What is wrong with conspicuous consumption?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In my opinion, materialism is evil. It is the scourge of our time.

Consumerism is our new religion.

In my opinion there's nothing wrong with earning money.

How do you want people to spend their money?

You can buy nice things and donate. They are not mutually exclusive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my opinion, materialism is evil. It is the scourge of our time.

Consumerism is our new religion.

In my opinion there's nothing wrong with earning money.

How do you want people to spend their money?

You can buy nice things and donate. They are not mutually exclusive.

Well, of course, and it's a personal choice. Everyone has to set their own limits and make their own decisions. But to pretend morality plays no role is folly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my opinion, materialism is evil. It is the scourge of our time.

Consumerism is our new religion.

In my opinion there's nothing wrong with earning money.

Money for what?

Donating to charity.

Living reasonably on.

Paying for education.

Donating to charity is actually one main form of conspicuous consumption, especially when you tell other people about it.

Living "reasonably" depends on what your definition of "reasonable" is. What may be reasonable to you, maybe considered the religion of "consumerism" to others.

Education is yet another main form of conspicuous consumption, as it relates to credentialism and elitism. Especially when you tell other people about it.

So as you can see, you are guilty! You need to atone for your sins.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my opinion, materialism is evil. It is the scourge of our time.

Consumerism is our new religion.

In my opinion there's nothing wrong with earning money.

How do you want people to spend their money?

You can buy nice things and donate. They are not mutually exclusive.

Well, of course, and it's a personal choice. Everyone has to set their own limits and make their own decisions. But to pretend morality plays no role is folly.

Based on your standard of morality. Everyone's is different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, you are free to add that home theater, buy that fancy car, go on that ultra-luxe vacation.

You're also free to give the money to people who would otherwise not eat, e.g. https://live.givedirectly.org/

But don't tell me that one approach is equally admirable.

(In reality, it's always a balance. I give, and I indulge, and if I gave more I'd be more admirable.)

I understand, but the buying and selling of goods and services is the foundation of any economy. I feel that people with their don't buy things because it hurts the environment miss the basics of economics. Putting thought and effort into making products that don't damage the environment is great, and ultimately the development of new products to buy and sell is also great. But to simply say don't buy things without also addressing the damage that is done without people buying and selling is a naive and misleading argument.

Exchanging money is the foundation of the economy. Doing it for mainly GOODS is a uniquely American trait. Try paying for services instead.

LOL- have you met a south asian person??? Other cultures also prefer accumulating STUFFFF over experiences and paying a fair price for services. Its good that americans are beginning to be more thoughtful about how we impact the world and less reflexively "we are number 1" but it should be honest and not the other way where we are reflexively self flagellating. Most Middleeastern ad Irani, Pakistani cures are wayyyy more materialistic than americans. I have heritage from that pert of the world and im flabbergasted by how driven they are by conspicuous consumption and how they cannot fathom living any other way. Consumption is the basic engine of an economy but it doesn't grant you superiority over others who cannot consume as much as you do nor are they necessarily "takers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Give me attention! I'm rich but insecure!"

That's what your flashy car, gaudy ring and expensive purse really say to the rest of us. Sorry.

I disagree. I know plenty of people who have flashy cars, big rings and expensive bags, and with most of them I have never thought they are insecure. People who make posts like yours? I totally think you are insecure. Sorry.

Oh yea...like so totally...

[Anonymous]

Humans do consume too much and rich people consume the most, and that's a problem, but it's one that requires collective action. Not to mention that many people consume stuff do so on credit, meaning that their consumption is actively bad for them. So I don't see much point in trying to shame people for consumption. If your concern is environmental, we would all do better to focus on major polluters (which are all huge corporations) and on government policies that will actually do the hard work of lowering greenhouse emissions and developing alternative energies.

The real problem with conspicuous consumption is that it's anti-social. And yes, the conspicuous part matters a lot. Example:

1. Rich person spends money on expensive item or experience. Fine, no one cares.
2. Rich person spends money on expensive item or experience, then tells friends and family about it, focusing on how relaxing/delicious/beautiful/interesting/exciting it was. This may invite some envy, but still fine.
3. Rich person spends money on expensive item or experience, posts about it on social media, focusing on how much it cost and how exclusive it was. Now you're a dick.

Yes, there are shades of gray in here, but this is the gist. Spending money is not immoral in and of itself. But everyone needs self-awareness. If you are going to share your consumption with others, you need to learn to do it in a way that is pro-social, not anti-social.

And people who do it in an anti-social way, who are always emphasizing how they have things others don't, bragging about their access to certain things and experiences, or putting down less expensive things as bad? Yes, those people are deeply insecure and I both feel bad for them and find them very, very annoying. Not because they have things I want, but because they are determined to make sure I know they have things I want. And that's the difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve never heard anyone say conspicuous consumption is bad. If you got it, flaunt it!

Let me introduce you to Thorstein Veblen

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Theory_of_the_Leisure_Class

I don’t need to read something by some dude that sounds like one of the Keebler elves

[Anonymous]

I only have an issue when one (whether they are rich or poor) spends on luxuries and then boasts about it - whether in person or via social media. Those that do (I I know a few friends and family who do) exhibit low class and lacking of empathy. I’m sure all of us know a few like this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Humans do consume too much and rich people consume the most, and that's a problem, but it's one that requires collective action. Not to mention that many people consume stuff do so on credit, meaning that their consumption is actively bad for them. So I don't see much point in trying to shame people for consumption. If your concern is environmental, we would all do better to focus on major polluters (which are all huge corporations) and on government policies that will actually do the hard work of lowering greenhouse emissions and developing alternative energies.

The real problem with conspicuous consumption is that it's anti-social. And yes, the conspicuous part matters a lot. Example:

1. Rich person spends money on expensive item or experience. Fine, no one cares.
2. Rich person spends money on expensive item or experience, then tells friends and family about it, focusing on how relaxing/delicious/beautiful/interesting/exciting it was. This may invite some envy, but still fine.
3. Rich person spends money on expensive item or experience, posts about it on social media, focusing on how much it cost and how exclusive it was. Now you're a dick.

Yes, there are shades of gray in here, but this is the gist. Spending money is not immoral in and of itself. But everyone needs self-awareness. If you are going to share your consumption with others, you need to learn to do it in a way that is pro-social, not anti-social.

And people who do it in an anti-social way, who are always emphasizing how they have things others don't, bragging about their access to certain things and experiences, or putting down less expensive things as bad? Yes, those people are deeply insecure and I both feel bad for them and find them very, very annoying. Not because they have things I want, but because they are determined to make sure I know they have things I want. And that's the difference.

Well said, and I am the PP who keeps telling people they are using their own opinions on what is good vs bad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your mistake is thinking that people who make the most money work the hardest. The reality is very nearly the opposite of that.

+1,000

[Anonymous]

First of all, if you need gold toilets and fancy cars, you likely are insecure or pathetically status conscious.

Your values are also shaky, in my book, because your money could be used in so many other important (less superficial) ways.

I am not stating "the truth." Rather how you will come across to many others. Oh yeah, and selfish and shallow. But you do you.

[Anonymous]

Oh yea...like so totally.

You are petty, punctuate poorly and your post reflects a shallow analysis. Is that formal enough for your taste?

[Anonymous]

It’s tacky! DCUM’s favorite pejorative.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your mistake is thinking that people who make the most money work the hardest. The reality is very nearly the opposite of that.

+1,000

You two are going to have to provide proof, some type of data collection or authoritative analysis showing that hard work is inversely correlated with income. Go ahead.