GO! See the Story of Stuff.
May 9th, 2008 by angesbiz
Just the other night while I was setting up a new site (I’m excited!!) which I will let you into shortly, I was following my twitters (I believe twitter is banned in Dubai so I grabbed a screenshot) when this site grabbed my attention.
This image will take you to the Story of Stuff site where you can watch a fast paced 20 minute very informative and educational interactive movie about consumerism and why we buy stuff and where it all goes when we are done with it, or not. Watch and see what I mean. Then tell me what makes you purchase the stuff you do and if you have to keep up with the Jones’ and why?
What a brilliant video Ange. Watched it all the way through but was slightly irked all the way through by her very ‘Gap’ like outfit.
Unfortunately I am the person she is talking about. Completely.
I am materialistic and consume simply to make me ‘happy’.
But the thing is, I’m not ‘happy’ and recently I’ve been trying to look at why. Part of it is the immense pressure to consume and to buy new products and to make money in order to buy these new products.
I recently read a book called ‘How to be Free’ by Tom Hodgkinson, and it really is very good. He address’s why we boother to go to work, why so much of consumer culture is crap and whether there might a better, freer, happier way to live our lives.
And there really is, it’s slightly idealistic but it is possible.
The question is whether I am completely willing to change my whole life in pursuit of happiness.
The parts in my life that do make me happy have absolutely nothing to do with consumerism so perhaps that’s the answer.
Hey Lib… yes, her outfit did seem very GAPish, all the same, the message is important. I used to be materialistic and wanted all the new stuff there was coming out. I have for about one year now only bought a very limited amount of new clothes and haven’t replaced ones that I have thrown out! It feels very empowering to know that I don’t have to have the latest and greatest. I tend to spend my money on self education and challenges which I will write about shortly too.
Good for you to recognise the things that DO make you happy… that’s the first step I guess to perhaps making a change. Only you know what is right for you so you go girl… be happy
Buzzing with Ange’s last blog post..I Love You
Cool post Ange,
A MAC you say - we’ve bought a MAC and still struggle to write blog posts on it as effectively as we do on windows - did you find the same initially?
Consumerism helps express who we are - or does it express who we aren’t - deep down?
We’re reading up on 2012 here at the Spa and one theory is that we’re being brain washed everytime we sit at a computer with subliminal messages and sounds to brain wash us into consuming more of the same - same with TV and advertising - ways of brainwashing the masses…when we left Dubai our wardrobe looked plan and empty despite being ‘ full’ of clothes. The book recommends wearing a crystal to protect yourself from the electromagnetic junk and the messages we aren’t evolved enough to tune into….Buy, sell, buy, sell - CONSUME.
Flowers of course don’t count
Consume, consume and consume and like Lib we do for the same reasons.
This one book is allegedly ‘chanelled’ from the Syrian High Council (working on a different energy level) to the author who also reveal what the New Order of Mother Earth know about life on the moon (under it - lost civilisations) and on Mars (same - same) and that the likes of Macchu Picchu / Giza were formed by these higher beings way back before the lost civilisation of Atlantis (hence the Atlantic ocean) went under.
Not wanting to hijack this post Ange bought thought it was relevant down to consumerism = control = sheep like behaviour.
So much info floating about here that we’re reading it all with an open mind.
Lib your answer will reasonate with loads of people and hats (designer ones for weddings
) off to you for writing what you did.
Right, time for more reading.
SEND FLOWERS PEOPLE
USE CODE GSTF00 FOR DISCOUNT AND SEND FLOWERS.
SEND HEAPS OF FLOWERS… it’s Mother’s Day here this weekend so I better get hubby onto the site quicksmart!!
Now… to your comment… totally agree with the sheep mentality. It seems more important to keep up with the “Jones” than really taking care of your own needs. I know with the kids the pressure is on for what their peers have… especially school age kids. As I said in reply to Lib’s comment, I haven’t bought many new clothes at all over the last 12 months and I feel liberated really. I seem to be wearing the same thing all the time and even when I did have heaps of clothes in the wardrobe, I still seemed to go for the same kind of outfits so no point buying new ones.
