Are we too Materialistic? 

I agree completely, but I would also say that it's quite easy to know how materialistic someone is by looking the frequency and quantity of material goods bought in relation to their necessity.

Sakux Exactly, they value things that are not necessities over necessities.

some objects are always a waste

+mephistopheles the silent chief Indeed. Or if they are rich enough, buying a lot of unnecessary things when they have all the necessary (materialistically speaking).

If a billionaire only bought what is necessary, 95% of his fortune would go to waste. The poor and middle class wouldn't know how to enjoy a billion dollars anyway, but complain about not being rich.

What is any use for time, if we don't have stuff to play with.

What is any stuff to play without the imagination?

+LT “John” YV we have each other and nature to play with (:

We certainly don't need more time, we need more quality.

Jackson I do need more things, I've been born in Venezuela and my needs are not fulfilled.

Alexandre Hosokawa +

Alexandre Hosokawa very interesting

Alexandre Hosokawa shouldn't humans be wise and organized enough to know we are more than what we purchase? afterall, we're here for such a miniscule amount of time; our individual existence is but a speck in history. our objects might last longer than us tho, sadly enough, especially when they're made of Non-Biodegradable materials like ~plastic. No matter if you recycle religiously like my family, and let's be honest we know most people in the world do NOT do it diligently, the material takes a long time well beyond our lifetimes to break down. We're collectively, effectively suffocating the planet w our purchasing choices. Plastic is a common shared product we contribute to harm of species and destruction of ecosystems. World leaders worry about economics to remain powerful but all that is shortsighted. This is related bc the point of materialism is the culture of buying, and that practice is encouraged to raise economics, government wealth via taxes. None of that matters if we're killing our planet. Many of us want humanity to progress and that doesn't equate to constantly buying crap. It comes in the form of supporting the arts, sciences and protecting the environment. Sports/exercise and eating habits are probably the only binding activities we can share in common to remain healthy and entertained without having to be exactly alike and requires us to on occasion buy stuff to support said activities. but it's the activities that lead us to buy not the item itself, which materialism implies. at least that's my take on materialism. when people purchase as a status symbol that attitude is pretty petty.

Alexandre Hosokawa I'll agree to that to a point. any tool to use is a material. and I enjoy what I make with my tools.

Very interesting comment. I wrote it down to give it more thought. I buy very little but things come to me in abundance without trying. I gather it all up and then I do a purge to goodwill, etc. I do believe in abundance, my concept, and stuff comes to me all by itself. Thanks.

Hmm yes. I spend most of my time on computers, playstation, car, and stuff I own, but I never really do things without them. I think I was happier as a kid when I didn't own anything but the world was my playground. Now I work to pay for the stuff I own but it owns me instead.

Matt Yeah, I'm no real minimalist by any means, I still have a TV, PS4, car, phone, etc. but I don't buy anything I don't need anymore. I also had a lot of severe depression growing up. I have less now than I've ever had in my life since I was a teenager and I've never felt better.

Nice. Material doesn't go with you when you die. Good mindset you have.

Kinda' true. These things will control you and will make you want more and more stuff..

Yeong-min Bae But who's to say what is and isn't transubstantiative? Or what will be used for the better and what will be used for the worse?

Kanalratte That is why I raised these rhetorical and indefinite questions, to further show how futile transubstantiation is. It's just a shame that status symbols are often representative of ones hard work.

You've both emphasized the point I was making quite well. I don't really buy into this idea of "good consumerism" based on the concept of transubstantiation. I would argue that the person who bought the watch is distracting himself with the watch and not focusing on their own efforts to become that person they wish to be.

Yeong-min Bae Well said, the characteristics associated with an object may not represent those of its owner.

Kanalratte I call transubstantiation futile because value is added not inherent, thus personal not spiritual.

+Michael Björk I like the idea of minimalism, but I don't know how the economy would do without superfluous industry.

Live it 👌

+Alexandre Hosokawa The "good economy" mindset is created by us humans. Is it better to have a better economy than a good welfare for the planet? Earth itself does not care about how much our economy gain through consumerism. Money is man made. The planet is not.

Michael Björk But how do we provide welfare without resources? Or labor? When people stop consuming, we have recession and unemployment. So people would have to find another reason to work for others, other than their own self-interest. This sounds very utopian.

