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Aviv

- 3 years ago

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Are we completely obsessed with material possessions? Do they mean anything?

An iPhone to match your sneakers? Sneakers to match your vest? Why has this become so important to everyone? If these 'material possessions' are meaningless, why are we driven to buy them and have the latest, newest, coolest, shiniest toys?

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@aviv so we look 'cool.' whateverthehellthatmeans.

Affluenza is one of the things that scares me the most about the future, especially as a parent. We consciously minimize gifts and stuff but our kids are jealous when they are around friends who have more. And those friends are obsessed with their stuff so they talk about it a lot. These are 3 and 4 year olds. what will they grow up to be like?

Often times I think about what it would be like to just get rid of everything I own and see how I can grow out of doing something that extreme. But its hard to break the habits of society and those foundations that have been set in all our lives. We are taught that it's "normal" to own things, and in our own foolishness we let material things define who we are as individuals, instead of letting our own characters and personalities define us.

Being obsessed with excessive material things are like junk food for our psyche, we feel like we are filling ourselves, but in reality it's only empty carbs and we will never be satisfied.

I think it's because people want to feel superior, or to fit in. I mean it's nice to treat yourself once in a while, but honestly, in the long run they won't make you happy.

well, I think that I can be obsessed with material possessions at different times. it's really hard not to be when friends, sisters or brothers are getting this or that--like a new cool car, or the latest technology gadget, or a cool job and I think boo-hoo I wish I had that, and then I start obsessing how to get it. And also think how my life would be better if I had this or that thing. there's just SO much stuff around that it's easy to think about THAT more than to think about things that may, in the end, be less obsessive and possibly more meaningful--like hanging out with friends, talking about stuff and life and just enjoying another's company. I know that sometimes obsessing about stuff gets in the way of hanging out with people, and also is an interesting distraction from hanging out and being with people. I sometimes don't hang out with neighbors because I think I'm not 'good enough' because I don't have cool clothes or have a nice, new car. Silly, I know, but there you have it.

I believe the American population is defenitely obsessed with material possesions. Just look at the youth today. We have ipods and phones. We have new shoes and other electronics that we busy ourselves with. I believe the media plays the largest role in corrupting the minds of everyone into thinking that the more material possesions we have, the more happy and fulfilling our life will be. We will be more important and popular. Just look at the so called "celebrities" that are doing so well. We have Michael Jackson who has totally screwed up his life but he has all the material possesions he could dream of. We have the popular Britney Spears who has gone through rehab or Paris Hilton who has no aspect of reality. These are the so called people that are living the dream. I do believe, on the other hand, that material possesioins are necessary but there should be a balance. There should be a balance between material life and spiritual life. They work together to and should not be separated. But i believe we've become so attached to material things and lost our spiritual beliefs, that things are tumbling down. Just look at the economy or the wars. Recently, i looked at a statistical graph that showed our overall happiness and our GDP. Our GDP has tripled in the graph but our overall happiness has stayed the exact same. I believe we should start moving away from our material possesions and start moving towards spiritual strengthening. I am sure that most of our problems would decline if we started moving toward the goal of balancing spirituality and materialism.

The label 'obsessed' could certainly be applied to many (although certainly not all) of our material possessions - for example I am pretty obsessed with having clothes to leave the house in -_- And yes - they mean a great deal. People are defined to a large extent by their experiences - how many experiences have you had that didn't involve in any way, shape or form, a material possession? Simply put, possessions play a large role (even if we are not consciously aware of it) in our experiences. It follows that as our lives are to an extent defined by our experiences, and our experiences are in many significant ways defined by the materials around us, that our lives are significantly affected and influenced by the material. So yes. Yes they mean quite a lot.

Hm. Often media is what causes us to purchase whatever seems to look good us or gives us the most convenience but that's already way too obvious. Another good point everyone knows is simply because we've grown to adore items through its color, its shininess, the way some things amaze us, and pressures to make us buy things that are based on those exact attention catchers. I don't even think we'll stop obsessing over material possessions because they still exist. People know they do and so why not buy them for whatever? They don't and probably shouldn't mean anything but they still exist and while they are, people will make them supposedly meaningful by grabbing more and more of the unnecessary junk. As hard as we may try, we might never let go of the addiction of getting newer technology into our pockets nor letting go of a desire to get something that fascinates us. Hell, we can't all be Epicureans or Taoists either. We make needs seem less desirable than our wants because other people, big corporations and such, make needs less desirable than our wants. So of course, we’re obsessed and there will be times when we’ll realize we won’t need them but they aren’t going to leave us alone for a long time.

Compared to most of my friends, I am known to be the one lacking materialism in so many ways but I do have a hobby of collecting (buying) sneakers... It started when I was younger of course and lately, hasn't grown as much as I'd like it to but these material possessions certainly do not make me who I am nor am I depended on them. Sneakers are the last things I think about when being stuck on a deserted island and I could easily live without out. Unfortunately, I know of many individuals who could NOT say the same - material possessions absolutely mean nothing to me and never will.

I have what I need, and I like what I have, nothing more nothing less. It wouldn't break me to lose anything. I don't want an iPhone to match my sneakers haha. I think obsession is when we feel the need to have such bizarre possessions. Items like that are meaningless because they are pointless. But I don't thing all material possessions are meaningless, I believe that items mean what you want them to mean to you, they can be useful, symbolic, etc. But really, too much is just too much.

its mainly just a confidence boost in my opinion ..... thrift stores

YES! As I try to reduce the amount of stuff I have, I realize two things. One is that stuff has power over me - it demands care, money, time in various ways, and a place to exist. The other is that I don't think we are at our best when we have more than we need.

