Consumeristic and Consumerism -- Perspectives

One wiki-in-progress has "consumeristic" as a metric.

I went down the rabbit hole and found a few thoughtful reads that others here might appreciate. Personally, I'm happy to learn that I have a "productivist" mindset from head to toe. Suits me fine!

https://www.thoughtco.com/consumerist-culture-3026120

https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/consumerism.asp

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20210120-how-the-world-became-consumerist

It definitely goes against every grain of my being.

Myself, I think it is a very shallow lifestyle because there is no connection with people, or the things purchased. A flash in the pan, and then it is on to the next thing. No thank you: I value longevity and loyalty.

I know people would laugh at my 2003 Honda CRV, but I just love that thing. It keeps stuff dry, gets good gas mileage, is four-wheel drive, and reliable. But a few months ago I had to put it in the shop for shocks, so I rented a 2023 Toyota RAV4... that had 3 miles on it. It was nice. I mean real nice. It made it hard to go back to my 2003 car, but I realized, other than the navigational system, it was really no different than my 2003 CRV. Even then, I could buy an aftermarket navigational system for $1200, and my $7000 car would functionally be the same. Then I realized in doing so, I would probably hit a deer on the way to work, making the $1200 spent, useless. I have the money to buy a brand new RAV4, but why spend the money? My car goes back and forth to work just fine.

It's that kind of mindset that has really saved me money over the years.

Yup! I'm a fan of low tech, slow food, second hand, trash picking, reuse of everything, modification of everything.

Looking around this house, there is nothing I see that fits their definition of in style, cutting edge, etc. The articles talk of people who define themselves by having the latest and greatest of everything. I define myself exactly opposite of that.

What is the meaning of "Consumeristic"?

I wonder is "consumeristic" a real word?

From here:

https://permies.com/wiki/207144/Consumeristic-relation-types-heaters-part

Douglas Alpenstock wrote:One wiki-in-progress has "consumeristic" as a metric.

I went down the rabbit hole and found a few thoughtful reads that others here might appreciate. Personally, I'm happy to learn that I have a "productivist" mindset from head to toe. Suits me fine!

https://www.thoughtco.com/consumerist-culture-3026120

https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/consumerism.asp

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20210120-how-the-world-became-consumerist

WE.. MUST.. CONSOOM!

Otherwise the bankers and speculators will starve.. So, please do your part, and buy some plastic imported future garbage today! The economy depends on your participation..

Pearl Sutton wrote:Yup! I'm a fan of low tech, slow food, second hand, trash picking, reuse of everything, modification of everything.

Looking around this house, there is nothing I see that fits their definition of in style, cutting edge, etc. The articles talk of people who define themselves by having the latest and greatest of everything. I define myself exactly opposite of that.

I love trash picking, and dumpster dive every day!

Anne Miller wrote:What is the meaning of "Consumeristic"?

I wonder is "consumeristic" a real word?

Consumer:
: one that consumes: such as
a
: one that utilizes economic goods
Many consumers make purchases on the Internet.
b
: an organism requiring complex organic compounds for food which it obtains by preying on other organisms or by eating particles of organic matter

consumerism:
1
: the theory that an increasing consumption of goods is economically desirable
also : a preoccupation with and an inclination toward the buying of consumer goods
… the contemporary marketplace is shaped solely by the craven needs of lowbrow consumerism … — Thomas Byrne Edsall
2
: the promotion of the consumer's interests

consumeristic:
1
:Exhibiting or supporting consumerism
2
:materialistic; eager to amass material goods.


So I'd say the link you posted uses consumeristic as "information that supports consumers"

That is my seventh circle of hell…

But not so much for my 16 year old daughter.

For her sixteenth birthday we went to the Mall of America, a 1640 mile road trip this summer for us. At the mall she had shopped so hard, with maps?, detailed list and shops to hit as we did so. As she went into HandM to buy some more, I consolidated her 8 bags down to one. Dads do that sort of thing: we fix stuff as we wait outside a store.

She comes
Out, huffs, then puts everything back in eight bags, spreads the hooks of the bags on her forearms, and heads off to shop looking like a tall blonde movie star.

Steve Zoma wrote:For her sixteenth birthday we went to the Mall of America, a 1640 mile road trip...

Lucky kid! When my daughter was 16 we lived half an hour from MOA and I wasn't willing to do that.

Christopher Weeks wrote:

Steve Zoma wrote:For her sixteenth birthday we went to the Mall of America, a 1640 mile road trip...

Lucky kid! When my daughter was 16 we lived half an hour from MOA and I wasn't willing to do that.

Ha ha… they kids were luckier than that even. I budgeting for each one of the three daughters to get $250 in spending money to spend there on whatever they wanted to buy.

I think I created a monster, but now I know what the name of that mister is thanks to this thread.

Shopping is also a circle in the Lower Regions for me, as well. But I have been trained by my culture to think I want to be the kind of person that is able to buy new gew-gaws in shiny attractive packaging. (Even if I know the quality of said purchase is poor!) I am amazed at how often I still get trapped into thinking that I am less of a person for scrounging or waiting to eventually find an item second-hand.

I can't imagine what I would be thinking if I watched any television or had a job outside my home...

Steve Zoma wrote:She comes
Out, huffs, then puts everything back in eight bags, spreads the hooks of the bags on her forearms, and heads off to shop looking like a tall blonde movie star.

Keep your courage, Steve. The need to conform, display, splash status is unstoppable at that age. And yet the values, actions, ways of being you quietly demonstrate have been seeping deep into her subconscious bedrock since forever. When this phase passes, she may surprise you.