Too much consumerism?

by greendawn 3 Replies latest jw friends

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  greendawn

  Is our modern society too materialistic and over influenced by consumerism? Companies producing goods spend billions to advertise them to create a desire and need for them so that they will be purchased. Some of these goods are vital and necessary eg a decent car, washing machine, refrigerator but many other goods are not really necessary eg luxury cars, fashions that change frequently making things obsolete long before they are worn out, numerous beauty products.

  If someone doesn't keep up with some of these s/he will be considered with a low esteem and this pressures people to keep buying things they don't realy need. Esteem and consumer goods go hand in hand, man is becoming a slave of consumerism.

  Any ideas?
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  ibme

  Greendawn

  Yes I believe there is to much pressure to buy.

  If you were ever in a position to hear a conversation that I was having. You will often here me say, 'There are three institution that control the world'

  Most person say, 'What that?.

  To which I say, 'Religion, Politics and Commerce'

  I try to help, especially younger persons, see that commerce is using religion and politics to control their lives.

  Just planting seeds.
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  jaguarbass

  Any ideas?

  Most men are slaves of consumerism. That is very true. The world is run by business, big business. The biggest business the oil companies and their puppet have the world in termoil.

  Ideas? We cant hardly escape the big picture of warring for oil. Myself. I wear a uniform to work. So I am not fashion concious. When I'm not at work I wear sandals shorts and a tee shirt. I dont watch tv and I rarely listen to the radio. So to that extent I am not totally bombarded as to buy this or buy that.

  Still I have to work 40 plus hours a week and I am a wage slave or a slave to consumerism. To pay my taxes. To have some money to take my wife out to dinner. To have medical insurance.

  You call it a slave of consumerism. I have always called it the rat race. I dont know how to escape it.

  2 possiblities, come to mind. 1 be a gigalo. It's good work if you can find it.

  2. Be a bum. Live under a bridge. Not very glamorous and hard on your health.

  Our modern society is what it is. The only thing you might be able to control is yourself. The bible says keep your eye simple. But that can also lead to other problems.

  I guess you have to ask yourself, who are you trying to impress and why?
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  greendawn

  Ibme and jaguarbass thanks for the replies.

  It is amazing how the manufacturers have introduced into society the notion that if you don't have a certain level of material goods you become substandard. Some people escape this rat race by abandoning organised society and going to live in nature as groups. Perhaps the past when everything was simpler was a better and more relaxed life.

  The other thing today is that goods are flimsy and last a lot less time than previously as a result more are manufactured and that means more pollution for the environment eg before a washing machine could easily last for 15-20 years now barely 6 or 7 years. A family will buy three washing machines in 20 years instead of one.