The Real Trap of Consumerism

[@OurChangingClimate]

🛍How do you combat consumerism and corporations constantly hailing you to buy, buy, buy? ✊Support OCC on Patreon: www.patreon.com/OurChangingClimate

[@psikeyhackr6914]

Read books: *The Waste Makers* by Vance Packard *The Space Merchants* by Frederick Pohl *Daemon* & *Freedom* by Daniel Suarez

[@someguy2135]

I avoid consuming animal products by learning about all the reasons for being vegan and staying vegan.

[@trevinbeattie4888]

I avoid advertising as much as possible. I haven’t watched broadcast TV or listened to broadcast radio in decades. I subscribe to KZbin Premium and the ad-free tier of the TV streaming services I use. I _never_ give my phone number to the grocery store or sign up for “customer loyalty” programs.

[@enterprisestobart]

Having joined the Green Party of England and Wales (who is local to me), I have been campaigning to increase the severity of their policies against consumer advertising, making sure to counteract and consider the inequalities this would cause. If I were not in education as part of my engineering apprenticeship, I could do more.

[@enterprisestobart]

In my case I have 3 keystones: 1) the day the world stops shopping by JB McKinnon (2021) 2) Donut Economics by Katie Raworth (2017) 3) The Midas Plague by Fredrik Pohl (1954)

[@Kaytothebizzay]

It's slavery with distraction and some comfort.

[@Gamingpandacat]

its worse, its slavery where we put on the chains willingly and poke fun of the free man not eating mcdonalds and drinking the starbucks every morning, telling ourselves we are the free ones and the cage is true freedom

[@chihirostargazer6573]

That's exactly correct. And people are brainwashed to believe it's a normal way to live.

[@starshot5172]

Luckily the Internet allows us to spread the message today

[@ErutaniaRose]

Exactly.

[@coolioso808]

Yeah, well said. Scary how well it works to slowly decline our livable society, though, isn't it? We are complicit and many of us wish we didn't have to be. Like Peter Joseph would often say at the end of his Culture in Decline episodes "I like you are an agent and victim of a culture in decline!" Well, let's not forget we do have power if we organize along class lines and build system change organizations towards our common goals, like OST Contributionism or what is to come from PJ after release of Zeitgeist: Requiem.

[@a.randomjack6661]

Socrates and friends: ‘Wealth is addictive, the rich will eventually destroy society'. It’s why profits is the deadliest of all addictions.

[@a.randomjack6661]

We are ran by junkies, “profit junkies”

[@olgacvetkova114]

100% correct

[@somerandomguy___]

And what capitalism and our culture of consumerism does is try and make this addiction look like something good when it is the biggest poison to our planet and to our spirits.

[@hellNo116]

socrates for over 2 millennia corrupting the youth of athens

[@OneRadicalDreamer]

The banks are gambling our money at everyone's expense. The global economy is on life support.

[@Megan-nt7dm]

Minimalism has been so unbelievably freeing for me, found the idea on youtube and then went from there. It makes me so much less anxious to have an uncluttered space, I rarely buy new things, and have so much more time to do things I enjoy

[@FactsCountdown]

What kind of things you do to enjoy?

[@vinxx3]

Idk but minimalism doesn't stop the machine from going on. Imo

[@vinxx3]

@@Othillde it doesn't do anything tho. It only makes you feel better because you feel like your doing your part. You aren't. We need more. We need to organize against the system that put it into place and that's what the video was about

[@d3vilman69]

You mean the "things" that you enjoy do not need to be purchased?

[@savage.4.24]

I found out I had been a minimalist my whole life when the rise of minimalism popped up. I finally had a word and a good explanation for things. Being born in USA I was the odd one out in my family. I didn't eat enough food for a pig when we went camping they stayed in the RV I wanted a tent outside of it. There's a bunch of things I don't do because I find them a waste. Waste of time money and worry. I don't wear makeup I don't care about fashion I buy things to last. Not to say the things I own aren't pretty my clothes aren't plain or monochrome and neither is my house. But it also don't take anything larger than a pickup to move my residence and that's with furniture pets and plants.

[@eyesofthecervino3366]

Another side of consumer culture, too, is people buy a lot of stuff to prop up their self-identities -- which I think would be a whole lot less of a problem if people had the time to actually invest in themselves and their interests. Someone who thinks of themselves as an outdoorsy type of person, but who is working themselves to exhaustion and then collapsing in front of a television every night to unwind before bed, is a lot more likely to continually impulse buy a bunch of outdoorsy gear and gimmicky gadgets they'll never use -- just to feel better, to feel like the person they want to be -- than someone who is actually going out camping or kayaking or whatever all the time. And really how much cooler would it be for people to be "producing" and "consuming" stuff like dance lessons, cooking classes, and professional campfire ghost story telling? I think we all understand spending all our time selling people junk so we can afford to pay rent and buy ourselves a little consolation junk is just the most unhappy and uninteresting way we as a society could be using our time.

[@alexajohnson944]

Spot on. You just described my experience to a tee . I absolutely love art and crafting, but I have so many unused materials around, because my day job combined with the maintenance of being a human being leaves little room and time for my artistic expression .Hoping to find a job where I can get that work life balance

[@graygreysangui]

​@@alexajohnson944I was just coming down here to say this. I overbought during the panini because both my full and part-time jobs were essential. The discounts were great, the stress was high, and I bought with projects in mind so they "had a job" entering my stash. Based on my output in years past, I likely have enough projects to do for the next five years. I have bought some yarn for special things like trip memories or baby yarn for new arrivals because I enjoy working with wool instead but wool can be incredibly itchy for babies (and the new parents don't have the time to wash it separate.) But otherwise, I am trying my best to curb craft supplies and books (my weaknesses) until I can get through what I have.

