Consumption Malfunction

http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/science/10/24...reut/index.html

So I'm curious. With "modern" society so engrossed with our gadgets and "get-it-now" lifestyles, how does everyone feel about the concept of cutting back on consumption? I mean, just to see where everyone's at I'd like to know how many of you value all of the commodities that we have to a degree that it would make life nearly unbarable (sp?) to have to think about cutting back on consumption (on both a personal and a global scale) and how many of you are comfortable with a "simpler life" - one that puts a less emphasis on technology, industry, etc.? (all of the things that contribute to the consumption of the world's resources)
I'm just curious. No one is judging anybody on their opinions so, please, let's be as honest as possible. :wink:

Consumptionism is as big problem today as rasism or starvation. People trample underfoot everything and everyone in this "rat race". They reject their principles (if they ever had ones), they debase themselves to the lowest levels in order to get one more gadget.
Yes, one more gadget on an endless pile of unnecessary crap.
Fortunately I don't belong to those insane fast-trackers.

I am pretty cool with cutting back consumption. I try not to waste electricity and water and such.

We all still should better ourselves... especially america. Amercicans waste 3 times more energy than any other people do in their country.

Nah I don't think I could cut back.

I eat like crap and i take 45 minute showers. I buy 4 hamburgers and i throw away 3 of them. So what?

neuro, its already getting old. I\'m sure if you lived in America or if your country were equal to America, you would use just as much as i do.

OOOOOOOO maybe starvation is capitalism\'s fault!!!!! Evil capitalism!!!!! Evil America!!!! Here you go blaming America again. You are not obsessed?

Anyway, just cutting back is what we need to do. We have all these \"magic weight loss\" pills and diets that never work. If you wanna loose weight, dont eat so damn much. It aint rocket science.

but unfortunately this \"rat race\" is part of human existence and it will never go away. Some will get food and others will starve. Hasnt anyone thought about overpopulation? I know its easy to say, considering i have a Twix in my hand right now, but starvation keeps the population regulated.

I will say that Americans act like pigs sometimes. Our obesity rate is enormous, and we have many recurrent health problems like heart disease and cancer.

But i\'m sure as hell not changing my lifestyle. I\'m in weight, fit, and strong. I can eat like crap without consequences. I\'ll worry about that stuff later.

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Originally Posted by Oneironaut

I'd like to know how many of you value all of the commodities that we have to a degree that it would make life nearly unbarable (sp?) to have to think about cutting back on consumption (on both a personal and a global scale) and how many of you are comfortable with a "simpler life" - one that puts a less emphasis on technology, industry, etc.?
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I am extremely fortunate to have Amish friends about three hours north of here. I've learned a lot about myself by spending time with them - which I do as often as possible... at least a couple weekends each month.

I wouldn't want to go that far, but the reality of how much waste results from even my relatively low budget lifestyle really comes into focus when I'm around them.

From this perspective, it seems to me that the more prosperous we are and the more we bask in consumerism, the more divorced from our own natures we become. We get soft... emotionally, physically and mentally. Then we spend even more money trying to make up for that with gyms and workouts, games and recreation and all sorts of entertainment.

The other thing that really hits home among the Amish is the reality of human ability to create wealth... that wealth is not a fixed pool that gets moved from here to there. They are always working... always creating wealth - from the kids to the grandparents, except on Sundays. They tap maple trees and make syrup, run lumber mills, bake, cook, can, farm, build, repair... their waking lives, six days a week, are all about creating wealth where there was little or none before. And they tend to thrive as a result.

They are also a very tight society that takes care of their own. They wouldn't survive otherwise. This, too, is a cost of our consumer mindset - the disolution of social groups because they really aren't needed anymore.

I believe our society would benefit in many ways by reduced consumerism... but not at the hand of any overseeing power that might force us to do so. It is one thing to be generous... and another thing entirely to have a third party order you to be generous and punish you if you choose otherwise. I think most of us in western society would be astonished at just how little we can comfortably get by with... and how good it can feel to do so... and how much good could be done with what is left over.

Cutting back is friggin tough .. I don't think it'd be that easy for me...