+Alexandre Hosokawa If all people lived more minimalist lives, then we have no need for creating so much stuff, which means so much less work to do. In a sane society, this would probably translate to less time working for all, or a guaranteed minimum standard of living, but if the structure of our society didn't change, then perhaps 'recession and unemployment' could be a problem. Increases in technical efficiency and automation pose similar threats to our current system anyway. It would be nice if this were a simple choice for individuals (libertarian ideal), however, when people chose to consume excessively, it has significant negative impact on the lives of everything else that inhabits the earth.

I also gather strength and comfort from my Sailor Jupiter figures and plushies

Sailor Uranus for me, so bold and cool. I know I'll get around to watching it sometime! ;v;

l a m e .

youd be in the same seat you are now.. only leaning on the other cheek

stuck in the negaburst...

Who needs a watch in modern times

Nobody does, but then again did anyone ever really need one? I was just using the same example he used in the video.

Planned obsolescence is not itself materialism, but it helps foster materialism. "Buying one well-made watch that will last your whole life (or at least a very long time) *IS STILL* materialism." Maybe, but you need _some_ material objects to function in modern society. Perhaps a watch is unnecessary in this day and age, but it's pretty much impossible to find employment if you don't have a phone, some kind of device to access the internet, and a permanent address.

So everyone using material objects to meet their needs and survive are materialists? If so, the term is meaningless, it applies to everyone. Mirriam-Webster's definition: (n) a doctrine that the only or the highest values or objectives lie in material well-being and in the furtherance of material progress

@@MrBeaux but how does buying something that has better quality not materialism (please reply)

Well said. I love that film too. XD

The more things you own, the more your things own you.

ogogo ogpgpg Fight Club

The best things are not things.

I am not gonna agree more with u pal.

there is no such a immortal things in this universe, but I have immortal unicorn in my mind

"Materialism is horrible for a culture" There are a great many things (literal things) in our culture that both are our culture and perpetuate it, such as books, paintings and especially political treaties such as national constitutions or political landmarks (Parliament House or The White House) You'r using the internet so I presume you bought a PC or smartphone to write your comment which gives you a material connection to the wider culture of the world through the web which has created a really strange detached materialism in the form of data files. I'm sure you save pictures off websites and download movies too, giving yourself a copy of something you like without depriving anyone else of that thing is almost like a transcendent materialism I guess. As the video suggests, we should more value material objects for the philosophical ideas they represent than the objects themselves but from a purely pragmatic view an object only has value so long as its serves a useful purpose. TL;DR: Materialism is not always bad; meaning in the world is more nuanced than that. Also dose data fall under the realm of materialism?

Vincent Tenia Vincent Tenia You wrote a lot, but said absolutely nothing of value and failed to even remotely see my point. When I speak of materialism my very implication is the materialism that is perpetuated today such as: clothes, cars, technology, ect. Yes, some basic level of material items are necessary, but only basic. I have a phone to talk to my friends and to research information, that's all I use it for. I don't download movies, or do anything of that sort. Books, paintings, political treatises are definitely material objects (I myself read books), but very few people would abuse these in a materialistic way, unless of course one has a habit for collecting, but even then, it is bad. To collect books for the sole purpose of collecting them because one enjoys them and it makes one feel whole to buy them, not for the information contained within them to grow as an individual, but for the books themselves, then yes, one becomes a slave them. If one starts buying something because it makes them feel whole, makes them feel normal, then that person is a slave to said object.

Vincent Tenia You have this notion that when one critiques materialism and criticizes people for attaching themselves to material items that I am in effect saying that all material items are bad, but I am not saying that and the fact you failed to see that proves you didn't understand my position to begin with. The very definition of materialism is, "A tendency to consider material possessions and physical comfort as more important than spiritual values." I am not saying having the basic material items is bad, I am saying to use them for their correct purpose and to not attach oneself to them in such a way that if one is deprived that they won't 'feel right'.

My comment was not intended to reply in entirety to your comment only the portion i saw flaw in "Materialism is horrible for culture" is a direct quote from your comment i took issue with as materialism propagates culture see serialised comic books or see Tolkien's hobbit and lord of the rings. You state a bare minimum of materialism is a necessity but i'd hardly say a smart phone is a bare necessity to survive, its literally a luxury item and if you'r not using yours to its fullest potential; that's your choice and i disagree with you're decision to not use its full capabilities on a philosophical level. An aspect of materialism has built our modern world, and while over consumption poses a serious threat to our future as a species I reject your position that materialism is inherently bad. (that i interpreted from your comment and sorry if that's a misinterpretation) I also still don't know if data can be considered to be under to term materialism.

