NationStates Jolt Archive

Lately, I've been hearing that people need to give up their consumerist lifestyles for various reasons, such as killing the environment and that resources are limited, or will be limited, and I was wondering, what does a non-consumerist person do throughout the day? What is life like for the non-consumerist? And do we really need to give up consumerism for whatever reason?

Opposite of consumerism is creationism. :)

Lately, I've been hearing that people need to give up their consumerist lifestyles for various reasons, such as killing the environment and that resources are limited, or will be limited, and I was wondering, what does a non-consumerist person do throughout the day? What is life like for the non-consumerist? And do we really need to give up consumerism for whatever reason?

We try not to consume unless we need to and only then we try to buy things that will last and make them last.

such as killing the environment and that resources are limited, or will be limited, and I was wondering, what does a non-consumerist person do throughout the day?

Apparently, they write editorials.

Well, that's a bit unfair. Some of them do blog posts, too.

Opposite of consumerism is creationism. :)

Or, I guess, vomiterism. I wonder who will have the balls to stand for election on a vomiterist platform.

Opposite of consumerism is creationism. :)

Is that the theory of life's origins, or the theory that we should spend more time making new life? Because I'm so down with the second one. Or, as my ex always said when I asked if we could have kids,

"No, but we can definitely practice."

Consumerism isn't a bad thing necessarily, that being said in current bourgeios society consumerism has become a disease in the working class, in which people are placated into the apathy of mindless consumption just to numb the pain of exploitation. Consumerism in itself has also transformed society and create a myriad of social ills and degeneration of society, crime and other scum-ish activities.

As humans we consume the social product because of our needs and wants.

I guess you either consume endlessly, or you conserve. So conserving is probably as opposite to consuming as you can get, since to be alive we can't truly exist in a state of no consumption. I guess the most extreme case is the people who don't buy anything entirely, they grow their own food and live in some remote area far away from society. As for the not so extreme cases, it will be to criticize the true worth of a product, to use an existing product until it's physical deterioration, to critically look at the relationship between happiness and consumption, and finally to honestly admit the difference between a desire and a need.

Obviously of course since I have a computer, the internet, and the time to post here, I am clearly running off the excess of consumerism.

I buy computer paper just to throw it away.

I buy computer paper just to throw it away.

Yes, but do you drive there in a Hummer that runs entirely on corn-based ethanol mixed with oil from Saudi Arabia and Venezuela?

Or, I guess, vomiterism. I wonder who will have the balls to stand for election on a vomiterist platform.

That's a little hard to swallow.

Is that the theory of life's origins, or the theory that we should spend more time making new life? Because I'm so down with the second one. Or, as my ex always said when I asked if we could have kids,

"No, but we can definitely practice."

Call it 'scrimmaging'. :)

I point and laugh at the bicyclists as I drive my Hummer 10 miles out of my way every day on my commute and intentionally knock over swaths of trees as I make new trails through the formerly-pristine forests. *nods* Needless waste FTW!

*edit* OK, I'll try to be serious. I am a minimalist consumerist. I avoid waste where reasonably possible, but I don't go out of my way too often.

Yes, but do you drive there in a Hummer that runs entirely on corn-based ethanol mixed with oil from Saudi Arabia and Venezuela?

Absolutely.

I also have a device attached to my Hummer that emits gases that are harmful to the ozone.

Absolutely.

I also have a device attached to my Hummer that emits gases that are harmful to the ozone.

An audio recording of Ann Coulter speaking? :confused:

Absolutely.

I also have a device attached to my Hummer that emits gases that are harmful to the ozone.

I thought about that, but I decided it would be better to just harness a gasoline barrel to the back and have it empty continuously along the way. I needed something that could kill marine life and still leave behind ozone and hearty carcinogens for any kids in the area.

I guess it would be self-sufficiency. I think.

I thought about that, but I decided it would be better to just harness a gasoline barrel to the back and have it empty continuously along the way. I needed something that could kill marine life and still leave behind ozone and hearty carcinogens for any kids in the area.

