Will you be giving in to the insanity of commercialism this holiday season?

Question

I've been watching a bit of CNN today, and apparently people running through mall doors in the middle of the night shoving each other around and spending a hell of a lot of money is newsworthy. One clip I found particularly disturbing was an interview with a woman who described the midnight madness as a "tradition" that she shared with a family memeber. :-/ Memories to be cherished....? I'm not sure. Isn't it all just a bit overboard? I've done the commercial Christmas thing, I was raised with it, and it was empty for me. I was an only child and my mom is THE original conspicuous consumer, so it's not like I'm just watching this from the outside...What's the draw? Why do so many people go into debt every year for the holidays? Is there something I'm missing about all of this? Does the size and cost and quantity of the gifts really matter that much? If someone who understands and appreciates the commercial draw of the season could explain to me what I'm clearly missing that'd be great.

Yes, Sufi! That's what I'm getting at. It's not the act of gift giving itself, I'm actually a lot like your friend in that respect. I like finding exactly the right thing for each and every person:). But what I was seeing today was not that kind of shopping. It seemed to me to be more of a feeding frenzy of consumerism. Buy, buy, buy...That's what I don't understand.

Is it the adrenaline rush of racing to the sales table to grab that last Wii that drives this? Or is it something else?

I suppose I just don't understand how shopping like this is enjoyable and conducive to holiday spirit...

Thanks for the clip, bajancanuk! It does explain a lot. (liked the Mozart in the background, too:) I'm really not all that much of a Mozart fan on the whole, but I do like Rondo alla Turka and the fantasias-sorry, I digress) And to think they're marketing to INFANTS now! Sheesh, what's it gonna be like in another 20 years? Are these kids even going to know what it's like to NOT be addicted to gross consumerism?

I learned these lessons the hard way. Your boys are lucky, and I'm sure they'll appreciate it down the road, if they don't already. Keep working on 'em:)

You know Dave, part of the reason that I posted this question because it's all started way too early. We're barely 3 weeks into November! Christmas is more than a month away.

Answer 1

I agree with you
jane

Answer 2

I see you are starting right in on the season's craziness. It keeps getting worse every year. Before this year, I never heard so many references in the media to "Black Friday."
Personally, I used to enjoy the whole spirit of the season: the specials on TV, having a little disposable income and shopping for those special someones, driving around and seeing how each home was decorated differently, taking the one big trip to the mall where the atmosphere was breath-taking, the parties, the food, the big snowstorms..........
but that was years ago (try the 80's!!!)
I strapped on a double chute and "bailed" several Xmases ago. It just became less & less enjoyable with each passing year, and all my great aging relatives were passing as well.
I simply pulled back, W-A-Y back out of the whole scene, and tried my darndest to do non-traditional things, that mostly weren't well-received.
Like, one year I sent out New Year's cards instead, and mailed them to be received around that time. Another year I spontaneously joined Christmas Carolers who had come to our front door. They sang us one song in the freezing nite air, and I just stepped out and walked next door with the small group, but I soon quit after realising most of them weren't heterosexually-oriented ( I just thought they were "happy" young church people....)
But anyway, you have aptly described it, the "insanity of commercialism" is no more apparent than at this time of the year. You would think that it will reach a "critical mass" any year now, but it just grows and plunges to new depths.
The mob mentality, mob rules -- this may very well be the perfect time to seek refuge in a church after all.........

Answer 3

The human mind is a interesting "subject" to comprehend, or to even try to .The mind runs on thoughts --- controlled and effected by numerous stimuli --- like emotions , influences from others, and of course that good old media :Television.
All those wonderful commercials that attemp to instill / burn into your memory,or associate in some manner that you simple must have that purple ,left handed widget to maintain life, as you know it.
TV, and other media forms,are nothing more than allowing a saleman to come into your home to make a sale to you , your mate,or especially to the kids---- who are "targeted" most often , with visual aids,to increase their sensitivity of want &desire.This in turn will increase pressure on you to "buy it for the kid because of your love(emotions again),and you want to "show" the kid(person) your love .
Have you ever said no in buying that left-handed,purple widget for someone --- only later to relent ,and purchase it -- out of guilt(emotions again) -- Perhaps even buying 2 of them,or the bigger ,more expensive one, to make up and surprise them,with a lot of love. Does"nt this make you feel better -- even through deep down -- you know you"ve been had--- but what the hell --- all that love you are getting back is worth it --- right?.
Marketing a left handed widget , or a service is a art ---the point is to create desire(not always the cost)--- to put another person"s desire against the other -- for instance a wife"s desire imposed upon her husband and his desire to please her--- it may well have not a single thing to do with that widget,or cost--- only to please her, or the other way around--- emotions at work again. This is one big reason why salemen want to have both parties present doing a sales presentation --- to play one against the other in the emotion dept.They close a lot more deals on widgets in this manner.
Once again ---- it"s all about creating a sense of desire --- "I"m worth every penney of that ,and if you love me -- you will buy it for me."--- or I"ll get it myself.
This nation operates , and runs on advertisements --- just look around and wonder why a person will pay money to buy a baseball cap, or a t-shirt with Wal-Mart on it. They are nothing less than a walking billboard sign, and they had to pay to do it -- go figure ~~~~~.
Ahhh--- the human mind --- full of emotions .
And a Happy Holiday to All --- And to All A Good-Night.
+++Spock+++

Answer 4

well, you really can't criticize other people's traditions that give them joy and in which they find meaning. but you can choose not to do it. i had a friend who was really into gifts and for her it was the choice of exactly the right gift for the person that would surprise and delight them - the look on their face - and it was really an important value to her and it made her think a lot about the person and their interests etc. gifts can be a good thing. and it is a person's choice how to do it.

if they are buying big gifts to impress and prove their status, that shows their values. that is where they are. i think you are right to try to understand. rituals (and it is all a cultural ritual) and tradition are very powerful.

Answer 5

I'm with you. I don't leave my house on black Friday. My kids get 2 gifts each and everyone else gets a card. My in laws buy nothing for the adults in the family & the grandkids are limited as well.
The Christmases of my childhood had nothing to do with a mall, we did get & receive some gifts, though.

Answer 6

I won't be giving into the insanity. It's hard for me to spend alot of money on garbage when there are so many needy people in the world. I have started an organization---come check it out.

www.thepencilproject.com

Answer 7

*sigh* welcome to materialism.
Why is this done?
Let me introduce you to the mind numbing slave machine the government has forced upon everyone:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=uBm9ZyIg3I0

what do I do about it?
I download all my shows (with the commercials cut out)
do I care about materialism? no
Do my boys (ages 10 and 12).. yes a bit
but not as much as other kids their ages... I work on them ;)

Answer 8

Their emptiness forces their vortex-like need
for approval and belonging.

So does mine, just not in materialistic ways.

I'm sure Albert Einstein would've been envious.
(And you know I'm soooo kidding.)

Answer 9

sure i buy into it. why not. it is my money and i do what i want/ what it takes to make my family happy. for example if my son wants an ipod, he'll get an ipod.

Answer 10

sorry love to long to read and I have a hangover and I just wan my points.