[@aussiejubes]

Excellent point, I agree. That's a new perspective for me, I'll be having a good think about this as it pertains to me!

[@Pallasathena-hv4kp]

Wisdom. 👍

[@SunbeanCat]

You diagnosed the over consumption part correctly. The thing is that to enjoy all the things that are being bought, a person needs to be good at doing. The problem is to get good at something person needs lessons, and no one actually wants to take lessons. Many companies offer lessons, and no one shows up to them. KZbinrs would have been billioners by the number of lessons they are offering, but people don't take them. Persoactually, I want to be naturally good at stuff, not spend hours of my life learning. Can't think of anything more boring than taking classes.

[@MrARock001]

I want to live in a world where we don't have to compromise our values (or our survival as a species) in order to pay our rent.

[@GabrielHellborne]

Now that there sounds like KAH-MU-NISM!

[@Gamingpandacat]

I don't dream of paying rent but yeah, preach

[@zitronentee]

As long as you live with others and nature, you need to compromise

[@RanchNPIZZArollz]

I hate money

[@LexYeen]

Dream bigger, comrade - if there's enough housing for everyone, and it's fairly distributed, why would you _need_ to pay rent?

[@terriirvin753]

As a baby boomer, I am praying that every high schooler sees this video. My generation messed up and I hope that future generations get wiser than us.

[@livya5676]

Baby boomer is crazy lol ig I'm a baby boomer too but I'm just 21

[@yaughl]

I actually HATE shopping. I guess I'm the minority. Accumulation of things is unhealthy and unsustainable. Everything I have and buy serves a purpose, if not I purge it.

[@puddlesthegreat]

i love buy things

[@sammierose1150]

You’re not alone - clothes shopping and grocery shopping both give me major anxiety and stress. I try to avoid it at all costs. (Unless absolutely necessary)

[@putrijd5173]

me too! i'm not into shopping so much. i understand that overconsumption is a major issue but at the same time i feel like a spectator.

[@softwaifu]

Yeah but do you hate going out? Going on vacations? Eating at restaurants or going to concerts? Our consumer habits are more than the hoarding of material goods.

[@vincentharris7909]

💯

[@arenomusic]

After basic needs are met, increasing your wealth doesn't really impact your happiness, but only AFTER your basic needs have been met. We are able to meet these needs, we simply choose not to.

[@ZZ-qy5mv]

Problem is our basic need are not met. Rest, leisure, community, healthcare. Our working life makes it so a lot of people have difficulty meeting those needs. We're marketed to that buying things that could fill that hole. People can make better choices, but they need to be aware of the real problem first.

[@kayleelockheart8208]

We are sold antidepressants for a very rational response to the knowledge that you're living on a dying planet in a dying empire without anything to do about it.

[@SvalbardSleeperDistrict]

My space comrade is here ❤

[@arenomusic]

@@SvalbardSleeperDistrict Get in the comments!!! 🤠

[@GabrielHellborne]

@@ZZ-qy5mv Correct. We are advertised ever more junk, while we can barely afford the basics. Ridiculous, no?

[@raven92m]

I watch this channel for a while now and from what I see , I am helping the planet a lot by beeing poor. I drive a 18 year old car, i rarely buy new cloths. I tend to use things till they brake and sometimes i fix them because i can't afford new ones. So yeah being broke and poor does help the planet in some way anyway.

[@anarcho-savagery2097]

Being poor doesn't help you in any way.

[@Iquey]

We still need public healthcare and community owned housing though. That lack of care for the populace is what really makes us poor. Lack of well distributed food and healthcare is criminal in this country.

[@alphaomega1351]

Thank you very much for being poor! 😳

[@pattyofurniture]

​@@anarcho-savagery2097being poor helped me tremendously. If I hadn't been poor, I'd be struggling like all of the people complaining about the economy. Instead I'm lounging on a porch swing and listening to the birds sing.

[@denelson83]

Unfortunately, poverty and homelessness are more profitable to big corporations.

[@KS-jf2jf]

Thank you for a great video. I have been fighting consumerism all my adult life (over 25 years!) by not having a car, buying everything I need used / hand-me downs, gifts from fam & friends. We pass on all our things with friends, fam & neighbours when no longer need them. Gift economy is wonderful. When you really ask if something is a need, you start to realize how little a person really needs. Frugal life is sustainable and freeing. We have enough for everyone, just need to see the abundance 🙏

[@DanSoloha]

You’re a rare and special person. The world would be a much better place if we had more of you ❤

[@alfred6203]

if u broke just say that

[@navystella]

​@@alfred6203 they're already richer than you'll ever be 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@Mwm-x3n]

It has also generated planned obsolescence...

[@ecoRfan]

The producers generated planned obsolescence so that their bottom line rises. The masses are harmed both by money expenses and by environmental carnage.

[@ishredder4006]

good point

[@jcarey568]

Planned obsolescence is a huge problem. Very good point.

[@aurorerich]

Yeah I was clothes once these days, even the top brands, and they pill after just one wash! Makes me so angry!

[@ecoRfan]

@@aurorerich seems many if not most clothes nowadays are made so poorly

[@falguniroy3075]

I actually feel uncomfortable when i see bunch of stuffs around. slowly adopting minimalist and frugal living. its better for my mental health since I am not always on shopping apps thinking about the next thing to buy. The world needs more and more people like you.