I'll discuss this with Xzibit.

I'll discuss this with Xzibit.

*drops a heavy beat*

Yes, but do you drive there in a Hummer that runs entirely on corn-based ethanol mixed with oil from Saudi Arabia and Venezuela?

Ethanol, Saudi oil? Are you some kind of socialist/eco-fanatic? Around here we get our oil from Sudan, and get those Starvin Marvin refugees to dig it out of the sand with buckits and bare hands, and we give them a handful o rice a day for it. The left over stuff I don't need for my V8 Range Rover I toss in the river.

And I leave the TV on standby while I do it....

The evil that men do, it sickens me!

They go to work like everybody else and try to pretend to care that they destroy the environment when they get home, because this makes them feel that their lives are less pointless. Basically.

Lately, I've been hearing that people need to give up their consumerist lifestyles for various reasons, such as killing the environment and that resources are limited, or will be limited, and I was wondering, what does a non-consumerist person do throughout the day? What is life like for the non-consumerist? And do we really need to give up consumerism for whatever reason?

i used to, and still do to some extent, hate consumerism. its a snowballing thing (for want of a better word :p), continually using up more and more resources in the face of increasingly limited natural resources. with powerful corporations creating wants and 'needs' in consumers' minds in order to sell more products, people's self worth becomes inextricably linked with how much they consume, or if they consume the right things, and as a result - most of us - are never satisfied... satisfaction only comes with consuming more. i don't really know what the alternative is, but i strongly feel this is not good for people - only those people who are profiting from this systsem. consuming things is fine, just to clarify, but its the created wants and link to self-worth that i find damaging; not to mention the environmental issues of increasing production in the face of finite natural resources.

but the thing is, unless you go live in a commune, grow and make all your own stuff, you're kinda stuck with it. so... bleh. get used to it

Or, I guess, vomiterism. I wonder who will have the balls to stand for election on a vomiterist platform.

That's not the right question. It will be who will have the balls to stand before said platform.

They go to work like everybody else and try to pretend to care that they destroy the environment when they get home, because this makes them feel that their lives are less pointless. Basically.

I see. So that smell is the stench of despair?

Opposite of consumerism is creationism. :)

Surprisingly accurate, actually.

If we just quickly define consumerism as a way of life focused on the consumption of goods created by others, then creating one's own items and experiences is anti-consumerist.
It's the difference between spending your time buying the packaged experiences that corporations will sell you, trying to fill your life up like that, and creating your own experiences. Going out and hanging out with friends instead of trawling the malls shopping. Sitting around the table and playing cards instead of sprawling in front of the TV.

Ethanol, Saudi oil? Are you some kind of socialist/eco-fanatic? Around here we get our oil from Sudan, and get those Starvin Marvin refugees to dig it out of the sand with buckits and bare hands, and we give them a handful o rice a day for it. The left over stuff I don't need for my V8 Range Rover I toss in the river.

And I leave the TV on standby while I do it....

I need to get over there, quick. Let me just load my stuff on to a container ship pulled by private jets and I'll be there ASAP.

I see. So that smell is the stench of despair?
That and lentils :tongue:

Well, the direct opposite might be faminism...

i used to, and still do to some extent, hate consumerism. its a snowballing thing (for want of a better word :p), continually using up more and more resources in the face of increasingly limited natural resources. with powerful corporations creating wants and 'needs' in consumers' minds in order to sell more products, people's self worth becomes inextricably linked with how much they consume, or if they consume the right things, and as a result - most of us - are never satisfied... satisfaction only comes with consuming more. i don't really know what the alternative is, but i strongly feel this is not good for people - only those people who are profiting from this systsem. consuming things is fine, just to clarify, but its the created wants and link to self-worth that i find damaging; not to mention the environmental issues of increasing production in the face of finite natural resources.

but the thing is, unless you go live in a commune, grow and make all your own stuff, you're kinda stuck with it. so... bleh. get used to it
Wow, thanks! :)