Comments on: Less stuff http://www.wisemandarine.com/less-stuff/ none the wiser Mon, 13 Oct 2008 09:04:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: mandarine » Blog Archive » The ‘why’ meme http://www.wisemandarine.com/less-stuff/#comment-8831 mandarine » Blog Archive » The ‘why’ meme Tue, 12 Feb 2008 15:23:24 +0000 http://www.wisemandarine.com/less-stuff/#comment-8831 [...] job, whatever the job. But as I have said, it is quite certain that the world does not need more stuff, so I have to be really careful about what good it does the world if I work more at what I do. For [...] […] job, whatever the job. But as I have said, it is quite certain that the world does not need more stuff, so I have to be really careful about what good it does the world if I work more at what I do. For […]

]]> By: mandarine http://www.wisemandarine.com/less-stuff/#comment-8578 mandarine Wed, 12 Dec 2007 06:32:57 +0000 http://www.wisemandarine.com/less-stuff/#comment-8578 Advertising and consumer-society somehow play the same role as Louis XIV's sumptuous court: to keep the people (resp. noblemen) envious and tame. Advertising and consumer-society somehow play the same role as Louis XIV’s sumptuous court: to keep the people (resp. noblemen) envious and tame.

]]> By: healingmagichands http://www.wisemandarine.com/less-stuff/#comment-8573 healingmagichands Wed, 12 Dec 2007 02:37:09 +0000 http://www.wisemandarine.com/less-stuff/#comment-8573 I have one purse. I have never understood why it is necessary to have more than one. I know women who have 50 pairs of shoes and a purse to match every pair. How do they stay organized? Oh, one lady told me she has a purse that has all her necessary stuff in it that fits INSIDE her purses, she just transfers that from accessory purse to accessory purse. Now that takes that cake in my book for completely useless consumption. I have one purse. I have never understood why it is necessary to have more than one. I know women who have 50 pairs of shoes and a purse to match every pair. How do they stay organized? Oh, one lady told me she has a purse that has all her necessary stuff in it that fits INSIDE her purses, she just transfers that from accessory purse to accessory purse. Now that takes that cake in my book for completely useless consumption.

]]> By: healingmagichands http://www.wisemandarine.com/less-stuff/#comment-8572 healingmagichands Wed, 12 Dec 2007 02:34:34 +0000 http://www.wisemandarine.com/less-stuff/#comment-8572 I have not watched this yet, but I will. However, I will just say that I have not been to a mall in over two years. I HATE shopping. I am not a shopper, I am a buyer. I have a list, I go to the store where I know I will find what I want, I get it, pay for it and leave. If I can do it on-line without going to a store, even better. I have not watched this yet, but I will. However, I will just say that I have not been to a mall in over two years. I HATE shopping. I am not a shopper, I am a buyer. I have a list, I go to the store where I know I will find what I want, I get it, pay for it and leave. If I can do it on-line without going to a store, even better.

]]> By: mandarine http://www.wisemandarine.com/less-stuff/#comment-8564 mandarine Mon, 10 Dec 2007 20:29:59 +0000 http://www.wisemandarine.com/less-stuff/#comment-8564 Becky: at least those that are officially disposable do not pretend they are made to last. The goods I hate the most are those flimsy kid's toys which come with tons of packaging and which fail after a month. One day, they will have to have a label: "keep away from children; store in a cool, dry, dark, inaccessible place; after opening, use within two weeks; highly toxic - do NOT dump". Smithereens: books are an exception. They are not stuff like the rest. Did you see that <a href="http://ma-tvideo.france2.fr/video/iLyROoaftI6h.html" rel="nofollow">commercial</a> some years ago in which they parodied an infomercial selling a book as if it was any miracle mop or car wax: they were glorifying all the physical characteristics of the book (the washable cover, the format, the smoothness of the paper), and not the content. I found this a very convincing arguments that books are not consumer goods. Becky: at least those that are officially disposable do not pretend they are made to last. The goods I hate the most are those flimsy kid’s toys which come with tons of packaging and which fail after a month. One day, they will have to have a label: “keep away from children; store in a cool, dry, dark, inaccessible place; after opening, use within two weeks; highly toxic - do NOT dump”.

Smithereens: books are an exception. They are not stuff like the rest. Did you see that commercial some years ago in which they parodied an infomercial selling a book as if it was any miracle mop or car wax: they were glorifying all the physical characteristics of the book (the washable cover, the format, the smoothness of the paper), and not the content. I found this a very convincing arguments that books are not consumer goods.

]]> By: Smithereens http://www.wisemandarine.com/less-stuff/#comment-8561 Smithereens Mon, 10 Dec 2007 10:34:01 +0000 http://www.wisemandarine.com/less-stuff/#comment-8561 It was a great movie. I'm getting used to go to shopping malls without actually buying stuff. I can't really deprive myself of looking at the colorful, glossy, brand-new stuff in the windows, but I know that buying one will not make the same impression when I'll be home. On the Less stuff subject, I'm gearing up for Less Books next year. Tough. Even tougher than Less Handbags. It was a great movie. I’m getting used to go to shopping malls without actually buying stuff. I can’t really deprive myself of looking at the colorful, glossy, brand-new stuff in the windows, but I know that buying one will not make the same impression when I’ll be home. On the Less stuff subject, I’m gearing up for Less Books next year. Tough. Even tougher than Less Handbags.

]]> By: Becky http://www.wisemandarine.com/less-stuff/#comment-8555 Becky Sun, 09 Dec 2007 02:59:08 +0000 http://www.wisemandarine.com/less-stuff/#comment-8555 I am infuriated by the way goods are intended to be disposable. I don't want disposable, I want things to last. I am infuriated by the way goods are intended to be disposable. I don’t want disposable, I want things to last.

]]> By: mandarine http://www.wisemandarine.com/less-stuff/#comment-8550 mandarine Fri, 07 Dec 2007 21:50:08 +0000 http://www.wisemandarine.com/less-stuff/#comment-8550 I have been shopophobic for years, so it's no big deal for me. Now I have an excuse for not buying anything for christmas. I have been shopophobic for years, so it’s no big deal for me. Now I have an excuse for not buying anything for christmas.

]]> By: Charlotte http://www.wisemandarine.com/less-stuff/#comment-8549 Charlotte Fri, 07 Dec 2007 21:40:02 +0000 http://www.wisemandarine.com/less-stuff/#comment-8549 I found the section on shopping especially fascinating - how it is designed to be glossy, appealing and keep you coming back for more. Keep Out of the Shops needs to be my mantra for 2008. I found the section on shopping especially fascinating - how it is designed to be glossy, appealing and keep you coming back for more. Keep Out of the Shops needs to be my mantra for 2008.

]]>