[@Pallasathena-hv4kp]

Clutter drives me bonkers. Purge excess and don’t replace it.

[@Iquey]

I made a "choice' at the store, but not at the factory. Not at the mineral sourcing mines, not at the oil well, not at the factory farm. A lot of us were just born here with all that stuff already existing. I just try to be moderate about what I buy and use what I already own.

[@bettybeteta2028]

It is called an addiction, for people who feel empty inside. Keep it simple and be happy.

[@aurorerich]

Yes I know a few families that have a shopping addicted person in their midst and these families are usually broken due to fights, debt, mental illness, OCD, narcissism and addiction.

[@nightreader1264]

Best advice ever: invest in quality furniture. We still have the sleigh bed that we bought when we were first married. Still sleeping in it after 35 years!

[@GeckoHiker]

Well made goods stand the test of time. We built a platform bed in the 70s and still use it today with a well-made futon made from natural materials. It's a combination of two cultural ideas that suited us. We didn't want to have a modern mattress that is disposed of every 10-12 years.

[@debbietalksalot]

My parents are still using the bedroom furniture they bought in 1964. Simple sturdy and pretty.

[@missjones8123]

That's true but they hardly make solid things anymore...

[@Bolocomcafe]

There in USA have some shops who sell furnitures of dense woods with low prices, here in Brazil only one state make this with second hand materials is in São Paulo.

[@thecrippledpancake9455]

Everyone Else: Addicted to spending. Me: Gluing my shoes back together😂😂

[@darrenlane6316]

At least you are honest, others may steal shoes, while others may not even have feet. It's all perspective... I also glue my shoes back together. Peace, D

[@sjchan3199]

​I only buy shoes when i havent got any shoe to glue together​@@darrenlane6316😂😂

[@alipainting]

Me: free used shoes from the free box 😅

[@aurorerich]

I do this too. Same boots for four years. Same ballerinas for two years. Finally got new sneakers but feel a bit guilty.

[@selectorck]

Me: free shoes from the puclic garbage

[@vazzaroth]

I wish more examinations of consumerism would mention how they're not just whispering in our ear to consume, they're MARKETING and whispering in our ear to compete, to 'other' the 'wrong' brand consumers, and to feel superior over others by making the 'smarter' consumption choices as well. And it's invading all aspects of our lives. I personally believe the proliferation of marketing into all corners of life is the #1 cause of why everyone is so depressed and hollow now. it makes you make a TON of (potentially exhausting) choices, all of which matter extremely little in our day to day life. SO many guys my age (30s-40s) are SO PROUD of their choice of grill or power tool or whatever, while ACTUALLY USING the item is, at best, 1% of their average month.

[@ฌอนย์พรหมพันธกรณ์]

agree 🙂

[@michalsvihla1403]

I have a similar view but different perspective. Vacations. You go somewhere once a year for 2 weeks, which is 14 days or 3,8% of the year. Most people save up the whole year for that one vacation that is supposed to make them feel about 96,2% of their life, instead of putting that money into something that would actually make their life better every day (a rainy day fund or early retirement fund or down payment on a house). I feel like everyone has been socially conditioned into working just to spend all their money on a vacation once a year and I'm surprised nobody has realised this before.

[@j.a.8970]

Our participation in capitalism is coercive, not voluntary. Dont beat yourself up.

[@SolaVirtusNobilitat]

we're coerced into buying food and shelter, we voluntarily buy a bunch of stuff we don't need

[@gapsule2326]

​@@SolaVirtusNobilitatyou missed the advertising part

[@Window4503]

True. If we had access to land, if things were easy to walk to, if some basic services weren’t dependent on whether you have internet/a smartphone, if there were more third spaces, etc. many of us would spend significantly less or at least spend more on our communities.

[@someguy2135]

We have to buy food, but not animal products. They have a huge impact on your environmental impact.

[@AmbrotosArkhon]

​@@SolaVirtusNobilitatA large part of the video explains how you're incorrect. Capitalists demand that you consume their nonsense so they can continue their endless growth.

[@seb4462]

Thanks for your good work, the high quality videos you put out and the insights into the underlying societal patterns which fuel the climate crisis. Please keep your great work up!

[@Domfootstitch]

This is why all ads are unethical and why everyone should do everything possible to prevent being exposed to advertisements. Ublock origin, sponsorblock go a really long way.

[@jackolantern7342]

Social media influencers are just another form [of] QVC/Home Shopping Network

[@111dddcca]

😂😂👍

[@seochr]

What they won’t tell you either is that most forms of employment forces you to be a consumer… by being in the game you start enforcing the game. Best advice I’ve been given is know your humanity… not your worth.

[@graygreysangui]

I hate having a car. I hate that I need a car to get to work (I can walk to a grocery store and the library though.) I have had jobs where I could make work clothes also be clothes that I feel express me outside of work (aka, don't need to change out of them getting home.) I will not take a job if it requires me to wear makeup because I have none and don't know how to use it. That is the line I have drawn as a woman. If it were up to me, I wouldn't take a job that requires more than a half hour drive. I will take lower pay to walk if it equals what it costs for me to own a car and all that entails.

[@aurorerich]

Yes needing a job makes you need a car. Then having a car makes you need a job. I can't have my car repaired now cause I am out of a job. So I decided to just get rid of it and work closer to home. I was getting depressed every day from arriving at work every day after risking my life on the highway for 45 minutes first and always risking being late.

