Wanna know how we got into this mess? I'll show you.

[MercutioATC]

This isn't a comprehensive dissertation, just an example of what's wrong with our level of consumerism and why it got us where we are.

I used to use THIS product as an example:



It's dental floss prepackaged on a plastic holder. People actually BUY a product that costs more and adds to landfill junk because it's apparently suddenly too difficult to wrap a piece of dental floss around one's finger. HORRIBLE consumerism excess.


Recently, however, I've discovered a better illustration:



It's an air freshener with both a timer and motion sensor built in. Forget the fact that our nose smelling things is an evolved survival mechanism that feeds us information about our environment, making the whole idea of air fresheners pretty stupid...

...it's a friggin' can of air freshener that needs batteries so it can both spray stuff into the air when nobody is around AND give an extra spray when it senses that somebody IS around.

...and people regularly buy these products without seeing the slightest thing silly about them.


THAT'S why we're where we are...because we spend (on average) 102%-103% of our income buying stupid things that we "need" and we see nothing wrong with it.

[crim son]

1. Hear, hear!

Saw an ad for the air-freshener w/motion sensor and thought WHAT THE F***???

[Hassin Bin Sober]

2. Thanks, Andy Rooney.

Isn't it time to soak your hemorrhoids?

[MercutioATC]

3. Geez, that WAS Rooneyesque, wasn't it?

That man DID occasionally make a lot of sense, though.

[blm]

31. you did it better, though....

.

[queenofcups]

70. Or you could at least engage the issue for 30 seconds

before throwing it on the trash heap before going out for some more battery-operated air freshener.

Sheesh. Do you have any idea of the environmental impact of our throw-away culture?!

[aikoaiko]

4. Floss picks are great.

It's a pick and a floss string.

[rurallib]

5. My wife cannot use floss in a normal way and these are a godsend.

[MercutioATC]

6. Ok, I gotta hear this. "Cannot use floss in a normal way"?

I'm not doubting you, I'm just curious as to how this is possible.

I'd also like to make clear that I realize there are a small number of people for whom specialized products are necessary...but these products are consumed by the general population, and that consumption is the issue to which I'm speaking.

[rurallib]

13. OK

When our second daughter was born she had a brain anuerysm break and had bleeding in the pontine region of her brain. Basically she had a stroke at age 29. Many things were affected by this. Major weakness on her left side was one one effect.
While she has made remarkable recovery in many respects, the left side, especially the left hat is very weak. She has little grip at all with that hand. Thanks to those little picks, she is able to take care of her dental needs. There is no fucking way (she has tried and tried) she can use dental floss in a normal way.
Our second daughter will be 29 in a few days. Her birthday is a day of joy and real sadness both. My wife came within a few seconds of death since one of the functions of the pons is to regulate breathing. When it was damaged her breathing stopped.
So make fun of those little picks. It sure helps one disabled lady feel human every day and has for about 30 years.

[MercutioATC]

15. As I said, I realize that a very limited number of people have specialized needs.

That doesn't make their purchase responsible consumerism for 99% of the population.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

20. I figured as much:

MercutioATC < (1000+ posts)[br />

15. I don't drive an SUV. I drive a car that gets SUV-like mileage (17MPG).
I don't NEED, to...I WANT to. It's luxurious and scary fast and it's a joy to drive.

I also recycle and do responsible things with my thermostat and have CF bulbs in my house and don't use ChemLawn like my neighbors do and use fans instead of air conditioning, etc.......but I love to drive.

Singling out SUVs is just silly, IMO.

we all have our vices...:eyes:

[jgraz]

23. Oh DAYUM.

Merc, I'm sympathetic to your OP, but Dude? You just got PWND.

:rofl:

[Lex]

27. Glass houses and rocks.

Never a good combo.

Ouch.

[jgraz]

29. I think the moral is that we're all filthy hypocrites when it comes to the environment

My favorite is when I get lectured by a vegan with three kids.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

32. I like it when my friends with two homes give me shit for my SUV...

... and then ask to borrow my SUV to haul shit up to their second home.:crazy:

[truedelphi]

40. I think I know that vegan.

And those three kids are brats, too!

[MercutioATC]

36. Did I ever state that I was exempt from this mindset?

I didn't make a moral judgment or call it "wrong", I stated an opinion.

