Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Immaterial Materialism

Recently I've been thinking about the current trend towards consumerism in society. I wasn't thinking so much about how, or even why, but more on it's value. Within our current society, Capitilism has taken a firm hold. This is no secret. While there is no firm definition of Capitalism, one of it's important aspects is profit in the marketplace. Nowadays, this has led to an 'anything for profit' mentality.

Some people will be up in arms, pointing to the Ronald McDonald house charity, or one of the numerous other big corporations doing charitable things, assumably at there own expense. However, every year, McDonalds has a McHappy month, in which they say they'll give $1 from each big Mac to the Ronald McDonald house charity. All well and good, but the number of big macs sold in this month can double or even triple, because of people looking to help charity, while still getting something for themselves. Ask yourself, have you even chosen one brand over another, not because of price or quality, but because you have heard of the good things the company does? I know I have.

Now you're expecting me to say something like "And this is horrible because..." But I won't play that game, yet. We've all heard it before. Instead I'm going to direct your attention to something that I have been thinking on. I call it Immaterial Materialism, and for simplicities sake, I'll treat it as real. Basically, some people get sick of prices, and whatever, and decide to give up things. Most do this sensibly, and give up all but the bare essentials, and 1 or 2 comfort items. Others however, take it to the extreme. They live with nothing but the barest of essentials. Clothes and a little bit of food and water. Many don't start like this, but slowly 'achieve' it. Bit by bit they sell, or give away they're 'useless' objects. Towards the end, they either give away thier money, or buy things with it to give away. I would assume that, like inversing materialism, every time they give an object away, they feel a sense of accomplishment. This is dangerous, as eventually they sell their home, or worse give it away, meaning they live on the street, or in the wild.

Everything has an opposite. Happy and sad, black and white, Theism and Atheism. This was my interpretation of the opposite of materialism. I'm yet to see evidence for its existance, though I am fairly sure it does. As it stands, materialism is on the up and up, and belief in people is dropping. Eventually, if this trend continues (assuming I'm correct in my assumption), people won't even notice each other anymore. They'll be aware of their existance, but other then that stuff is what matters, not each other. Just watch the movie Wall-E. Points it out perfectly.

Until next time - fui fides tantum in testimonium.

4 comments:

  1. CARPET BOMBING... LAMB POWER!!!

    you little liars do nothing but antagonize...

    and you try to eliminate all the dreams and hopes of humanity...

    but you LOST...

    THE DEATH OF ATH*ISM - SCIENTIFIC PROOF OF GOD

    http://engforum.pravda.ru/showthread.php?t=280780

    Einstein puts the final nail in the coffin of atheism...

    *************************************

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7vpw4AH8QQ

    *************************************

    atheists deny their own life element...

    LIGHT OR DEATH, ATHEISTS?

    ********************************
    ***************************LIGHT*********
    ************************************
    LIGHT

    ReplyDelete
  2. Well, I must comment on the previous comment.

    1. There is 0 scientific proof of God.
    2. I am not trying to eliminate anyone's hope. I am trying simply to live my life. I have (nor has any atheist I know) never tried to convince someone there wasn't a god. We simply believe there isn't.
    3. Are you suggesting in an antagonizing comment that religious people never antagonize people? Irony.
    4. I still have yet to see Einstein put the final nail in the coffin of atheism.
    5. What life element?

    Now, I know whoever posted this is a troll and has no balls to debate peacefully, so I'll leave it at that.

    Wouldn't want to antagonize anyone.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks.

    Also, it should be pointed out for future reference, nobody cares if Einstein believed in God. Good for him if he did. It's not like atheists tend to believe in God just because Einstein did. Guess what? Newton believed in God too. So do billions of other people. You know what? Still doesn't make it true. Just makes it a widely-held belief. Nothing more.

    Scientific fact makes things true. Not personal belief.

    ReplyDelete