@Bobby Becker don't care about your previous video

We shouldnt care about most peoples opinions in the first place. Most people are boring to me and live dull lives.

People that judge you superficially aren't worth making happy. The people that matter don't need you to impress them with your car and clothes

That's why i wear minimalistic designer clothes...so i don't get approached just because of that versace medusa logo

word, yes !!

you're right. we must recognize that the sun won't be around forever. if we don't limit our sunlight intake soon or it will be too late! it's time we tax solar companies and make them pay for sucking the life out of our dying sun!

More like tax the oil companies. We subsidize them to the tune of half a trillion dollars. Bad troll is bad.

you're right how could i forget them! but also tax the sun for burning up 99% of our solar system's natural hydrogen deposits!

Ivan Boyraz - you have just summed up the western world and its decline - forget the barbarians at the gate as our threat - as Pogo the clown said ! We have met the enemy - US!'

I'm insecure and empty inside but I don't buy anything with the money I've saved. What does that make me? Just cheap? XD

Em183 that just makes you "confused"... I got that shit going on for quite a while now

Of course there is something wrong with a villa and a bugatti but you need to take every factor into consideration to see it. Of course you could say there is nothing wrong in enjoying a bugatti and you would be correct. But is "enjoying a bugatti" all there is to know about a bugatti, is this the whole picture, does it summarize everything there is about a bugatti? Not at all. if I go after your logic, a serial killer who gives a dollar to a homeless every day would be a good thing because he gives a homeless a dollar every day and there is nothing wrong with that. There is definetly something wrong with a bugatti or a villa, it's just not the "enjoy-it" part of them.

A serial killer and a bugatti driver is not a good comparison.

I didn't compare a serial killer to a bugatti driver. I'm sorry, but you missed the whole point of my illustration.

Juperseus I'm not sure even you know what you were trying say there lol and no point was made .

I'm glad i don't care enough to continue this conversation beyond this point.

I agree, but transubstantiation is rediculous, an object may have personal value but not spiritual value. It's a superstitious gimmick.

Indeed

HydrangeaDragon ...thank you for posting this! 😀 i think that this is the video i'd have to call bs on.

How do you do that? I'm not mocking you I genuinely want to understand how you live.

BrenBren Hmann ...there are lots of zero waste minimalist videos on youtube. there is wikihow, lifehacks (website) & youtube which will show you how to repair your stuff. hope this helps!

HydrangeaDragon being materialistic doesn't mean to accumulate ugly furniture, so you can be a pretty materialist and minimalist person anyway.

HydrangeaDragon Of all of the minimalist videos I saw. I didn’t see anything about make-up, fashion or hygienic products. I did find a minimalist talking about swapping normal showers with soap for a “shower rinse.” 😫

😂😂😂😂

Penguin's Piano to survive rather than collect, right? this is the point exactly, that there is a line to be crossed which puts someone on a gluttonous level

But it's not only about you spending your hard earned money. Ofcourse you have a right to do with your money (mostly) what you want. But have you ever thought about how those items were made and if someone had to suffer for them?

The question is: "why did you buy these objects?" If it's to fill an empty void, then there lies the problem with society.

if i was young and recieved a million dollars "loan" from dad i would feel pretty good if you ask me

Sometimes the value of buying an object is simply in the affirmation of your ability to do so. Money is powerful stuff, a kind of magic, both society's acknowledgement of your hard work and society's debt to you. And yet, if you only spend it on things you NEED, it becomes mundane. To affirm your ability to make things happen with the power of money, you need to use it frivolously from time to time. You need to buy something on an impulse, or go to a restaurant and watch other people serve you with their time like you serve with yours at work.

+Maurog That's more of an example of what's wrong with this world. On one hand money should flow to keep the economy standing, but as history has shown, it always gets out of hand because of human greed.

Agreed. It's madness.

Exactly, especially when those items will be out of fashion in a year, and then you'll be bombarded with advertisements to buy the newer, more stylish one.

