Anti-consumerist?

Question

"Consumerism is the equating of personal happiness with the purchasing of material possessions and consumption."

I'm against buying STUFF because I don't feel I need to buy STUFF to be happy. On the other hand, I like music, and buy CD's regularly. I'm not happy just because I bought a case of plastic - I'm in it for the music. Does this contradict my hypothetical stance as an anti-consumerist?

Answer 1

Well it's hard to take a stance against the status quo, and being an Anti-consumerist in a society where the most important principle is as us know based on the quick fix buy habit of the consumer junkie. Go detox is hard!
The important thing is that you have seen how it all works and are already making a greater effort than the majority of other addicts, But you must remember that you are nothing more than a victim.
Don't be worried about your contradicting hypothetical stance there are things you just can't change in yourself until you change the world.

Follow the white rabbit!

Sophrosyne you have missed: wanting less, buying less, repairing more, and needing little. 80% of the world population lives this way!
Siddharta mean anything to you!

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn9642.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3157570.stm
http://www.biopsychiatry.com/happiness/happycountry.html
http://au.blogs.yahoo.com/barefootinvestor/53/wealthhappiness-do-not-necessarily-go-together

Answer 2

I believe those who are always purchasing material things are never happy until they get the next gadget but that does not suffice because they want more.They are never really happy.and most of the stuff they don't need anyway.It is an addiction. If you buy things that do make you happy,then this is a different situation. It is more like a hobby. I am the same when it comes to hi fi sound,i am always improving it ,but i only buy what i need.

Answer 3

No of course it doesn't. I am one of those people who buys things and equates it with personal happiness. I am aware of the problem. You, however, do not get a "high" off purchasing this CD's, you just enjoy the CD's for what they are, and don't equate it with anything unrealistic.

If I were to buy a sweater and enjoy it and love it, that would be okay. But when I go clothing shopping, I look at a sweater and equate happiness with the sweater, and buy it. THAT is not right.

Answer 4

no longer extremely what you have been finding for probable, yet go on youtube and look up Reverend Billy and the Church of end procuring. i'm helpful you will maximum probable take exhilaration in the anti-consumerist message carried out in a touch comical way.

Answer 5

No. Consumerism, like most other things, is okay in moderation. It is when we begin to think of everything as a commodity and start buying things for no good reason other than to sate our addiction to STUFF that it becomes problematic. We all have things we like, but elevating those things and making them out to be the source of happiness is when consumerism gets out of hand.

Answer 6

Anti-consumerism is a prime target market. Counter-culture is consumer-culture. It's impossible to not be a consumer unless you completely remove yourself from the monetary economy and go live in the woods.

Answer 7

Yeah a little bit. Music really isn't different from that other stuff. 99.99% of it is just mass-market tripe designed and created to make money for somebody. You do NOT need music to be happy.

Answer 8

Buying the music makes you happy, So YES you are defeating what you say you are against.

Answer 9

No your a consmer like everyone else we have to consume to survive so it is practically impossible not to be a consumer until your dead, because that is the only time you stop comsuming things.