Why are some people so eager to place blame instead of evaluating a concept?

[Tangerine LaBamba]

57. How do people do things like this?

I mean, did you remember this post?

Or do you have an index of every DU post ever?

I am always totally amazed when this happens, but in this case, it's such a clear-cut case of spitting up in the air and having it land in your face.

Very few things are this beautiful. Perfection, really.

Thank you so much.

:yourock:

[MercutioATC]

62. If you read the OP again, I clearly said "we".

Is there a particular reason you're so defensive about this?

I illustrated an issue that WE are participants in.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

63. Get a grip, cupcake .......

First, my post wasn't about you, you self-involved dimwit.

Second, my post wasn't addressed to you, you self-involved dimwit.

Third, I was asking the poster who showed you up for the incalculable hypocrite that you are how s/he managed to dig up that fatal comment of yours about your car.

Fourth, your OP was nonsense. You clearly have too much time on your hands.

Fifth, go look up "defensive," and attempt to learn what it means. Your use of it here underlines what a dimwit you are.

Sixth, maybe you, but I want no part of any group to which you belong, so stuff that "WE" crap.

Seventh, does this sound defensive, you self-involved dimwit?

[MercutioATC]

65. Glad you're back to being a rude twit.

There's something to be said for consistency.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

71. What you inaccurately and impotently

call "rude" was a simple statement of facts.

Refute them.

Right................

[rurallib]

34. bye

[Hassin Bin Sober]

7. My elderly parents both used them because their arthritis made rolling string difficult.

I used to keep them in the car for emergencies when I was on the road a lot.

[Sebastian Doyle]

17. Ok, but why not buy one "permanent" floss holder thingy

instead of the disposables. I know they exist, because I have one. Though I'll be damned if I remember where, exactly I got it from, so I can't speak to how widely available they are.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

21. Why buy disposable floss? Why not launder it on a rock down by the river and re-use it?

:)

[Sebastian Doyle]

22. Floss doesn't take up a lot of room in the landfill

It probably biodegrades, even. (Though I haven't tested it, so don't quote me on that)

[Hassin Bin Sober]

25. Dental floss is either a bundle of thin nylon filaments or a plastic (teflon or polyethylene) ribbon

[Tangerine LaBamba]

58. Because,

if your hands aren't working properly, you can't thread the thing.

I got hit with an autoimmune disorder that left me unable to do a whole lot of things, and using floss was one of them. I couldn't even grasp the container, and the idea of being able to hold the floss tightly enough to be able to cut it was laughable.

So those picks were vital for me.

I know it's hard to imagine that someone can't do the simplest things, but, believe me, now that I'm back to normal, I don't even take the ability to stand up and walk for granted. Flossing is sheer joy .......................

[SoCalNative]

8. Plus they're much easier to carry with you

than a pack of floss. I doubt people buy these to use at home.

[MercutioATC]

11. That's exactly what I'm talking about.

I'm sure that an umbrella with an iPod built into it would make it "easier" to listen to music while walking in the rain...but is is responsible consumerism?

[EndersDame]

60. My Brother does.

He is a lazy sob

[Jane Austin]

9. It's good that your mouth is apparently big enough

and your hands small enough that you can floss your back teeth with regular floss wrapped around your fingers.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

10. Our government works the same way. Except it spends our money on the junk it buys.

And/or borrows it from China. Which we still have to pay.

Although I'd much rather they spend it on dental floss rather than things that kill.

[Kadie]

12. Uh oh. I guess I made a boo-boo. I have one of those air freshener's.

Mine doesn't spray every 30 minutes. Only when someone walks past, and it will not respray within 30 minutes. I am sorry, but I do not have the time to run and get the air freshener every time one of my stinky kids is done with the bathroom. My nose doesn't need to be in tune with all the odors left behind. This works for now.

There are some things I splurge on, for convenience, and many things I don't.

Guess I am on the naughty wasteful list for the day.



:spank:


:7

[Hassin Bin Sober]

33. My boyfriend buys those. I can't stand when he has them turned up high so I...

...constantly change the settings to low.

[truedelphi]

41. Unless you can afford the more natural and organic versions

That only emit pure citrus or pure lavendar, the things you are using are emitting some level of formaldehyde and/or benzene into the air.

