogen oven?
We're going through a big house renovation/extension at the moment. The missus talks of nothing but pendant light finishes, underfloor hearing and polished concrete floors. I just hope there's a couple of grand left at the end of it for me to buy a ceramic bbq, a decent table football and to upgrade my Sonos system. So pretty consumerist at the moment....
I've not had any experience of those, shall investigate, cheers.
For the bigger items I usually do some research to decide on what to buy, but I try not to dig to deep and drive myself nuts. Over the past year or two I bought a new refrigerator, air conditioner, microwave oven, washer and dryer, mattress and recently a new snow blower. All replaced items were ones that I've had for twenty years or more. The old snow blower was from the 1960s, finally started breaking down and was time for a new one.
I usually started on the websites of several appliance dealers, local stores and large stores like Sears. Checked what they had and got ideas on what features I wanted and what I didn't need. I would also check consumer reports sites which were sometimes linked on the same store site. I take consumer reviews on store sites with some skepticism as it seems many times people are inaccurate or don't use the item properly. But the reviews can be helpful if I see any commonality in comments, pro or con.
For food items I'm somewhat picky. I try to use foods with the least amount of processing to them. Probably the items I buy mostly that are more processed are dessert items like cookies, crackers and ice cream. Sometimes for certain things like boxed stuffing when I see the ingredients I stop buying/using them. I often use cheaper priced store brands than brand names, as they're often the same thing anyway.
Still haven't found the right replacement oven, so today I turned the old one upside down and baked with it using the grill element as the heating source to warm the oven space; loaf came out quite well, I shall practice some more things. :)
Quote from: Admiral Yi on October 07, 2014, 04:44:34 PM
You guys use consumerism differently than I do. I was thinking of something along the lines of Beeb's Apfelboner.
Fwiw, I concur. Doing product research isn't consumerism. The generation of greed and envy, as discussed in the Bible, in order to obtain profit, especially regarding goods with the illusory added value of a brand name, is consumerism.
For example--
Making sure a DVD or blu-ray has correct aspect ratio: no consumerism necessarily implicated.
Getting excited about the biannual Criterion sale: some element of consumerism.
Quote from: Monoriu on October 09, 2014, 03:33:49 AM
Quote from: Martinus on October 09, 2014, 03:24:58 AM
I'm an early adopter 0.1% top Polish earner gay professional with no kids and a lot of disposable income. Make a guess.
You can invest the money and build an empire.
Why? No one will inherit in when he's gone.
I used to be a consumerist, until I moved apartment three times in relatively quick succession. Now I'm always looking for an opportunity to throw stuff away.
Quote from: Malthus on October 07, 2014, 05:31:45 PM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on October 07, 2014, 05:28:33 PM
Quote from: Malthus on October 07, 2014, 05:14:43 PM
You can't lust after things similar to those you already have unless they are NEW! AND IMPROVED!
The issue is that many of these IMPROVEMENTS are marginal, designed only to get you to buy more stuff.
This doesn't describe monger's situation.
I think what he's talking about is choice overload.
He mentioned later most of the features he was bothered about were ones he did not need.
But then the question becomes, is his indecision driven by a desire to have the latest, or best, or most prestigious, etc., model; or by him just not knowing what he wants? The former would be consumerism, the latter wouldn't.
I wouldnt say it is consumerism so much as growing up poor but i do tend to worry too much about getting the best deal and saving a feew quid. So much so that it can even actually cost me more or i dont buy something for months.
On the other hand i hate shopping so sometimes it just gets the better of me and after worrying for a while i grab something mostly random
I can dig that. For some reason lately I've been buying sodas and shit at gas stations, despite the insane markup, just because I don't want to go to Wal-Mart and be in a place with tons of people.
Quote from: Ideologue on November 03, 2014, 03:01:59 AM
I can dig that. For some reason lately I've been buying sodas and shit at gas stations, despite the insane markup, just because I don't want to go to Wal-Mart and be in a place with tons of people.
Does your gas station have a produce section?