[@everydaynaturalflavors1221]

I get in the same existential crisis from time to time, trying my best to stay out of the hamster wheel just to realize the system is design force you back into it if you want to exist cause there's no existing outside of the money in order to live hamster wheel

[@Emiliapocalypse]

That was the first “real” thought I remember having as a child. Looking out the window of the back seat as my mom drove down the endless I-45 highway in Texas. Looking at the fences that enclosed all the wild empty landscape and realizing that everything is owned by somebody and you’re stuck in “it”. I didn’t have the words to put to what “it” was into context. But yknow, civilization, the hamster wheel, the game that society has decided that we all will play. I realized looking at all that land, that it was owned by somebody, all of it is. And you can’t just “opt out” and drink the water, built a shelter, grow some food. You “can do anything” ::cough:: but it had to be within the rules of “the game”. And people wonder how I never ended up with a career, why climbing the ladder just looked like total BS. I realized way too young that we’re all just stuck in it, and have no way out. It made me feel rather blasé about the whole game.

[@aleksandrakowalczyk6043]

True. Everything is owned now.

[@aurorerich]

I saw a documentary on van life the other day and it looks pretty good. All you need is gas. And then you drive around til you need to park somewhere to work a bit. Must be easier in the US than in the EU though.

[@Celis.C]

I find there to be extremely bitter irony in the 'consumerism' aspect of society. To give some personal examples: - My smartphone, which has served me great for over 5 years, is increasingly in need of replacement. Partly due to its charging becoming a bigger problem, and partly because it's (been updated to?) getting slower. I cannot find a single replacement that fit my humble criteria (modern, yet with 4-5" screen size). - My hair is very thin and can't be worked into a hairstyle I can work with, so I've been looking forever to find headwear that might suit me. I haven't found anything so far. No product exists for my demand. I'm still looking for a hatter, but since I'm not 100% sure if this is the answer, the increased cost for a custom product is steep - I've been trying for _months_ to find new denim pants that fit me. They're no longer being made, or never available in my size (very average, maybe that's why) - I've been looking for a tool kit containing things like wrenches, screwdrivers, Allen keys, etc. since my current one has been around for so long that its container is disintegrating and the tools are breaking down. I can't find a set that suits me. My sole solution would be to find a separate storage container and buy the individual tools. I only think of this solution as I write it, but the fact that no suitable product exists in this society of rampant consumption and pointless products, it's just grating - The biggest irony of it all is that I WANT to support your channel by getting a Nebula subscription using your link. However, I LITERALLY CANNOT PAY FOR IT because none of the existing payment options work for me. I'm not asking much, but capitalism fails to provide me with the products I need and am forced to replace.

[@Emiliapocalypse]

What are the odds, i just left a comment regarding my thin hair here too. It’s expensive to try and fit in. And it’s not just about fitting in, one can be completely socially ostracized for not meeting the ideal.

[@Celis.C]

@@Emiliapocalypse The thing is: I don't care about fitting in. I've been ostracized for trivial nonsense ever since childhood and have found the sidelines to suit me just fine. They provide a remarkable view of the train wreck that some call 'society'. I just want to find a new look for myself so that I can better articulates who I am, but I find it extremely difficult to find what works for me, even with the rampant overproduction of clothing.

[@Somedudeonline2023]

cool theory but your phone isn't getting slower because companies want you to spend more money trust me, your phone is simply too old to run the newer systems and even if u stay in an older system, the apps themselves will ask for more than your phone could handle. this whole idea that both IOS and andrioid run slower on older devices to get you to buy a newer phone is simply wrong

[@Celis.C]

@@Somedudeonline2023 Whether it's the OS or the apps, 'updates making it slower' would still apply. The same apps worked just fine earlier, so app makers purposely upping requirements for older models just about serves the same purpose for smartphone sellers. One way or the other, given by what you've stated, updates seem to make older models obsolete through slowing it down to unacceptable levels over time.

[@clehaxze]

The apps getting slower this is really a work of capitalism. But in another way. Developing apps used to be slow. But time to market is important. So people started trading performance for development speed. Then bank on phones getting faster and faster over time to compensate for it. This generates more profit. But on the other hand, it reduced the skill threshold needed to make an app - you don't care about performance as much. I don't think anyone does that on purpose. But a side product of building stuff fast.

[@burnedtoast45-f6w]

As I grow older in this capitalist system, I think the solution lies in strengthening your will and power to say no. Even when they try to emotionally manipulate us into buying stuff we don’t need, we must not give in to the temptation because at the end of the day, it’s hard to stop being a consumer all together, so we must take the responsibility upon ourselves to be better consumers that exercise consciousness when we buy

[@nickjwowrific]

On a small scale this sounds like good advice, however it actually sounds very similar to how people think about dealing with climate change. That it is on us to reduce our carbon footprint rather than introducing legislation that would force the big companies to reduce theirs. The capitalists would largely be very happy with your solution because it would hardly affect their bottom line, because they have made it a very difficult thing that only a small percentage of people would do it.

[@burnedtoast45-f6w]

@@nickjwowrific pressing for legislations that will force corporations to reduce their carbon footprint would be the ultimate goal but so long as there’s consumer demand they don’t need to care because nothing’s really threatening their business, and unfortunately as you said only very few are willing to sacrifice being consumers for greater change. This is why nonprofits don’t achieve much other than exposing the harm these companies are causing but no matter how many signatures they collect these corporations never change their ways and never will as long as they have customers. There’s effort in sacrificing convenience for real change like boycotting these companies, but I don’t think we’re ready to assume that responsibility as a society with collective efforts yet and it seems like we never will

[@punkagrrlzero]

Planned obsolescence, your forgot about companies making defective products on purpose.

