Has the invention of consumer capitalism made the world a better place? What do we have to show for it?
Walls, war, and warming. Business as usual will only get us more of these.
It is time to try something different, but the profit-based competitive system will not give up easily. That makes it even more imperative for us serfs to get up, stand up, and keep up the fight.
R's For A New World
Rethink.
Refuse.
Resist.
Rebel.
Revolution.
I hope for a simple living revolution that sees maximalism replaced by minimalism. And hate replaced with love. Dominion replaced with stewardship. Shackles replaced with wings. Poisons replaced with Nature's perfection.
No walls. No wars. No warming.
Couldn't agree more, a simple message and such an easy to shiver goal, in theory. People just need to open up, accept reality and choose a happy life, happy for all.
ReplyDelete*easy to achieve.
DeleteRob,
DeleteOur brains have been highjacked. We don't know what makes up happy any more. Or don't feel we have the time for those things since the system keeps us busy in order to make us less likely to fight back. Or question things. Or seek the truth. Too tired. Too caught up in the illusion.
All we need to do is say no to the hijackers, like we all seemingly have here. Reject their 'entertainment', their systems and structures. Make our own.
DeleteRob,
DeleteYes, we have done that, haven't we? It feels good having made that decision, and it feels good to have others around who have done the same. I am very thankful for this community right here. We are making our own by recovering things that work, but have been lost in the haze of money and consumer fog. Recover - another good R-word.
Reject is another one. To alter the Walt Whitman quote a bit, "Re-examine all that you have been told... REJECT (he says 'dismiss') that which insults your soul."
DeleteNot that heard before (maybe I've lived under a rock?) but I like that a lot!
DeleteWar and walls aren't necessarily part of consumerism and go back to the beginning of the slave societies and the commodification of sentient beings, you need walls to demarcate what animals you own. The Soviet Union also had problems with pollution. Consummerism is way of keeping populations happy and the more desirable you can make your product the more money you get back. There's not a huge amount of money in potatoes, but there is in fast food. Computer games years ago were not particularly addictive, but now there are so engineered that sleep deprivation in UK children is a huge problem. Inner contradictions mostly make protest unmeaningful for example the leader of the Green party took part in a anti fracking protest, but consumes dairy which causes more warming and destruction than fracking.
ReplyDeleteA deep change in consciousness is needed to work things that involve most of the planet giving up a lot of these contradictions. Revolutions are a product of the slave system as the masters will be overthrown and the new aggrieved will take over. The Chinese communist party spends a lot of money on state control to stop the their downfall.
Revolutions are like a drug addicts ritualistic attempts at recovery and is framed by the slave system. True recovery is deeper and requires a change of consciousness.
Peace,
Alex
Interesting points Alex. Thanks for giving me something to ponder.
DeleteInteresting points, especially about video games. I used to be a keen gamer, even ran a blog about it. I still play some second hand bits lent from friends etc. from time to time, may have to look into these negative effects before playing anymore!
DeletePeople spend a fortune on games and media content. Despite the positive spin the industry puts out, people only use limited attention that is mainly centred on the visual cortex. It's a great way to waste time, but the brain thinks it's in a amazing virtual world. The dopamine system is used to keep players completing tasks and the algorithms used are similar to gambling. That's why people go into a slight dreamy state until they achieve their goal that is symbolised by musical effect or change of pace. The games trick the mind, a player can be great at martial arts, but will never experience the flow achieved with thousands of hours of real practice. Companies only spend this much on a product unless they think the returns are high, look at the price of a new game which is essentially a DVD with some data on. Learning how to install Arch Linux is more rewarding than any game, but takes real cognitive power.
DeletePeace
Alex
I'm not sure about that. I've played with my grandson a few times, but get very bored after a few minutes and am only able to continue for a few more until I feel a little crazy and refuse to continue. Nothing about the games can keep me interested and I find all the post apocalyptic games too dark and sinister. My two boys did video games, but were never as obsessed as the current generation and aren't interested in playing now at all (in their 30's). There has to be more to it and it seems more of an age thing. Of course, this is the generation that doesn't go out to play much because of fear. They stay glued to their smart phones even when walking off a cliff. And their parents are too tired and frazzled to pay them much attention after a long day working to pay for their grown up toys and junk. The world is starting to resemble a video game only I can't refuse to continue to play the life game since it's the only game in town.
DeleteFor sure computer games are not obviously addictive, but can be problematic for some. The brain will take time to be hooked on it and people who would rather escape for everyday life are more at risk. The global market is worth almost 100 billion dollars and this link gives a good market breakdown https://ukie.org.uk/research
DeleteThe market wants to keep increasing revenue and consumers groups are asking for more protection from initially free games that then require in game purchases to progress, players have been known to get into serious debt due this sales strategy. No doubt lots of people enjoy games without ill effect, but you can notice tricks the companies use to hook people in and an interesting question is why would people spend so much money on a activity that is so unproductive? Ideally the big corporations would like to link the games to their closed source 'eco systems' along with the players credit card and normalise spending money in the 'eco system'.
Games are not bad in them selves and are a creative medium.
Of course this is just my view.
Peace,
Alex
Alex - Linda and I were talking about "Recovery" as another good R-word for right now. We weren't sure if it would go before Revolution, or after. Maybe replace Revolution with Recovery. If no political systems are currently working, how do we resolve that? Anarchism seems like a viable alternative. "Self-governed societies based on voluntary institutions" sounds good. Bigger than that, we certainly do need to change consciousness, but how if we can't even get people to pick up after their dogs?
DeleteMarla - good to see you posting. Hope all is well.
Rob - There was a time I played a video game. It was very time consuming, and life is short, so I gave the game and system away. What weirded me out was that for a year or two afterwards I experienced flashbacks, or spontaneous memories of places and situations in the game. It bothered me that me memories of real life (whatever that is), were being displaced by virtual life memories. Eventually they ceased altogether, to my relief. I think they are a potentially dangerous diversion, and I can't see ever playing again.
Deva - "The world is starting to resemble a video game only I can't refuse to continue to play the life game since it's the only game in town." Yes, and unfortunately it resembles a dystopian, apocalyptic game. We desperately need a new game. One without violence, which has largely been normalized today by video games and war on the news. There is a lot of fear in the world right now, which is not conducive to peacefulness. Living more simply sure does help, though. It re-programmes the game, making it more gentle and kind. That's my game.
Alex, you ask the million dollar question, which could be asked about so much of consumer society - "Why would people spend so much money on a activity that is so unproductive?" Yup, there it is.
Thanks Marla.
ReplyDeleteAlex
Here are some interesting articles on the dyamanics games designers use:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.scotsman.com/news/how-computer-game-firms-use-tricks-to-keep-players-hooked-1-837151
https://www.techopedia.com/2/27749/personal-tech/5-psychological-tricks-video-games-use-to-keep-you-playing
http://www.cracked.com/article_18461_5-creepy-ways-video-games-are-trying-to-get-you-addicted.html
Alex
Alex,
DeleteI will look up those links, as I am sure they will be fascinating. I have read about how programmers rig slot machines in casinos so that people will get so addicted some where diapers so they don't have to leave the machines for toilet breaks. I wonder if there are special diapers for video game addicts? Ha, Ha, but not really a humorous situation when you look at it. We need to get everyone hooked on Nature. And kindness. Compassion. Peace.
Thanks for the links, will read these this evening and look forward to it.
Delete