Whats with all the materialism?

Material belongings can be a positive end to means. For instance... a beautiful home can bring happiness to a family and be functional in helping others (i.e., fostering or adopting children). I don't we should value ourselves by what we have but rather use our possessions to bring value to our lives by helping others... afterall... we can't take it with us, right?

I just wanted to share this idea with all of you. It was very profound for me.

About a year ago I met a man who was a refugee from East Texas. He was smart, principled, moral, and a very hard worker. He had lost everything in Hurricane Rita. He lost his house (which he had built). He lost his new truck, his job, etc... He was living in a hotel and working long hours for a company that sent him all over the state on assignment. He had nothing to his name but a couple of days' worth of clothes that he had bought himself, his shaving kit and a few personal pictures.

I was completely amazed by his attitude. He had no possessions and I thought "how free he must be" from all of the worry of "things".

Flash forward a year. I divorced an abusive and selfish husband after many years together. I was blessed to find a wonderful, supportive, generous and loving man to share my life with. He loves me unconditionally and loves my children as well. We are a family. He, too, has been well-off financially and at a point was quite poor materially. He thinks like I do about materialism and the programmed thought that is broadcast television.

He has had the dream of selling everything and buying a nice-sized yacht and sailing the world for retirement. This is so appealing to us (and to me). The thought of giving up the house and the car and the clothing and the decorations and all of the worry that goes along with daily living sounds so peaceful to me.

I want to have a few pairs of jeans and some shirts and a nice cocktail dress for a night out once in awhile. I wnat my books and my journal. I want to see the world. I don't want to work away the rest of my life to pay for STUFF. I want to LIVE my life and make memories. Because who knows when it's all over? Life is short.

No. To say that material possessions, like a nice house, not only bring about happiness, but are necessary is absurd. Our consumer-oriented society tells us we need these things. Even our conception of subsistence is a social construction. For example, people would freak out if their air conditioner broke because it is seen as an essential part of their lives. In reality, however, it is only a means to comfort, which is also a social construction.

In todays society yes material possessions are important. The reasoning behind this is that we are obsessed with keeping up with the jones. also with how quick that we can get through the day. we are all too busy to step back and see what really matters in life. It falls back to social stratification. It depends on how much power wealth and prestiege that we can portray.

It makes you sick, doesn't it? It has got to be a sickness. I found out it is low self esteem. By owning a lot of 'stuff' they think that it makes them 'count' and be 'somebody.'

Little do they know - and probably will never find out- that when they (or IF they WOULD) get rid of their 'stuff' they would feel so much better about themselves. So FREE!

I know somebody who actually has the heirlooms of two estates (which they should have distributed to the families - chain of inheritance, etc) and it is all packed away in boxes, in storage. Besides that, their house if FULL! Guilt? Not a bit.....Why? Because it just had to belong to THEM and nobody else.

Now they see themselves as more important than the people they were supposed to distribute the heirlooms to, because THEY own the stuff - even if it is wrong. Vicious circle. Not capable of feeling guilt may be part of it.

Materialism will make you disappear as a person. You fade into your own 'stuff.' It owns YOU.

They become more important as one ages. As one gets older they develop physical limitations and decrease in their earning potential. The two combine to cause problems if you have not acquired sufficient resources to take care of yourself and your spouse.

Ever notice an employee at a lumber yard sporting duct tape and tissues instead of a bandage, or an older person at the grocery store only buying cat food? Materialism is only not important when you are young, healthy and have plenty of money.

Important? No. But they are a deep fascination for most of western civilization. I think it's a combination of factors. 1) We are impulsive beings who respond to instant gratification, 2) Many of us have lives that are devoid of meaning and material things can help fill the void for a short period, 3) Advertising and PR reinforce the previous two dynamics - promising to fill the void and praying on your impulsiveness, 4) By our very nature, we are fascinated by new things.

I think that certain possessions mean different things that are all used to be happy. Having a big house means security, and society tells us we need to constantly improve ourselves and surroundings; especially in the USA where "more is better." When it comes to things like expensive clothes and iPods, it all has to do with acceptance, or just wanting to join in. I think my case with owning my iPod is different... I just can't figure other mp3 players out, and I find iPods incredibly easy, but is that just what the Apple store wants the consumer to think or what? Haha

they're important because it gives you a sense of security in most cases, but there are more important thing in life that people should worry about, like enjoying life itself, with the things we already have. Some people want more and more, and they will never be happy.

The marketing techniques of major companies along with various artists have "informed" today's society which color ipod, shoes, cars they should buy, and how important it is to their life to do so.