[@burnedtoast45-f6w]

@@punkagrrlzero hence the importance of buying things consciously

[@amusicalinstrument9745]

save money, go on trips as far as you can afford. live simply, see as much as you can before you die. or read as much as you can before you die? do things that are more meaningful than simply owning.

[@bgiv2010]

Colonialism, corporatism, commercialism, and (say it with me) consumerism.

[@tomnelsonast]

The four horsemen of the capocalypse.

[@bgiv2010]

@@tomnelsonast the human commodification project

[@stephentrueman4843]

one of us! one of us!

[@ericcarabetta1161]

I absolutely hate spending money. I hate shopping, I hate buying things, especially necessities because I have no choice. Every time I spend more than $20 I’m immediately drained of all joy and energy, and just filled with a feeling of dread and impending doom and general depression. Fortunately my indecisiveness and hesitancy to spend money has saved me countless times from impulse purchases.

[@rabbitgear]

I feel ya. Over time I have lost that sensation of a dopamine rush when I spend money. It feels more like a chore. Nowadays I’m more thrilled when I’m at a swap event or a buy nothing market. I can’t change the fact that my kids will need bigger clothes as they grow or more advanced toys as they develop, but I can try to change how my household consumes.

[@GibbusMoone2]

Understandable. Also, the sad part is that we spend more than we save. It's no wonder a majority of people struggle to survive as these companies or advertisements make us spend so much on things that we necessarily don't need.

[@krazykris9396]

Family members have thought I was weird for not buying things very often. The truth is I don't like to buy stuff that isn't necessary. I often keep my phones for a few years, my pcs for 6 to 7, and wear clothes till they get worn out. Unfortunately, there is another side effect that I can’t control is that nobody makes things that last anymore.

[@d3vilman69]

That is because companies that make products and consumers have opposite agendas. As consumers we want cheap, good and reliable products. But companies want consumers to continuously buy from them to sustain a business. But as a company there is the expectation of growth. Every shareholder want better returns, every manager and employee expects a pay raise and better bonuses every year. In order to not go bankrupt they have to cut costs in every viable area and this inevitable affects quality. This is why many folks say stuff from 20 years ago have better quality than the products now.

[@linagonia5653]

Actually you can make your own stuff. Clothes, funiture and so on

[@ForceMassMotion-b6v]

@@linagonia5653 cars

[@mk1st]

Funny how excess hoarding of “stuff” is categorized a distinct mental disorder but hoarding of money isn’t.

[@BrandonHilikus]

good point

[@stevehesh4993]

Money is a lot like manure. It's no good unless it is spread around. If you pile up too much, it becomes toxic!

[@BarkaDog]

Money has value. “Stuff” doesn’t.

[@docfabz]

One thing that helps especially with online shopping is any time I'm thinking about buying i put it in the "shopping cart" but i don't purchase it and i sleep on it. Usually the next day i realize it's something i don't actually need. They do this thing where they mention how many people are looking at the same product or that its limited in quantity but its a tactic to get you to buy. Don't fall for it.

[@buckeyedav1]

I do the same thing is leave it in my cart and think about it. I usually either find a item like it at the thrift store or even in the store it's cheaper or I change my mind. Never buy on impulse. Anna In Ohio

[@tonyad291]

9:05 Well this explains all the refrigerators with unnecessary tablets on the doors. Big appliances of all kinds are getting ridiculous features & upgrades these days..

[@xXNekou]

As an European from a mid-income family I gotta say that Americans having such huge houses and then renting storage spaces to put more stuff in is just totally WILD to me. No one needs that much stuff. And then to pay for stuff just to put it somewhere and also pay for that storage - it's a double waste of money.

[@vivalaleta]

We buy secondhand for everything but groceries and a few kitchen items we can't find secondhand.

[@antilogism]

Old stuff is solid too.

[@churchofmarcus]

Yeah. Used groceries are gross.

[@billiemunchen]

Same

[@zugzwangd12222]

Same

[@UccaPalupi]

Hi, I'm a student currently conducting research for my thesis. It's a fortunate find to come across your channel, and I want to thank you for being vocal, brave, accommodating (I really benefited by your notion summary source) and creative in providing such easily digestible wake-up call content. God Bless You!

[@falsificationism]

I think we'd all be better off if phone and car makers were only allowed to release a "new model" once every other year.

[@falsificationism]

@@RiceCake-ep9gu Not sure I follow

[@kent5400]

The happiest people are those with enough, but "enough" is a matter of perspective. I cannot change the world, but I can change how I see it.

[@juliaw.8]

I worked for a textile recycling firm, where we collected clothes in donation bins. I was always shocked to find new clothes with their price tags still on them. That was almost 20 years ago.

[@jonasrolf3705]

Thank you - important stuff!!!

[@F.o.s.t.e.r.]

Very smooth ad break. Also, I'm glad yugopnik is getting more attention. His project with hakim and second thought is amazing.

