Is "materialism" a good or bad thing?

Question

It is often said that America is a "materialist society."

Whether this is a good or bad thing, please tell me WHY you think so.

Love jack

Give me SPECIFICS.

Answer 1

i think its bad i mean it classifies us all and we are suppose to all be equal but we are not cuz " my house is better then yours' ( not really ) but i think it has almost everything to do with the invention of the television.... ( though i love my tv )

Answer 2

That is more of a complex question than you might realize...

The answer comes down to what is in your soul and your personal values... meaning some may believe it is good and some bad.

For me, I believe that materialism is a bad thing.

If you click on my name and read my profile, you will see how extremely I feel about this subject and the steps I have taken to let go of the materialistic part of myself in life.

I have this saying, 'The things you own end up owning you.' I try my best to live with that thought in my mind always.

You requested examples but they are everywhere in our capitalist society... our society literally evolves around material items. We hold no value on the person who works at McDonalds or the local convenient store who drives an old beat up car. We respect and admire the Paris Hilton's because she was fortunate enough to be born into a family with money.

When I decided to leave my career and live a 'free' life at the beach, the first thing I realized real quick was this:
- When I was in an area where everybody knew who I was and what I had, I was automatically respected. When I spoke, ppl got quiet and listened... seriously.
- When I let go of 'things' and moved to an area where no one knew me and didn't work except for writing down at the water, ppl couldn't care less who I was or what I had to say.

When I take the time and make friends, ppl's mouths drop when they find out who I am and the things I have done; although it is rare that I let that be known. Suddenly things change. I don't hold much weight to those type of ppl and have chosen to live a quiet, reclusive life. I don't have much faith in humanity atm due to what I call the corruption of a capitalist society as a whole.

It is EXTREMELY rare that I meet someone of my like-mind. I fear we are lost and so caught up in what we have and the things we 'want' to a point that of no return. The sad thing is that happiness will never come if material things are all you respect and your only aim in life.

Answer 3

Well for one...if you are materialistic and use to a certain way of living then what are gonna do if you have a sudden change in your lifestyle (such as losing your job or something along those lines) and you cannot support your habits any longer? Some of the most crafty people in our history have risen up from poverty and they have turned their lives around. When you don't have money you find a way to make things work and you are generally more resourceful. Plus if you are not use to getting nice things on a day to day basis then you appreciate them more when you finally do recieve them. I feel that the people who are NOT materialistic are more grounded in life and they are generally nicer people...they don't expect too much and they accept things for face value.

Answer 4

Good question.

We all require some "materials" to live so to some minimal extent we are all materialistic. The US is very materialistic in that it consumes vastly more per capita than any other country in the world. Beyond needed items materialism for the sake of it is very bad for the psyche IMO feeding jealousy, greed, contempt, exploitation and other negative feelings toward fellow humans.

Answer 5

I like sitting on and air conditioned well ventelated toilet with nice soft paper .Does this make me a materialist .I like to walk to the fridge and grab a piece of cheese cake and cold milk for desert.I like the choose i have of over 100 channels to watch and the means to go from a-b at 75 miles an hour in comfort by myself and not on a bus .I do not want to be bothered cleaning up after myself so the maid dry cleaners and yard man handle those things for me .
I like to point and provide checks to people working for me and not bother doing the hard work .
I am smart and have money and work hard to provide something in my community that people need .So am i a materialist or just someone who enjoys his own surroundings .I am what i am .

Answer 6

there is not any secret. The events of the international are via 2 forces: organic and artificial. organic forces, such as storms or earthquakes, reason undesirable issues each so often no longer via the indisputable fact that's after a particular human being, solid or undesirable, yet because it has to ensue. each "adverse" aspect in nature is there for a reason. If human beings die because of it, it truly is merely the effect of being smaller than we are expecting of we are in an countless, uncontrollable international. synthetic forces are a lot trickier to generalize. some events ensue as "destiny" it truly is merely many human beings's loose wills conflicting and combining with one yet another to reason events previous one human being's, solid or undesirable, administration. If some thing adverse takes position there, it wasn't unavoidably meant to objective that human being. Then there is hate and injuries. those can carry about adverse effects that both are meant for an outstanding or undesirable human being or were unintentional. both way, issues ensue. no longer because we are solid or undesirable yet merely because they do.

Answer 7

Materialism can be very damaging. I've seen many who couldn't pay their rent, but by golly there is a new big screen TV and new furniture in the house. I've seen too many get their nails or hair done, and not pay a bill. I've seen parents neglect their children in favor of DVDs, play stations, xbox's, TV, Computers in every bedroom and two new SUV's in the driveway. Then they complain that there children are not grateful and that they need two jobs to support themselves.

Answer 8

Materialism just is. Think Zen.

Americans are less materialistic than many people.

Answer 9

Its a bad thing overall and is an idealogy promulgated by the Jews. Reject Jewish philosophy of life being a competition to acquire more material possessions than your neighbor and embrace interpersonal relationships and your community, not your job-site.

Answer 10

Well, It is good and bad.
It's one of those things that too much of a good thing becomes piggish.
We of course NEED material items...like we need food.
We need food, but if you are a big sloppy piggy who can't go 10 minutes without shoving something in your mouth., then you are a glutton, and get FAT.
But materials can be hidden. I think it's America's hidden addiction, with our outrageous credit card debt (though much of this is because we can't make our bills)-- part of it is consumerism and materialism...
We are a bunch of shopaholics... and of course I am guilty...like many others.
Is it necessary to have that many shoes, bags, cloths, furniture, stuff stuff and more stuff?
No. But it keeps our economy going, it is good and bad, It would be better if it were kept in check, by people showing restraint and not going into debt-- so I think it's part personal accountability...
OUr consumerism also effects the world, wages and slave labor thousands of miles away from here, rainforests being slaughtered so we can go to Home Depot.-- and tribe people being run out of their forests who's languages and people and ways of life are dying out.-- animals going extinct and shrinking area for them to hide.... and POLLUTION all over the world from chemical companies, textile mills, etc. and on and on.
America's consumerist lifestyle effects the world in various intricate ways, but your average shopper says: that top is cute!

Answer 11

I am a minimalist, and feel that materialistic persuits impeed spirituality and the true path to happiness and God!