Are we completely obsessed with material possessions? YES Do they mean anything? NO

Like some of the people have said already, I think some people define themselves by the material items that they own. They gain a sense of identity or self-worth because they live in a big house or have a fancy car. I think people who do that are insecure on some level. I mean...who cares where you live and what car you drive! On the other hand, there are people who like to have nice things just for the sake of enjoyment. So I think the desire for material items depends on the intention. There is nothing wrong in wanting to have an Ipod, for example. But if you want the Ipod just to show off...then that is messed up. Ultimately, material items are toys...they mean nothing. Of course, I think the obsession with material items is more true here in the West because for the most part, we all have the basic necessities of life. I have lived in other parts of the world where water coming out of the faucet wasn't always a guarantee.

yes we are completely obsessed with materialism, in an unending pursuit of contentment.....but things will never keep us content for long. The basics; food, shelter, safety, love and peace are easier to attain but we make it more difficult.

Its simple, we North Americans don't suffer enough.

I think material possessions are sending a message of winning, for those things and when those things are lost, then the message becomes losers. Winning and losing are in competition to strived for the reality of pleasure. This is where the obsession with material possessions means a paradigm shift. Then a since of arrogance begins to set in.

Depends how you define "material possessions" if your talking about clothes, cell phone, shoes, etc then the meaning they have is image. Your image can tell a lot about who you are to other people since we can't read minds. (if we could I think the world would be utopia) For example when you see a homeless man with piss stained shoes and a tore up jacket he is putting out the image of "i have no money to buy better stuff" But if you walk around with Gucci shoes, $1000 dollar suit, and a gold watch then that shows you come from/have money, and that maybe your a little too obsessed with your image to a point that is unhealthy. Then there are the sterotype images. Such as punk, emo, scene, skater, nerd, blah blah blah the list goes on. So yes they do mean a little something. Image. Image gives a hint of who you are as a person.

So material possessions indicate status. I've noticed that many of those who are extremely wealthy choose not to show it with flashy labels, whereas those of a lower status strive to carry gaudy objects and high-end brands. And then there are those who are completely obsessed with material possessions that it's ridiculous. To me these people exude insecurity. On the other hand I don't think there is anything wrong with being materialistic or enjoying items of high quality. It is natural for people who work hard to desire a physical object that will re-pay them for their work. I enjoy wearing and having certain material possessions because of what they do for me: they make me feel better about myself. If I look good, I feel good. Although some people have material possessions for other, others, like me, do it for themselves. Also, people are naturally attracted to aesthetically pleasing things, whether these things are clothes or cell phones, so it's not surprising that they purchase these things when they can to make themselves happier, and is happiness not the ultimate goal? Is it wrong to purchase a material possession if it means it'll make its buyer happier, even if this happiness is evanescent? Some of us are completely obsessed with material obsessions. Do they mean anything? To tsome people, absolutely.

@Aviv Portland, OR

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Aviv

Are we completely obsessed with material possessions? Do they mean anything?

DanielPotashov

@aviv so we look 'cool.' whateverthehellthatmeans.

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jshunt25

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Being obsessed with excessive material things are like junk food for our psyche, we feel like we are filling ourselves, but in reality it's only empty carbs and we will never be satisfied.

ironyofmylife

I think it's because people want to feel superior, or to fit in. I mean it's nice to treat yourself once in a while, but honestly, in the long run they won't make you happy.

ilikefrenchtoast

ILIKEPANCAKES

Skippy

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rob2says2u

its mainly just a confidence boost in my opinion ..... thrift stores

Billass

YES! As I try to reduce the amount of stuff I have, I realize two things. One is that stuff has power over me - it demands care, money, time in various ways, and a place to exist. The other is that I don't think we are at our best when we have more than we need.

Amanda

Are we completely obsessed with material possessions? YES Do they mean anything? NO

HappyLotus

susantroche

yes we are completely obsessed with materialism, in an unending pursuit of contentment.....but things will never keep us content for long. The basics; food, shelter, safety, love and peace are easier to attain but we make it more difficult.

Jones

Its simple, we North Americans don't suffer enough.

licplat

kylerrr

WhippedCream

Are we completely obsessed with material possessions? Do they mean anything?

@aviv so we look 'cool.' whateverthehellthatmeans.

Being obsessed with excessive material things are like junk food for our psyche, we feel like we are filling ourselves, but in reality it's only empty carbs and we will never be satisfied.

I think it's because people want to feel superior, or to fit in. I mean it's nice to treat yourself once in a while, but honestly, in the long run they won't make you happy.

its mainly just a confidence boost in my opinion ..... thrift stores

YES! As I try to reduce the amount of stuff I have, I realize two things. One is that stuff has power over me - it demands care, money, time in various ways, and a place to exist. The other is that I don't think we are at our best when we have more than we need.

Are we completely obsessed with material possessions? YES Do they mean anything? NO

yes we are completely obsessed with materialism, in an unending pursuit of contentment.....but things will never keep us content for long. The basics; food, shelter, safety, love and peace are easier to attain but we make it more difficult.

Its simple, we North Americans don't suffer enough.

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