Friend says, "Consumerism is USELESS!"

A friend blindsided me the other day with this. He's somewhat of an 'activist' for change... and this day I could tell he was just tired; maybe a little angry but completely exhausted.

He needed to let off some steam so I listened to his rant on how he was fed up and thought that "consumerism is so useless!"

On some levels I might agree, but I don't think he was looking at things with a balanced perspective.... here's what I had to say in sharing this anecdote:

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I don't think that consumerism is useless. It's purpose is to support the structure of the current so-called "western" way of life; to support the "economy." If what I understand about the undertones of what you're saying is correct, then it's obvious you're feeling that the "uselessness" of consumerism is in the knowledge that the support of the current infrastructure in no way or shape exists to serve humanity as much as it goes to serve positions of power for certain individuals.

(He agreed)....

This is an issue I've been very vocal about lately. More times than I remember this subject somehow seems to 'come up' when I'm talking with people lately, usually related to my business, (I have a TV repair shop for those who don't know) and usually these people are my customers. Any day of the week I'll be asked something like, "What is the best new TV to buy?" My answer will usually be something like this: I'll talk about the different technologies of flat screen and projection TVs available on the market, my "expert" view as a "technician" in my experience repairing these sets (as to which makes/technologies have the poorest or the best repair histories,) explain all the details that the customer wants explained, which can include topics such as life span, quality, versatility, country of origin, and quite often detailed technical explanations of "how" the sets work.... I try to answer whatever questions I can that have been posed, and beyond....

Where the kicker lies is when I also go on to add that I repair quite a few of the older sets and older electronics, and in fact, the demand to have the old stuff fixed is gaining demand. I talk about the quality of the older things and quite often, try to dissuade the customer from buying "new." This invariably leads to an emotionally evocative discussion about how the quality of "new" things has gone down so much; in some cases has come an unveiling of how they (my customer) really feels about this and how they are 'trapped'!

These discussions are usually the highlight of my day because I get to connect with the way people really feel. I imply to them that I am simply 'another cog in the machine'... I'm here to fix your stuff because that's my self-appointed and self-chosen profession because I can do that. I can't think of one time someone hasn't identified with that! I once had someone say right before I left their house, "You are a really interesting person!" I kind of laughed modestly and told them "I just talk about the way I see things."

What I'm seeing is that on some levels people are aware of what's going on - how the system is set up and how it is failing so many.... and even from what I've seen there is a repression of this feeling of frustration and feeling of being trapped and not knowing how to escape... so when a real living breathing and seemingly 'sensible' someone comes along willing to discuss the matters--- out come the feelings.

The infrastructure will collapse on its own, don't worry about that-- (on an aside I feel down sometimes too, sometimes I get mad... but it's because I see others 'trapped' and not knowing what to do, and wanting better for them) the biggest difference will come when people start to face their positions and look at how they can do things differently... and eventually when the infrastructure does collapse you might be there to give them a few ideas?

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He was happy to have discussed it- we actually talked about quite a bit more but that's the real 'meat' there. I may not 'like it' but I can see it from both sides. The sharing of my 'anecdotal' experience was to illustrate even I have to be 'practical' in my life to make a living, even if its to serve those powers that I don't agree with. I think that individual independent thinking and discussion can really be that start to some of the biggest social change.

So ultimately, Yes, it isn't 'useless' as it does have a purpose.... but what is that exactly?

That's how I see it.