It would appear that our consumer society has spread its poisonous tentacles of dissatisfaction into every nook and cranny of our existence. The idea being that the acquisition of material possessions will somehow lead to us being more content with our lives. Nothing could be further from the truth.We are like drug addicts who after a “fix” experience a momentary “high” which is replaced, all too soon, by the insatiable craving for the next good time to come along and make us happy.
Anyone who has spent any time near an addict will know that the environment in which they live quickly becomes a disaster area, as they strip their home of anything and everything of any value in order to feed their addiction; At which point they widen the area of destruction to include their neighbours, targeting the most vulnerable first.
This attitude of entitlement to instant gratification is also glaringly apparent in our interpersonal relationships. Networking, or to put it another way making friends with people depending on how useful they will be to us, as opposed to how pleasant we find their company or what interests we share with them, is a prime example. Not to mention modern attitudes to marriage where divorce decrees are more plentiful than confetti. We all seem to have bought into the myth that marriage should be a bed of roses, instead of a means of providing a stable environment in which to raise the next generation of normal well adjusted human beings.
People, we are in serious need of rehabilitation and, like any kind of addict, the healing cannot begin until we admit to the problem.
My name is Cathy and I am a consumer.
Anyone who has spent any time near an addict will know that the environment in which they live quickly becomes a disaster area, as they strip their home of anything and everything of any value in order to feed their addiction; At which point they widen the area of destruction to include their neighbours, targeting the most vulnerable first.
This attitude of entitlement to instant gratification is also glaringly apparent in our interpersonal relationships. Networking, or to put it another way making friends with people depending on how useful they will be to us, as opposed to how pleasant we find their company or what interests we share with them, is a prime example. Not to mention modern attitudes to marriage where divorce decrees are more plentiful than confetti. We all seem to have bought into the myth that marriage should be a bed of roses, instead of a means of providing a stable environment in which to raise the next generation of normal well adjusted human beings.
People, we are in serious need of rehabilitation and, like any kind of addict, the healing cannot begin until we admit to the problem.
My name is Cathy and I am a consumer.
6 comments:
Bravo! Down with the tasteless insecurities of the nouveau riche!!
What I do is to give things a second life whenever possible. Truthfully, the thrill of acquisition is far greater when one is playing in the realm of possibility. One learns to derive great pleasure from used objects, and a preference for new items with greater longevity.
"entitlement and instant gratification" Well said. That attitude is quite pervasive here on the left coast and it really bugs me. The older I get the less I want 'things' except books, you can never have enough books. And I want them NOW! LOL
Sounds like someone's ready to accept Adorno's rejection of the culture industry!
I'm withya after this last wipeout.
chrlane. 2 of the things I miss now that I live in Greece are fleamarkets and thrift shops. The only pleasure left is swopping books with friends.
That's right claire if I had to choose between my books and my husband I would miss him for several chapters.
Mike .Don’t get me started on incongruent concepts and existentialism one blog just wouldn’t contain my ramblings
I absolutely love your blog. It's a mix of great writing, brilliant poetry, humour, jokes, observations...one of those blogs where you never know what you're gonna get next. Keep up the great work...I'll be back.
Oh...and what WAS your most embarrassing moment?
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