Google the Words "ccancer risk" and Benzene

Or "cancer risk" and Formaldehyde

Then decide if maybe people smelling a fart or two once in a while might not be better. Plus it's cheaper as well.

[anonymous171]

14. My favorite is "Spreadable Butter" nt

[Cleita]

16. I have to use the above type of dental floss because my arthritic hands

cramp into spasms with the spool type. However, the one I use has a handle that you attach the floss to so it's reusable. The actual used floss with frame is much smaller than the one you pictured. Quite honestly our small use of those medical items is nothing compared to the medical, plastic debris thrown away in hospitals every day.

[MercutioATC]

19. So you have a valid need. That's not what I'm addressing.

If healthy people suddenly started going into debt to buy motorized wheelchairs because it was "easier" to get around that way, THAT would better parallel the type of rampant consumerism I'm talking about.

It wouldn't mean that nobody needed a motorized wheelchair.

[sweetpotato]

18. When I had hand surgery

I really enjoyed the pre-threaded floss holders. There was no way I could floss my teeth with one hand. The right one was in a cast from my fingers to my elbow.

I don't buy them anymore, but they sure came in handy (so to speak).

[mrbarber]

24. Thanks for the lecture.

I'm sure if we looked through your purchases we could snort and chuckle at things we considered wasteful.


Edit: And you drive a gas guzzling vehicle? And want to preach to other people? That's rich.

[MercutioATC]

37. No "lecture", no judgement...it's an observation.

It's interesting that so many people view it as some sort of attack, though.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

26. what about those disposable toilet brushes. People are so wasteful!

[Kalyke]

28. Actually I buy the picks because the floss doesn't get stuck in

my teeth as easily as regular floss does.

My teeth are veryclosetogether and I have difficulty flossing with regular floss.

But, I get your point.

[tblue37]

50. How funny--you and I both use the floss picks for the same reason--and

we both have a sunflower avatar. Maybe we are separated-at-birth twins!

[StrongBad]

30. How do you know the people buying these things can't afford it?

I don't judge people on what they like to buy as long as they can afford them and don't put it on credit.

[Fire1]

35. We see thousands of unnecessary items advertised daily,

most of which is a racket that keeps you coming back for more or feeds money to another industry or makes some other idiot rich.x(

[glitch]

38. That and the trillions siphoned out of our economy by looters.

Not to imply in any way that I support consumerism.

We had a fork in our road in 1980, "we" chose plastic crap and suvs over sustainable development, leading directly to our being in a state vulnerable enough to be easy pickings for predators.

[swilton]

39. I would put the micro-wave oven at the top of that list

The best thing it does is pop corn....

Furthermore it has gotten us away from wholesome and natural food and into the instant fast-food loaded with chemical additives.

[drmeow]

54. Boiling water

:D

I use my microwave mostly to re-heat home made natural leftovers, pop popcorn, and boil stuff. Takes less energy than heating the oven or using an electric stove.

[HughBeaumont]

42. Actually, if you can stand the length, Liz Warren offers a better explanation.

Hint: it's not creature comforts, it's necessities and the fact that our wages haven't caught up with the cost of them in 30 years (hmmmmm, who was president then . .. around about when the real looting started . . . hmmmmmm . . .).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akVL7QY0S8A

[Donnachaidh]

43. think that's bad? Try this *Comfort Wipe* advertisement

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crfGXmxJ1vM

This is a REAL product. And if I ever find one of these in a home of one of my friends, I will have to keep myself from slapping them upside the head.

[AllieB]

47. OMFG.

:rofl:

[tblue37]

52. I watched the commercial. It looks to me like something

intended for people who are physically unable to take care of their own, um, "wiping needs" because of physical/medical problems. As such, it problably is a useful product. The commercial even mentions that the point is for people to retain their dignity while taking care of their own personal hygiene needs.

Unless your friends are physically handicapped in some way that would make such a product helpful or even essential, I doubt you will find it in their homes.

[drmeow]

55. At least its not a

disposable comfort wipe!

[Rex]

44. We went too far when a once single 'brand' of toilet paper now has

35 different 'types' of ass wipe! Charmin extra soft? How bout charmin with aloe vera? Charmin double plus thickness!

