UPSB v4
Serious Discussion / Materialism
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Date: Fri, Jul 16 2010 06:32:44
What are your thoughts on materialism? Do you think you (personally) are materialistic? Is modern society materialistic? Can anything bad come from materialism? What do you think is driving materialism? Alternatives/solutions for materialism?
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Date: Sun, Jul 18 2010 02:25:53
I live in a capitalistic society, shit happens.
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Date: Sun, Jul 18 2010 02:37:50
I think its a fucked up system that has it's roots in agricultural lifestyle and in the end it fucks up people because it's basedon a false presumption of superiority, wealth, humanity, and morality.
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Date: Sun, Jul 18 2010 17:22:35
As Andrew Carnegie said it: "Capitalism is about turning luxuries into necessities." What we today may call unnecessary luxuries will tomorrow necessities of modern life. When Germany started unifying in the 1870's, German intellectuals and philosophers decried the decadence and fall from traditional values, as peasants started purchasing such "luxuries" as scissors, metal pots and needles from cottage industry. And so it has gone with pretty much everything that surrounds us today. Electricity, cars, computers, the internet, all once seen as materialistic luxuries, today acknowledged as necessities of modern living. And for all the things which probably will never turn into necessities, like designer clothes, jewelery and sports cars. I think people should be able to choose how to spend their resources themselves. I believe in rational human beings. I think that most people are best at choosing for themselves which things are gonna make them most happy. I don't think we need idealists, prophets and philosophers for telling people that.
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Date: Sun, Jul 18 2010 17:33:44
The Onion wrote: As Andrew Carnegie said it: "Capitalism is about turning luxuries into necessities." What we today may call unnecessary luxuries will tomorrow necessities of modern life. When Germany started unifying in the 1870's, German intellectuals and philosophers decried the decadence and fall from traditional values, as peasants started purchasing such "luxuries" as scissors, metal pots and needles from cottage industry. And so it has gone with pretty much everything that surrounds us today. Electricity, cars, computers, the internet, all once seen as materialistic luxuries, today acknowledged as necessities of modern living. And for all the things which probably will never turn into necessities, like designer clothes, jewelery and sports cars. I think people should be able to choose how to spend their resources themselves. I believe in rational human beings. I think that most people are best at choosing for themselves which things are gonna make them most happy. I don't think we need idealists, prophets and philosophers for telling people that.
this is beautiful -
Date: Wed, Jul 28 2010 02:20:41
I think it depends on your definition of materialism.
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Date: Sat, Jul 31 2010 10:30:47
idk..I just want most items because my idols have it or it looks cool....
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Date: Sun, Aug 1 2010 06:15:24
clyde616 wrote: idk..I just want most items because my idols have it or it looks cool....
Propaganda. -
Date: Fri, Sep 17 2010 20:59:20
sadistic wrote: I think it depends on your definition of materialism.
I thought of this one http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Materialism But then again most people are talking about economic materialism... -
Date: Sat, Sep 18 2010 01:17:21
the primary and most basic functions of our culture are rooted in materialism
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Date: Sun, Sep 19 2010 05:19:42
Link highly related.
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Date: Sun, Dec 19 2010 15:29:03
What are your thoughts on materialism? A part of capitalism, which is a failed system that has been recently been offered life support by governments via bailouts and stimulus packages. This is because if people see capitalism crash, then the illusion is shattered. Do you think you (personally) are materialistic? Yes, I don't think it's possible to be 100% anti-materialistic unless you become an ascetic or live austerely. The mere act of having a computer could be seen as materialistic. Is modern society materialistic? Definitely. Can anything bad come from materialism? Many bad things are caused by materialism both directly and indirectly. Here are some: * It condones greed, selfishness, and emotional apathy, which inevitably leads to the exploitation and misery of others. The economic recession was caused by a handful of greedy bankers, and the middle and lower classes are suffering the most. * It repeatedly pushes the message that our self-worth is based on our accumulated wealth and possessions. It tries to make us buy into this view through cultural pressure and ostracization. * It's unfair because of limited social mobility. People who become rich never do so without support and resources. People who are born into poverty have virtually no chance. * As Onion said, it hijacks human rationality. It supersedes intelligent thought by reprogramming our unconscious. What do you think is driving materialism? There are probably economic and evolutionary factors, but a lot of it has to do with society and our governments' propensity to promote the system. Alternatives/solutions for materialism? Egalitarianism would seem the most fair, although this is more of an ideal rather than reality.
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Date: Sun, Dec 19 2010 16:27:46
Tialys wrote: What are your thoughts on materialism? A part of capitalism, which is a failed system that has been recently been offered life support by governments via bailouts and stimulus packages. This is because if people see capitalism crash, then the illusion is shattered.
The system clearly hasn't failed. Society has not collapsed! The capitalist system does work, just, not very well.