The scary thing is that the rubbish is burned and all the toxins are polluting the air. It seems that no matter what we do to help keep ourselves free of toxins, we still get them when we breath. We have been sabotaged as there is no escape. Doing your detox thing is a great idea… although, 10 days is a very long detox
2012… there are many schools of thought on what that actually means. My favourite theory comes from the Celestine Prophecy when they talked about the Mayans “crossing over” and that’s why they disappeared. I imagine that they crossed over to a peaceful place without the daily grind of todays society. Now that would be excellent if that is the case. Others say that it will be a time of a great depression so to stock up on food and water and other resources…. who knows what it will bring and if we need to be that prepared!! Only time will tell and I will be interested in hearing more about your book.
… and finally my MacBook Pro… what a delight after having my HP notebook for only eighteen months and it’s already giving me grief… I have adjusted well I guess having never used a Mac before now. Still learning about it as I go and figuring out where to put everything… files and folders etc… it’s only one week old, lol!
… now what was that code again?
Buzzing with Ange’s last blog post..I Love You
One other theory is while we all consume and drown due to more floods and devastation (Burma?) in 2012 our ‘leaders’ of the New Order and Government are….
Any guesses?
Living on the Moon amongst a lost civilisation - why do the government CONSUME billions $ on visiting a useless wasteland?
Bwwaaa aaa aaa - REAL evil laughs.
Baaaaaa!
(Ok the detox is kicking in)
That’s right Jim… I think it’s time for us to purchase a spaceship and dock it at Sir Richard Branson’s space station. The other alternative is to go underground… lots of planning ahead
Buzzing with Ange’s last blog post..I Love You
The book gives that as either option BUT does say underground in the lost civilisations of Mars!
Star trek technology of beaming us up maybe possible oneday….
Life, Jim BUT not as we know it.
I am the lest most consumer driven person on the planet…
truly you have no idea..
I dont buy the latest toys for the kids….
never have… no psp’s, Ps3 Wii etc…….
They do not get a mobile phone until 12yrs old at the very earliest..
I dont have an Ipod or Mps player, have never used one of those memory sticks,
I still get up to change the channel on the tv…
Christ I dont even own a microwave….
Next month I am however with any luck going to the big smoke.. heheheheh.. to by a food processor… hehehehhe..
I dont like shopping much unless it is for a purpose…. and window shopping on line bored me to peices….
So there you have it…
That’s so cool Aussie… a household without a microwave!! Well, you’re only missing out on the radiation that is unhealthy so more power to you to do without!
I bet that food processor will be used for making cocktails more than food… what do you think?
Buzzing with Ange’s last blog post..I Love You
Oh I wish…
I love cocktails but it is almost another life time ago…
Brandies and Vodka mixed with lime and Lemonade or soda these days if I am lucky… or a nice cold beer..
The funny thing I had a microwave about 18months ago just a cheapie it stopped working and I never saw the point in another…
I have a few things I would like for the kitchen the food processor, a pasta maker (you know the roller thingy) thats about it for the moment.. I make my own pasta now but roll it by hand… to make ravioli etc.. but its get annoying… and the processer just because its so much easier…. thats my total of consumerism….
Hubby wanted a big screen TV the plasma ones… but he thought about it and said I dont watch TV now so what would I do with it…. Bathurst would be about all the value he would out of it… heheheheheh…. so thats no going to happen…
Thanks heaps for your cheers I do appreciate it …
excellent video..gonna share this with everyone..
Nur Sarah Lam’s last blog post..Dear Readers..
So glad you liked it Nur Sarah Lam. It’s a message that needs to spread so that would be great for you to pass it along
Buzzing with Ange’s last blog post..I Love You
It is true..Very informative indeed and interesting..I like the whole concept, I like the way they tell the story and with the right illustrations, hardly anyone doesn’t understand what they are trying to say..Can just call me Sarah anyway..
Nur Sarah Lam’s last blog post..The Story of Stuff