Reply to What is wrong with conspicuous consumption?

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Reply to "What is wrong with conspicuous consumption?"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=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.[/quote]

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

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