[@ligbzd837]

If the whole nation (and the world) is interested in making higher and higher profits, then their very activities will drive up prices and competition which will lead to more stress, pressure, and work on everyone in this system just to keep up. The worst part of this system is that all these activities that is for profit are taking and draining our natural resources )nature, water, air, crops) like never before. All the activities will be for Profit and not for well-being (things like clean air, clean water, healthy food, and healthy humans/life style). So, the next time someone tells you to buy stuff is good for the economy, ignore them. They don't know what they're talking about. In fact, these people who buy buy and buy are the very reason our society is so stressed, prices so high, and our natural resources are so depleted!

[@Regene4239]

I think for us to get out of this, we need a revolution. For that to be successful we need to actually learn useful skills. Organizing, food production, cooking, mending clothes, biking, first aid, plumbing, communication, entertainment, anything. Idk I think we’ll be fine as long as we’re prepared.

[@brianhenderson9124]

I'm immediately reminded of a couple of lines from Tom Lehrer's "A Christmas Carol;" 'Hark the Herald Tribune sings | advertising wondrous things' and 'angels we have heard on high | tell us to go out and buy.' So people have been at least somewhat aware of consumerism since at least the mid 20th century.

[@tongyu0930]

Thanks!

[@ChiGirlFinance]

Once I started looking at things objectively, I was really able to come to the realization of how much advertising noise I was falling for. I don’t really watch tv, and the majority of my streaming platforms are commercial free, or if they have commercials, I mute them so I don’t listen. If we cannot control outside forces, the best thing to do is to control our internal forces and teach ourselves how to proactively ignore the constant noise of buy buy buy and “need need need”

[@andy9735]

Heard a quote on a tv show the other day: "Seeking wealth is the route of all evil". A slightly exaggerated phrase but has so much truth in it

[@PawsOnTheBalcony]

Afaik, it's a bible quote: "Love of money is the root of all evil."

[@kikukookie]

My father says that money is your friend so don't make it your God.

[@SWLinPHX]

My late Greek grandfather always said, "Socrates went to the marketplace to see all the things he didn't need". Wise yes, but not always the thing we wanted to hear when we brought him along to the malls in the 1980s,

[@stoundingresults]

Food and shelter is my priority. I already own enough junk and don't have freetime to enjoy as I'm a trucker and gone from home 90% of the time

[@manasseh7]

Thank you for your service

[@tonyp.bahama9368]

​@@manasseh7i love this

[@paulgermano7837]

Im happy sticking with my old car that works fine and buying most of my clothes from thrift stores while being being very frugal. It's also come to my attention that those who buy a lot of stuff on inpulse these days are usually the ones who barely have any money saved for emergencies or retirement.

[@loumoon7660]

Thank you for addressing the issue of content creators making all their money off companies and capitalism. I think about this a lot but never heard anyone acknowledge it before

[@Klake-bk2dp]

Just saw an AI generated Mr. Beast commercial for some mobile game.

[@MrFunnyPenny]

When I was young, I didn't know, thought about, or introduced to consumerism. I became aware of it when I began to realize having more free space at home / work makes me happier. It's easier to maintain and more efficient with having less clutter. That's how I "fight" consumerism.

[@enr4g3dhippie]

Love this video. I have been saying that overproduction, rather than overconsumption, is the problem for YEARS- before I was even anti-capitalist. Same thing with viewing advertisement/marketing as propaganda.

[@amethystdream8251]

Envy is the emotion that drives all this. Gratitude is generally what makes envy dissipate. We could prioritize the genuine feeling of gratitude more in our society.

[@wildfoodietours]

Oh how I hate accumulating stuff. Minimalism needs to be embraced more.

[@peterjol]

The only way out of this insane consumerist, infinite growth system (apart from the nightmare of total collapse) is to make it financially worthwhile for people to SHARE the jobs we would almost unanimously agree we NEED to have done and work much less. Society could not break down..in fact it would be improving ALL the things that are important.

[@Iquey]

I wouldn't mind a 4 day workweek and shorter work days. Like 6-7 hour days instead of 8-9 hours days. It would hopefully employ more people. But everything else would have to be also less expensive or we all would have to be paid more. It doesn't work to afford what people need to just cut hours with no adjustments anywhere else.

[@cookieLaLa94]

It’s crazy to think we could all be living in an entirely different system where we could have way less working hours and more time to spend with loved ones and doing things we enjoy that fulfill us. Imagine if instead of working individually we all take turns working a shift in a day, (we could work 2-4 hours and then switch out with someone and be done for the day) we have more than enough people where we could rotate our time while still all benefiting. We have more than enough resources. It’s crazy how small minded this system makes us think and how little improvement could make us feel complacent enough instead of overturning the entire system. There’s so many other ways that we could be living. Interesting to think about and I hope something changes in our lifetime

[@stephentrueman4843]

@@cookieLaLa94 Just like you said at the end, you hope change happens. It wont change unless people demand it.

[@cookieLaLa94]

@@stephentrueman4843 we are all part of the system and I am demanding change while still hanging on to the hope that people will demand change too so we can all be living better lives

[@tonyp.bahama9368]

Eeeww socialism

[@lavoisier16]

Thanks

[@JessyGreene]

Excellent, thought-provoking video! Thank you ❤

[@symbioticmango]

thank you for this. I studied marketing and hesitate to use the term "consumerism" because I've learned how deep the manipulation goes, and it's common use is often victim-blaming.

[@GeckoHiker]

Consumerism is the sweet trap that robs us of security. And we like the taste because sweetness is addictive. I am a zero-waste minimalist. I rethink everything and seek alternatives to buying and consuming. My grocery budget is $30 a month. Instead of watching television I grow food and keep chickens. I live a debt-free lifestyle where my monthly expenses are less than $600 while I own my property, vehicles, and business. I took the road less travelled by... I do it to be happy, not to save the planet. The planet will be fine. It's the consumers among us who'll be suffering the most as our systems collapse.