You have to realize that most of us are wildly uncomfortable with who we are, and while the price tag does indicate an excess, it doesn't necessarily mean it's an excess of greed or arrogance. It can sometimes indicate just how desperately we wish to embody something that we don't see ourselves as having enough of, like the video stated. That doesn't necessarily make much logical sense, and the most practical thing to do would be to find inner peace without all of these things, but it's impractical to assume this is always an option. Objects like these are often more therapeutic and helpful than we give them credit for, and I think that's the essential point of the video. No one wishes to be surrounded by reminders of their biggest character flaws, and a $200 alarm clock may not seem excessive to someone who feels they have sunken into a lifestyle that doesn't represent their ideal self. I think it's a very telling investment that you would spend so much on something like the development of your character, even if it is a flawed attempt.

Yet you have access to a computer.

There already is a very well made channel entirely devoted to that out there, it's called "Internet Comment Etiquette with Erik". Not only provides it consumable content but has trained my sceptical eye to spot the reflections of my third eye gazing into the comments of others, too. Speaking of others, i don't think there ever will be a channel as bouncy on these media, like ever. Dicks out for Hillary 2024, )_)=====D

That is a sad existence indeed

Aaron Cajti Except we're conscious, if nothing truly mattered then we wouldn't be able to experience reality, we'd just be mindless robots following a program.

+Wanda Sykes are we not merely "robots" following a program? Mate, feed, die, repeat. That is human life.

+headcoLd 7 To a point, but we have free-will to make choices and also make "moral" decisions while animals do not.

headcoLd 7 Not quite, we have phenomenal experiences, a robot doesn't. The difference is huge. It's our first-person subjective awareness of reality that's important, we aren't just blindly interacting with each other and our sorroundings.

Eric Yep.

Cough smart phones Cough

Jealousy. They bow to the rich when they meet them. I’ve seen through this kind of low-brow tacky almost bullying person since I was a child. They have strange bot memories that paste spiritual words with no personal substance.

wei1046 how will being less materialistic make you fail.? failure is subjective...my 'success' maybe someone else's failure. eg: i have a degree and im working and saving towards eventually homesteading...to some that might be a failure (from working in academia to 'farming') but to me thats my end game, my success

wei1046 this would all be solved if everyone was made to be born at the bottom: place newborns at third world countries and wait for them to experience success that way....your perspective might change then

For me, I think studying to go in agriculture is not failure, on the contrary it is quite a good target, but good people ends last. Some things like partner, spouse and job chances should not be treated lightly as it is few important things in life, and should hold on. These are also materialistic but not over the board The failure I mentioned is not what others' feel but you yourself, people who that think they did it for the greater good and not themselves often lose the most, as they will trade things that are important in life for the "greater good". So what I meant is zero materialistic will be poor and fail in life in the person's perspective, regretting afterwards for their decisions. No one can judge your term of "failure" and "success".

I would like to add that I greatly appreciate you for choosing "Hip Hip Hurra" of P.S. Krøyer as the last painting at 4:19. It is a personal favorite of mine :)

easy: you decide for yourself, and others decide for themselves.

You are right on the money. It's the great delusion

if an item offers genuine value in your life, than yes.

we project certain value onto objects that don't have any intrinsic meaning based on our cultural upbringing. an object or a space that appears gaudy, flashy or overly luxurious through european eyes might be subtle and the height of sophistication and refinement to, say somebody from persia or china.

The best things are not things

abc123 what's it like in Cuba? (I'm in the US, not sure if that's relevant or not)

abc123 ...i personally like living in a 3rd world country. ...way less chance of getting obese & having to take a bunch of medicine.

Cindy Jones wow you're so ignorant. The Western world is like a f*cking paradise compared to the third world.

Cuba is still a "materialist" country. Non materialist would be Orthodox Christian communities, the Amish, Indigenous people, hippie/farm communes, ect. but I can see why people wouldn't want to live in those places.

The Parasites Of Your Sky who told you that? I live in india , which almost sends 20000 migrants every year to the US . Most of the people who go , go there to earn . It's a better place for those who want to earn . Plenty of smarter people choose to stay because the intense materialism in the US is poisonous to the slightly idealistic Indian . Nonetheless , both places are great .

It drives us to exclude and ignore the suffering masses. That is not good, this isn't the best we can do. We could have a better world, but competitiveness makes it so we just better ourselves.