Give me that

[salinen]

I feel somewhat sorry for people who have been programmed to want. They want and desire and feel a great urge to own stuff. The corporate model is to create buying units out of humans. The use of psychology is ever present in the advertisements.

- if you buy "x" you will be popular.
- if you buy "x" you will be envied.
- if you buy "x" you will satisfy her.
- if you buy "x" you will satisfy him.
- if you buy "x" know one will realize you're not rich.
- if you buy "x" everyone will know that you are rich.
- if you buy "x" you can join the club that spit on you before.

This undercurrent of desire by so many replaces the humanness that I remember from long ago. It's no wonder a war of greed is acceptable in this society.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. The mantra of materialism

I'm glad I've always been fat, ugly, and not very popular, because I found out early on that all of those claims are lies. I feel sorry for those still caught up in materialism, because it is insatiable and can never be satisfied.

You know you've found Real when you are accepted for who you are, no questions asked.

[salinen]

3. With these people

there is no such thing as having enough.

[PDX Bara]

11. UFO

Although also true here, can't say in total honesty that I'm glad I've always been fat, ugly and not very popular. Have been calling myself a UFO for years: ugly, fat and old.

[azoth]

2. Stuff = approval. This is my issue with reality television as well.

It's all about putting your own values/morals/feelings/compulsions aside and going for crowd approval. Same with the "YOU NEED X" marketing strategy.

Creating this constant need for external approval is one reason that the whole push for "family values" and "moral issues" works so well. Nobody really has a fucking clue what *they* think, so they have to seek the approval outside themselves.

[salinen]

5. Programmed to accept

that they are not aware of themselves and must acquire these items as proof that they belong to the club.

[azoth]

7. Absolutely. And isn't it ironic?

Our society is so concerned with the power of the individual, the individual's rights, etc yet almost no one wants to *be* an individual.

"And they'll tell two friends...and they'll tell two friends...and so on...and so on...and so on..."

[linazelle]

4. "if you buy "x" you can join the club that spit on you before"....

This is the one Bushistas fall for. They believe they are part of his "base" when all they are is pawns.

And one more "if": If you buy X you will be happy.

I just saw a Home Depot commercial for a small refrigerator with a sports team logo on it that you can fill with drinks and pour ice on top and pahhhhtay. I wonder how many people who don't NEED a second refrigerator will buy one of these? Lots I bet.

[salinen]

8. So when these automatons

fail to acquire, and are castigated out of the group, the GP gives them a prescription to relieve the nightmare of not belonging. If they cannot achieve the goal, they'd rather be numb.

[linazelle]

9. Well then, it's a good thing they have the pharmaceutical companies

as part of their base too. I just hope none of them needs medical marijuana for their nightmares...on second thought--I hope they do :evilgrin:

[SmokingJacket]

6. Ugh, what a burden to feel that way

Freedom, to me, means owning as little as possible without experiencing pain and serious discomfort.

(I blame the dot com boom, actually. When becoming a Bajillionaire seemed possible to the average person, people began thinking of it as a goal.)

[Mr_Spock]

10. I'm so angry at this nation I don't wanna buy anything.

I have hobbies to keep me busy, but I can't stand the idea of supporting this regime in any way.