[@chapman1569]

My parents did that, they amassed a substantial nest. egg. That egg was very useful when they could no longer chop wood, grow their food and raise their meats. It allowed them to choose a retirement housing that was really nice. When they passed, there was some left to help the grand kids to continue their education. Thanks Mom and Dad.

[@PuffinPass]

Just remember that even if you don't monetize the channel yourself, KZbin will still place advertising on it. So you may as well monetize it and get your cut so you can continue to pay the bills.

[@maddie8415]

The manufacturing of false needs is such a good way to put it. I'd say that most of it also involves false wants that only come into play due to the influence of other people, whether it's online "influencers" or advertisers. We're absolutely surrounded by ads or entertainment that really is an ad in disguise. These days I always ask myself if I'd want the thing that got my attention if I hadn't seen the ad, video, etc. that mentioned it. The answer is almost always "no".

[@emmad4494]

When I think about people I know who 'overconsume,' or periods in my own life where I've bought stuff I don't really need, often it comes from a desire to get that dopamine rush/comfort as an attempt to soothe stresses that are going on in your life - like since reducing the number of hours I work to be more manageable I rarely find myself browsing shopping sites like I used to. I think a lot of these broad social trends overlap a lot, and finding effective ways to lift mental health outcomes definitely helps!

[@datura087]

I get a feeling of disgust walking into a shopping center or mall, just so much bull that we don't need at the cost of our environment

[@kikukookie]

One of my values is Anti - Consumerism. Maybe that's why these advertisements don't work on me anymore.

[@tuandiniz943]

Another amazing vídeo, thanks and keep up the amazing work

[@JaceHart33]

Thanks again for the work you do. One of the best channels on KZbin. Sharing with everyone.

[@xeinbee161]

As someone who works in adverising the last section made me stare at a blank wall for 10mins

[@5CreativityRivers]

I love how this channel is real af ❤️🙏

[@singingway]

One point: They don't drive consumerism only by inciting "desire" but also by creating new REQUIREMENTS for full participation in society. That's why old computers don't work any more. Websites on the Internet use more computing capacity to view and use them, so old phones, old computers old tablets, become unable to even be functional. Likewise if you try to unplug from phones and computers. Almost everything you need to do, from paying bills, to volunteering for a political party, to receiving tele-medical services, to applying for a truck-driving job -- they ALL depend on having access to Internet and an updated device.

[@jasonneugebauer5310]

It is hard to escape consumerism because it is difficult to make goods cheaper or better than automated factorys, and it is difficult to get skilled in a high paying service industry without debt. The alternative to participating to some extent in consumerism is to live a life of physical toil trying to do all the tasks necessary for life for yourself or become Amish. I think the best we can do is to not purchase unnecessary items. Ensure the items we do purchase are built to last, be frugal with our resources and to avoid excessive consumption of energy, resources, and services.

[@Figaroblue]

Thank you for calling out the dairy industry! 9:05

[@tonidiaz451]

this video deserves way more news. very self aware and actually offers a solution

[@sam8007]

And while watching this youtube shoves commercials down my throat like forcefeeding a french duck. What actually leaves me with a sense of disgust instead of making me buy their useless stuff.

[@sorinaiuliana-g3b]

I resonate with what you had said. Really good material, I wish you long journey here on youtube, and the power to say the right things.

[@troypropes1182]

Replace Walmarts with greenhouses of the same size. Rainwater collection systems need to become standard for individuals and cities. Houses need to be made from sustainable material that are locally sourced (COB or Hempcrete for example). We gotta live with nature, not against it.

[@taxistheft01]

You touch very well on the idea of “buying a commodity not for its utility but rather for its happiness, emotion, power etc” I recently read a Žižek book, First As Tragedy Then As Farce, and it also touches on this factor too. He refers it to as “cultural capitalism.” The idea of which, you don’t buy a commodity for its utility, but rather to gain an ‘experience’ from it. Usually these ads can convince you to buy their product or good as it goes toward a charity, environment or something else along the lines of it, which, like you stated is used for capital accumulation and competition.

[@vincewhite5087]

Rarely watch movies either, except a dvd of show (60’s or 70’s) or if someone’s over and wants amovie (very rare).seldom eat out, make my food from scratch & always garden veggies too. I get teased all the time, because if I have to buy something, I struggle.

[@irisedelweiss]

This video says exactly what I always think about recent advertising. I was also caught up in consumerism some times. Nowadays, I see a lot of people spend their money on unnecessary and luxurious things. The more products you want, the more overworked employees, energy, natural resources exploitation - the more debts you get. More and more people get financial burden unworthy. In my country Vietnam, those storages (shopee) started overloaded because international unreturned packages (most of them are cheap, poor quality, useless) because ghost buyers. It will be a big problem in terms of handling massive stockpile in long run, while our waste treatments are still traditional (bury and burn). Thanks for your contents!

[@maryjohnson9337]

I hate seeing something super cool like that butter melter and having to remind myself that I do not need it, even if it would make cooking quesadillas convenient

[@Emiliapocalypse]

Not trying to be saucy, but can i ask why not just put some butter in the hot pan to melt? I love making quesadillas and am extremely lazy, and feel like they’re already so easy to make. (Unless I’m making them wrong?? That is an absolute possibility! lol :) Sorry if I came off as rude or annoying, just asking because I am here to learn. Thank you :)

[@maryjohnson9337]

@@Emiliapocalypse I always melt butter in a cup and brush it on top of both sides of the tortilla

[@Window4503]

I feel ya. My rule is to avoid buying single ingredient kitchenware but sometimes that one thing seems like it could really help.