[Vickers]

45. My kids use the floss thingies.

Fuck it, I'd dump used oil right into the storm drain to get them to floss.

[kath]

46. What about spending money on manicures, pedicures and fake nails -

how freakin' hard is it to put polish on your own nails? Or how about using your own pair of $2 tweezers to pluck out extra hairs to groom your own damn eyebrows?

And disposable one-use toilet brushes? Jeebus H. Christ. Cleaning products are a major, MAJOR rip-off, in general.

[AllieB]

48. Agree with you about the cleaning products. Vinegar and baking soda are the best.

They cleanse better than any of the nasty chemical crap.

However, I do go to a cheap place to get a mani/pedi every two months ($25 for both). It's one of my few indulgences.

[kath]

53. At least you realize that it's an indulgence, and not something you need. And you have only a few

of them, and presumably if money got tight that would be something you would cut. Where people get into trouble is when a significant portion of their income goes to such "extras" and they end up not saving, or even worse, end up spending more than they earn. (and don't many women do the mani/pedi thing more frequently, so their yearly $$ outlay would be much more than yours? I'm so totally NOT a girly-girl that I have no freakin' idee! :-) )

We don't buy any of the disposable-type cleaning products, but when I look at the sheer number of various cleaning products we have (though probably fewer than most households), I'm thinking of transitioning to more vinegar and baking soda and the more environmentally-friendly cleaners. Already keep a big jug of white vinegar next to the washing machine for soaking stinky things in - works well at getting out odors.

I clip coupons, and notice that the vast majority of the coupons in the paper are for cleaning products and "new" personal hygiene products - expensive butt-wipes, etc. Makes you think about how incredibly high the mark-up must be on these things. And how successful they are at marketing total bullshit to us!

[bertman]

67. Yeah, but if the tweezers slip while you're trying to do the one-handed plastic floss dealie

and the tweezers jam into your eyeball, then you're gonna have to get a new bionic plastic eyeball that's got all kind of space-age chemicals in it that's not recyclable.

You gotta think these things through all the way before you make a critical life decision like that, kath.

[tblue37]

49. I have to use floss picks. My teeth are so close together that

if I use floss wrapped around my finger, it won't go be sure to down between my teeth. Sometimes the floss shreds and breaks off between my teeth. Sometimes the force I must use cuts my gums or even the finger the floss is wrapped around. Until I found floss picks I had given up on flossing my teeth at all!

[Tangerine LaBamba]

59. Like you,

my teeth are very tightly packed in there. So flossing is vital, and I always had trouble getting floss all the way down to the gum line.

But, my dentist gave me a sample of this, and I've used it ever since. It's PERFECT!

http://www.medshopexpress.com/120703.html

[tblue37]

64. I used to be able to buy extra-fine floss, but the stores around here don't even stock it any more.

Maybe I could find it online--Oh, wait! I see you provided a link for me to do just that. Thanks!

[leftstreet]

51. So our stagnating wages aren't the cause of this mess?

It's because we all have tons and tons of money but we blow it on $2.00 items?

This IS news.

[JI7]

56. Bottled Water

[tabbycat31]

61. yes what a waste

About a year and a half ago on Democracy Now, I heard an interview that Amy did about bottled watter. SOmeone set up an experiment in an upscale Beverly Hills restaurant and offered various waters for $7/serving. The name of the waters was "tap water" in various languages, and came from the hose behind the restaurant. Customers bought it.

[Yavin4]

66. I Don't Drive A Car, But I Do Use Floss Picks

No one who drives a car should ever lecture anyone else about the environment.

[bertman]

68. MercutioATC, this is a noble attempt you have made at making us THINK about our

purchases. I applaud your effort.

I bought a mega-pak of those floss thingies when I tore my rotator cuff. Now they are languishing in my all-purpose catchall drawer in the bath vanity. Considering how valuable they are I'm thinking about putting them on eBay. Or donating them to the local homeless shelter.

[bertman]

69. MercutioATC, this is a noble attempt you have made at making us THINK about our

purchases. I applaud your effort.

I bought a mega-pak of those floss thingies when I tore my rotator cuff. Now they are languishing in my all-purpose catchall drawer in the bath vanity. Considering how valuable they are I'm thinking about putting them on eBay. Or donating them to the local homeless shelter.