I shop in online groceries (Polish equivalent of M&S food section) because I can't be arsed to go to a store.
I don't spend much on anything. Not even on my hobbies (despite Gabe's schemes).
I do make expensive purchases from time to time, but in general I save quite a bit of money every year.
I sold my most expensive watch to cover my auto insurance.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on November 03, 2014, 09:59:33 AM
I sold my most expensive watch to cover my auto insurance.
:(
But isn't that what expensive watches are for, is that pawnbroking?
LOL, pawnbroking. Fuck off.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on November 03, 2014, 01:13:57 PM
LOL, pawnbroking. Fuck off.
No, A while back I caught some documentary about pawnbroking and what stuck in my mind was people turning up wth expensive watches to pawn, swearing that it was a useful facility and valuable 'asset' to have if you need a ready couple of grand for a while. :bowler:
I know in India it is pretty common for even fairly poor people to wear a lot of expensive gold jewellery because in lieu of access to decent trust-worthy banks they feel most secure with their life savings on their person.
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on November 03, 2014, 05:20:22 AM
Quote from: Ideologue on November 03, 2014, 03:01:59 AM
I can dig that. For some reason lately I've been buying sodas and shit at gas stations, despite the insane markup, just because I don't want to go to Wal-Mart and be in a place with tons of people.
Does your gas station have a produce section?
What's a produce section?
Something people who want to live past 60 visit from time to time. :contract:
I'm not in that demographic.
That's not to say I don't appreciate a well designed or well made product; I've just been using some Japanese made Pentel marker pens, had them for a few years, haven't dried out and will write and stay on almost any surface, be it plastic or the topcoat finish of a bike. :cool:
I'm pretty much a consumer whore. It's a good thing I'm good with commission sales, because I've been a little overboard about being "consumerist" lately. :blush:
I'm seriously considering a service like Net Jet.
Quote from: mongers on November 03, 2014, 01:17:18 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on November 03, 2014, 01:13:57 PM
LOL, pawnbroking. Fuck off.
No, A while back I caught some documentary about pawnbroking and what stuck in my mind was people turning up wth expensive watches to pawn, swearing that it was a useful facility and valuable 'asset' to have if you need a ready couple of grand for a while. :bowler:
Pawning something offers the possibility of getting it back once the loan is paid off. Selling something does not.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on November 06, 2014, 03:46:47 PM
Quote from: mongers on November 03, 2014, 01:17:18 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on November 03, 2014, 01:13:57 PM
LOL, pawnbroking. Fuck off.
No, A while back I caught some documentary about pawnbroking and what stuck in my mind was people turning up wth expensive watches to pawn, swearing that it was a useful facility and valuable 'asset' to have if you need a ready couple of grand for a while. :bowler:
Pawning something offers the possibility of getting it back once the loan is paid off. Selling something does not.
I knew that, I've even been in a few in the past. :)
Quote from: Ed Anger on November 06, 2014, 03:28:54 PM
I'm seriously considering a service like Net Jet.
got around to checking prices. ~125K for 25 hours of time. YEOUCH.
I love consumerism.
It creates abundance for all.
Quote from: Siege on November 12, 2014, 03:01:14 PM
I love consumerism.
It creates abundance for all.
Ending is better than mending
The more stitches the less riches
:)
Quote from: Siege on November 12, 2014, 03:01:14 PM
I love consumerism.
It creates abundance for all.
I never know with Siege whether he is brilliant... or not. I guess the term "idiot savant" was created for the likes of him.
Quote from: mongers on November 06, 2014, 01:02:01 PM
Damn need a replacement cellphone, the over-choice will fry my brain. :(
On second thoughts maybe I don't need a cellphone, I'm not exactly keen on people phoning me at the best of times. :hmm:
Quote from: Martinus on November 12, 2014, 04:59:46 PM
Quote from: Siege on November 12, 2014, 03:01:14 PM
I love consumerism.
It creates abundance for all.
I never know with Siege whether he is brilliant... or not. I guess the term "idiot savant" was created for the likes of him.
Where ever he goes he's the smartest Arab in the shanty.