why are people so materialistic?

Unfortunately we grow up with magazines, tv and other ads in our face with things that you "need" and "want" I don't think that people realize that being materialistic IS a bad thing. It damages our environment when people keep on buying unnecessary things. I try to buy all of my clothing used you can find things that are just as cute as in the store but cheaper! Even doing your nails damages our planet these little things of things you "need" or things to look good damages our planet and I'm sorry to say but materialistic people are very selfish and when the land fills fill up and our planet is warming up faster and faster they will have no one to blame but themselves.

Our nation basically promotes it. What someone has is used as a measure of someone's success and for image reasons, and these are things that people judge you by. If you don't have an iPod or iPhone as a teenager, you're not "normal" for your age. If you don't have a car, your own place, a decent-paying job, nice clothes, etc, by your late 20s, no one considers you successful and, thus, they look down on you, won't date you, etc. And then you think about the media--everyone there is materialistic or hyping something material. That leads others to look at these people on tv, in mags, in sports, etc, and feel that they live better lives than us because they have XYZ...they have all this money, they look better than you do in this commercial for this product or those clothes, etc. I'd say materialism is popular because of a relative few companies that decided that brainwashing everyone into "needing" this or that to be somebody will make them (the companies) some money. And it just spread from there.

People are not materialistic, but they don't know it. Every contact with others teaches you to be. From parents, family, teachers, Radio, TV, newspapers, magazines. They all say: "How much?", do you earn. save, spend, and "How much" on your children. See that is separate. Your children must get more than those in the neighborhood, city, state and even the world. You have been taught that material well being is heaven, utopia, the best. False, I'll teach you the contrary, the less the better. Unlearning a falsehood.

Peace.

Because we live in a individualistic country where we promote competition to be the best out of everyone else in sports, careers, schools, families, media, retails, country, you name it! And to be the best we must have the most money, the best job title, the Rolls-Royce, the Penthouse, the supercuts, and the best Chuck Norris abs. People can never be satisfy with what they already have, because there is always someone out there that will have it better and that just boils your bloods until you have that same thing.

this question actually has been in my mind for some time...its hard to explain...the spirituality of ours says that we shudnt be but its our nature to be materialistic .

still searching for the reason...

it is human nature...if all of your physical needs are met...food, water, etc...then you naturally want more and more. the only people who aren't materialistic are people that cannot afford to eat...because they only care about getting their next meal...not about stuff

I really believe that not all people are materialistic, I guess its just in some peoples nature to always want more. Wen u always get wat u want u want more, but wen ur not so spoilt u ar content with wat u have.

Material=Want

Want=Ambition

Ambition=Dreams

Dreams=Goal

Goal=Path of life

Path of life=Material

I hope u get it ^_^

because there shallow and not spiritually connected to the universe.

i don't like the idea, but it helps build social status, in american society anyways