[@ssgg23]

@@Emiliapocalypseright? There are already several default kitchen appliances that will melt butter very easily lol. What is the point of buying a special melter for each type of food?

[@thebarnacles866]

Thanks for this!

[@jackgreene5663]

If you see it advertised, boycott it. Money is freedom, don't give up your freedom for 'stuff'.

[@thanhtranthien6556]

you're really good at this! a genius and hardworking video maker ^^ this is like the best one worth my time and I have watched it twice.

[@Diseasesexplained]

In Jainism there is concept of Aparigrah which means to have only what is needed and not what you want... It's promotes minimalistic living to its core... To an extent that it promotes eating less and eating all in one vessel...

[@秋本富美子さん]

Thank you for this video, keep up the work you're doing.

[@sophieh.4097]

I work in advertising and it makes me feel really guilty sometimes contributing to this, but I think an upside is that the skill learned in the ad industry can be applied to promoting good causes like charities, wildlife reserves, or other campaigns

[@a.taylor8294]

@OurChangingClimate, thanks for KEEPING IT REAL with why you're advertising.

[@noconsent]

One issue with "ethical consumerism" is that you can't even partake in the PR version of it. I agree it is better to not buy anything, then to buy "ethical" merchandise. The issue is sourced resources for materials, to how you get your money to pay for said goods, all emit fossil fuels and carbon emissions. There is no way to purchase something in our economy without somehow contributing to the climate crisis. It'd be one thing if there was two separate economies, one that was without any fossil fuel or carbon emission, and one with. But there's not. It is just one interconnected economy, that very very very few people actually benefit from, and anyone who wants to live a life without fossil fuels literally cannot do so. It's also funny how people who advocate for fossil fuel use will say they "just like the choice to use fossil fuels." And I'm just like, "we get a choice?"

[@DyslexicEngineer]

This video hit hard! I really like it, reminds me that I'm in a 100% consumerism environment and part of the issue. And I know everything need to change... I really hope (and want) to change. Very good video, I hope that a lot of people in my situation see it and try to change. We need more channels like that to flood internet!

[@toppersundquist]

Tiny thing, but... 1,595 feet doesn't increase by 149% to give you 2,383 square feet. It increased by 49% to become 149% of it's original size.

[@DanSoloha]

can you explain like I’m 5 please

[@LiterallyaFacePalm]

​@@DanSolohaIf you have 20 plants originally, and you take 18/20 plants out into the sun, you have taken 90% of the plants out into the sun. So if you go to the store and purchase 18 more planters, you are increasing the number of planters you now have by 90%. 20+18=38. 38 total planters out of 20 original planters (38/20) is 1.9, i.e 190%. Apply this to the 50% in the original comment.

[@aaron.harrell]

Increasing by 149% and increasing to 149% are very different.

[@bijoykumar-bv1tt]

I was analyzing your KZbin Channel ( ..0.Your KZbin Channel is very nice and Uploaded very good video content.Congrats!

[@olgacvetkova114]

Great analysis!👍👍👍 Thank you!

[@sabastionhides]

Thank you for your honesty.

[@joshpeck9266]

How many things I’ve bought that break and need to buy new ones is crazy….if they don’t break they are in subscription…new toothbrush heads, filter replacement, even if the thing doesn’t break the things to keep it going are overpriced and don’t last ask long perhaps

[@raphaelnej8387]

You could do a video about a video on the rebound effect. The rebound effect is an extremely powerful phenomenon. I have identified 2 solutions to not get trapped into it: - Working less. If you buy less and work less will guarantee you reduce your carbon footprint. You can use this extra time to work for free for something meaningful: Doing climate or social activism, educating yourself, raising your kids, taking care of your health, look for happiness, build relationships, etc. - Giving money away. It’s basically the same as being an activist, but instead of doing a different work, you keep your current work and redirect the money you make toward supporting meaningful actions, like OCC.

[@raphaelnej8387]

Lol my first sentence is hilarious

[@thebook2335]

Almost like a bad dog owner. You don't blame the dog; he's just doing what he's been told or forced to do. You blame the owner.

[@mdbosley]

If you act like a dog, you will live like a dog.

[@thexdatabase]

"Don't ask questions, just consume product and then get excited for next products"

[@faulkner7sarah]

I think that having a worker-led socialist economy would also result in products that are actually good quality, because the main focus wouldn't be to make more and more profit, but to actually build something that would be useful to people and the community. This could be good quality homes that aren't mansions that people would actually be able to afford and live in, or sustainable clothing rather than fast fashion.

[@johnyboyproduction]

Great content as always!

[@davidcomrade7335]

Consumption and production cannot be separated. To have the freedom to choose what we consume and how we consume it is only possible if the production becomes free. And for that we must change the capitalist mode of production into a socialist ones where the democratic organisation of production replaces commodity production. Without this, the anarchy of the free market and profit-seeking will continue to act against the interests of the masses: it will continue destroying our ecosystem

[@IriSmarchitOleroAnAl]

its kindoff what happens already juat ending in aum with a lot of waste, better than having someone decide what is to be consumed, like all authoritarian it will tend to a bad outcome