Surplus.

[Champa]

Intresting Swedish made documentry about consumerism in 10 parts on YouTube. I don't agree with with everything in it but it sure is food for thought.

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P1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AEiwOM4fAY
P2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsVgFcsy1vY
P3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hD-IoDf9ts4
P4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ff1nNR4yvPo
P5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oErhE34HRQ
P6
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQWP7P2TIEQ
P7
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11sG7QEloPg
P8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGJyk9J_Mnw
P9
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTRg7NT9bo0
P10
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MfYSPl8ops

[Auditor #9]

Better than Morning Ireland, thanks.

Do you think that wealth and its trappings will become kitschy and unfashionable and that people will begin en masse to go for functionality, efficiency, eco-friendliness and sustainability in their lifestyles? Before they have to, that is. I really don't agree with knocking down civilisation and industry, I'd consider myself in the techno-fixer camp, low-tech as well as high tech but no tech...?

We are building really big houses here now which is ok as long as it's possible to heat them and keep them comfortable but I fear these people will have trouble keeping them warm in the near future. If gas and oil prices rise and you have two older people living in a large newly-built home which is efficient but not efficient enough then they may be in trouble unless they have enough cash put away which they probably have. What if we start rationing gas like they ration toothpaste in Cuba?

[Champa]

Better than Morning Ireland, thanks.

Do you think that wealth and its trappings will become kitschy and unfashionable and that people will begin en masse to go for functionality, efficiency, eco-friendliness and sustainability in their lifestyles? Before they have to, that is. I really don't agree with knocking down civilisation and industry, I'd consider myself in the techno-fixer camp, low-tech as well as high tech but no tech...?

We are building really big houses here now which is ok as long as it's possible to heat them and keep them comfortable but I fear these people will have trouble keeping them warm in the near future. If gas and oil prices rise and you have two older people living in a large newly-built home which is efficient but not efficient enough then they may be in trouble unless they have enough cash put away which they probably have. What if we start rationing gas like they ration toothpaste in Cuba?

As I said I dont agree with everything in it , but it is very clear to see that there is something very wrong in the world and it is not an accident that things have gone the way they have. People are losing everything that makes them human and are empty shells that are trying to fill that emptyness with mass produced consumer junk, that has got to stop or there is no future for humanity. People need to take back their independence from the greedy vermin that thrive on and profit from this rotton system that we all are forced to live in.

[Auditor #9]

Other thread here on the Story of Stuff

New subject in school - 'Stuff: what it is, how it's made, how much energy goes into it, where it goes, who buys it...' Piss children off so much they'd get traumatized in shops.

[theyshootPDsdontthey]

Haven't any of you chaps and lassies heard of these books "The Affluent Society" and "The Theory of the Leisure Classes".

PS I was reading Galbraith on the bus going home one evening to Cabra and this woman (forties, brain, bumps in the right places decides to complement me on my reading matter) as she was leaving the bus. Me scrathes head and thinks why the hell woman could you not strike up a conversation before you got off. Never saw her again.

PPS If you're reading this you know who you are. (It was the 39 bus)

[saratoga]

Better than Morning Ireland, thanks.

Do you think that wealth and its trappings will become kitschy and unfashionable and that people will begin en masse to go for functionality, efficiency, eco-friendliness and sustainability in their lifestyles? Before they have to, that is. I really don't agree with knocking down civilisation and industry, I'd consider myself in the techno-fixer camp, low-tech as well as high tech but no tech...?

We are building really big houses here now which is ok as long as it's possible to heat them and keep them comfortable but I fear these people will have trouble keeping them warm in the near future. If gas and oil prices rise and you have two older people living in a large newly-built home which is efficient but not efficient enough then they may be in trouble unless they have enough cash put away which they probably have. What if we start rationing gas like they ration toothpaste in Cuba?

As I said I dont agree with everything in it , but it is very clear to see that there is something very wrong in the world and it is not an accident that things have gone the way they have. People are losing everything that makes them human and are empty shells that are trying to fill that emptyness with mass produced consumer junk, that has got to stop or there is no future for humanity. People need to take back their independence from the greedy vermin that thrive on and profit from this rotton system that we all are forced to live in.

Oh Christ. Here, go into the Australian outback or a jungle in Africa or some little village in South America, build yourself a shack and start living off wild berries and road kill and see if these 'greedy vermin' who 'force' you to live your life under this 'rotton system' bother to go find you. Moaning little clown. You're moaning about being trapped in a system you've made no effort whatsover to escape from. It'd be quite easy. So go on, Che.

[Ard-Taoiseach]

Champa, while I thank you for posting clickable YouTube links after your embed of the video clip, others are less thoughtful.

Some of us(myself included) cannot see YouTube embeds, only an incomprehensible paragraph of code. I ask you all to not embed YouTube clips and instead post the URL to the relevant clip.

[Mazzy Maz]

The third clip features an oriental lady that is the spitting image of Mary Harney! Check it out.

[Auditor #9]

Haven't any of you chaps and lassies heard of these books "The Affluent Society" and "The Theory of the Leisure Classes".

PS I was reading Galbraith on the bus going home one evening to Cabra and this woman (forties, brain, bumps in the right places decides to complement me on my reading matter) as she was leaving the bus. Me scrathes head and thinks why the hell woman could you not strike up a conversation before you got off. Never saw her again.

PPS If you're reading this you know who you are. (It was the 39 bus)

An economics chick just slipping away like that - that's painful


Great book, The Affluent Society; my attention was first drawn to it in 1989 on reading a review of a green criticism of it called ... The Effluent Society