materialism. . . what part do you like?

[Milpool]

The minimalist thread inspired me to wonder why I own some of the crap I own, and how it serves a purpose.

Do you have these material objects (shoes, clothes, furniture, kitchen items, etc) because shopping for them is fulfilling somehow? Because you enjoy looking at them? Because you enjoy using them? Because you enjoy impressing others with them?

For me, I do enjoy using some of them, now that I have them. I pretty regularly have a bourbon on the rocks in a nice heavy lead crystal glass. I like having comfortable sheets. I enjoy using a nice knife to prepare meals. I wear the hell out of my nice shoes. So on.

 

[Classically]

Personally, I like the fetishism of commodities and never ending fleeting moments of satisfaction. At least I can ignore my deeper issues that way in a healthy manner.

 

[Christobevii3]

I buy material objects that are above and beyond in quality. I get really annoyed by stuff that is disposable anymore. It seems that Chinese steel is my biggest hate. Anything made with it is just garbage. This is what basically got me looking into knives/straight razors. So now I have a full set of water stones, 3 straight razors, and three different forged knives are now en route.

 

[Dedalus]

There was a dichotomy posed in the other thread between materials and experience, that people who spend money on experiences are happier. But I think materials can offer an experience, or an ability to communicate with friends who are thousands of miles away in an instant. I suppose satisfaction lies more in whether the materialism is for its own sake.

 

[Piobaire]

Originally Posted by Dedalus

There was a dichotomy posed in the other thread between materials and experience, that people who spend money on experiences are happier. But I think materials can offer an experience, or an ability to communicate with friends who are thousands of miles away in an instant. I suppose satisfaction lies more in whether the materialism is for its own sake.

This is very well put. Owning things just to own them is rather pointless and shallow. Some things provide pleasure in the owning, be it a comfy chair, a vehicle that makes you happy to drive, or a book that gives pleasure with each reading.

 

[APK]

Being the OP in the minimalism thread, I suppose it's only fair I plunk down my two cents here.

I side more with the modern day minimalist now, but I'll never be in a mindset where I don't still own a fair number of things. I discussed this in the minimalism thread, but I own quite a few things of personal value because of the use/enjoyment I get from them. That includes my cookware, iPhone, favorite movies and books, computer, and clothes.

Where materialism starts to become an issue, as others have said here, is when it exists only for the sake of gaining. This happens for a variety of reasons. Some people need to own the newest gadgets, trendy clothes, etc. Some people get a thrill from the acquisition experience. Some love the pursuit of the next tangible acquisition.

It's not my spot to question the purpose of someone else's buying habits. But I'll say a lot of these cases seem to be tied to the pursuit of happiness. In lieu of greater meaning in their life, a person attempts to fill the void with more things. An ex of mine came from a family that was allegedly always in financial trouble. But her mom was always buying new things for the house, new clothes, etc. She had credit cards from virtually any store she'd ever been in. The family could have probably been pretty well off were it not for the mom's need to acquire.

The years I was around the family, I got the impression that a lot of this behavior stemmed from her mom's fairly shallow existence. She was a good person, but she didn't have many interests. She didn't read. She didn't watch movies for any reason other than to be distracted for 90 minutes. She didn't exercise. She didn't travel. She didn't cook, even though she was a great one when she got off her ass. She didn't seem to care much about anything other than buying new patio furniture sets and binging on junk food all night.

 

[Big Pun]

I like nice clothing because I want to look good, I am a narcisissist. I've noticed if I buy multiple things at once I never appreciate them as much as single items.

 

[darkdream]

I live in Socal- home to extreme materialism... I try not to be materialistic, but its almost inevitable. I am not trying to impress others, if anything I tend buy things that are not flashy, but high quality (excluding my car, but that is hard to get away with). I just like well hand things and these days you seem like you have to pay for quality.