Growing, deepening loathing for hyper-consumer people and families

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not remotely consumerist -- more anti than anything. When I buy anything, I try to buy vintage, pre-owned, open-box, all the stuff minimizes impact.

But I've grown to have real empathy for many of the kinds of people OP describes. I've observed that they often seem to be trying to give to children (theirs, but also often others, sometimes including mine) something that they themselves didn't get as a child. As soon as I realized this — that this is just another way of trying to do the right thing, and to heal what ails -- I softened quite a bit.

I wholeheartedly agree. In a neighboring town there is an annual Halloween decorating extravaganza: at least an acre of skeletons doing all kinds of activities. A baseball game, etc. Lights and sound effects. They add to it every year. After Halloween, they dress the skeletons in Christmas costumes, add multiple blow up snow men, santas, elves reindeer.

It's over the top tacky as get out but small children love it. I don't know these people but I love them, smile every time we drive by.

Meanwhile at my house, total exterior decorating is one tasteful natural wreath on each door.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not remotely consumerist -- more anti than anything. When I buy anything, I try to buy vintage, pre-owned, open-box, all the stuff minimizes impact.

But I've grown to have real empathy for many of the kinds of people OP describes. I've observed that they often seem to be trying to give to children (theirs, but also often others, sometimes including mine) something that they themselves didn't get as a child. As soon as I realized this — that this is just another way of trying to do the right thing, and to heal what ails -- I softened quite a bit.

You sound like a very kind person, pp!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was telling DH, who remarked on how people really do big Halloween yard displays now, that imo Halloween is one of our more inclusive holidays. I guess people who consider it satanic are excluded, but otherwise it requires no national pride, religious connotations, ethnic identity.

Yeah, but that was still true 20 years ago and we somehow managed to have fun and get candy without displaying a gigantic spider on our roof the size of a prop on a “Harry Potter” set. And no, I’m not exaggerating and yes, that’s happening on my street as we speak.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I really loathe people who take international vacations.

Oh thwt doesn't count, these anti consumerism types are all about "experiences instead of things."

[Anonymous]

Get off social media, OP.

[Anonymous]

Worry about yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'll admit to having a lot of disposable income, but that doesn't stop me from judging others who buy tons of OTT holiday decor junk. It's useless clutter.

Judge away. I had a ton of fun setting up our Halloween decorations with my kids this year. It's a fun family tradition for us.

[Anonymous]

Some of you saying that “oh we’re just trying to be a light in the dark times and want to find some joy in this terrible world” aren’t getting that over-consumption is what is driving the darkness and pain and environmental strain.

[Anonymous]

The most important thing about this country is that OP cannot control the people she dislikes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People live in the Capitol?

The poors?

There’s no such word as poors.

This is the thread where you debate the word? I’ve seen it used on many, many threads and Twitter (when it was Twitter) for 15 years.

[Anonymous]

Birthday parties is where you find me with a pitchfork standing by OP ready to march. Lol.

When we didn’t have much, I would try to still throw a modest party for my kid. I remember being on here(!) asking for tips to keep it at $100 or less.

Since that time, say 11 years ago, I have *never* been able to host a party for less than $100. And this is me, questioning excess favors etc.

So the advice to parents to just host a modest party—the only way you can do it for little, is if you already own some party materials.

Now, take this comment, bc I have somewhere else to go with it. I don’t need to throw modest parties anymore. We’re doing fine financially. If you try to emulate any of the looks online, you quickly see how the dollars add up. For one afternoon. And even if you’re not emulating anything in particular, the vibe trickles down. Your kids start to pick up on expectations for parties.

Finally, some of my favorite accounts on SM will take others posts and add up the dollars for it. So they do a side by side etc and total it up for you. Usually it’s sorority rush costs. Sometimes vacation costs. It’s insane. And this financial burden is made to look so nice. And sets the new expectations for life. Ew. I hate it.

[Anonymous]

I agree, OP.

So many houses in my neighborhood have plastic skeletons, plastic tombstones, etc. in the front yard. Plus that faux spider web stuff on bushes, which can trap birds. It's really over the top. (I do see one house where they put the kids' paper cut-outs/art work on the door, and it is sweet.) Why not carve a pumpkin with your kid and call it a day?

As another example, I get frustrated with gift bags at kids' birthday parties with little plastic toys. They occupy a kid for five minutes and take 200 years to decompose. And the needless balloons.

i could go on but just wanted to say that I get your point, OP.

[Anonymous]

This thread is evidence that consumerism is still alive and well! I’m with OP 100 percent. It’s not just the over the top stuff on social media. It’s neighbors that have at least one package delivered to their door every single day. It’s people you know who rent a storage unit to store the extra stuff that they cannot fit in their home. So much stuff!

[Anonymous]

Of all the things on your list the only one I do is hand out Halloween candy.

I would argue that the comparison you are engaging in is the same problem that leads people to the overconsumption you hate.

Stop comparing yourself to everyone else.

Stop making their choices seem like a referendum on your choices.

Live your life, and don’t let how others live their lives determine your joy in life.

[Anonymous]

In case anyone’s counting votes, I’m with OP.

PP above made the excellent point that consumerism used as an escape from the doom and gloom will hasten an environmental catastrophe that many people will not survive. It’s not just your one plastic skeleton and single-use string of LEDs. It’s all the energy that went into producing them, packaging them, shipping them from the other side of the planet, and trucking them to your store. A modest halloween display requires more energy than you can fathom. And of course it doesn’t end there. After Halloween when those flimsy decorations are thrown in the trash, they still have to be trucked to the landfill where they will leach chemicals into the soil and water forever.

I hate your holiday decorations.