Materialism and consumerism.

[GrumpyGregry]

Global warming will see to that.

(ducks and goes out for a cycle).

Life will see to that. In the end everybody dies and you have to leave your stuff behind.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

It is hard to comprehend, but the modern life we live now is just another phase in what will become history. I don't think it's luck that humans evolved to be intelligent (I'm not religious BTW). Cavemen were doing the same as us all those years ago - trying to save time and effort by essentially building tools, and then building tools to build bigger tools.

So, out of that comes "leisure" i.e. stuff that we have that isn't essential. Again, there is evidence to show that early Homo Erectus actually built things like musical instruments. We're just building on what they started.

To answer your question, no there is no alternative. If we were forced to live like cavemen again, it would be because of some global catastrophe. But you can't call that an alternative. If a few people wanted to live "off grid" it would be very difficult. We'd soon be arrested for not paying taxes, or for creating a dwelling on national park, or for eating a squirrel. We've come too far for people to actively choose something different.

Doubt anyone has a problem with modern man making music or having leisure. Having to have the very latest bone flute, to replace all the other bone flutes, because a man in a slick bearskin tells you it will complete you, is the issue.

 

[jonny jeez]

You really think so?
I reckon the end is nigh, we are long overdue being wiped out.
We will get malkied by a large asteroid, the climate will become unbearable for humans, or some mutant bacteria will develop and kill us all.
It might be tomorrow, or it might be in 50k years, but it is surely going to happen, and there's nothing that modern technology can do to prevent it.
I think it is quite arrogant for humans to think that they will somehow defy nature and survive as a race forever.

Ah, but ask yourself...why are we so interested in reaching Mars and other planets.

Technology will find us a home, once we have desiccated our current tenancy or been evicted by some mahoosive comet or other.


Some believe this has all happened before, if only on a bacterial level.

Who knows, but yes I do believe that as time goes on and technology allows for almost infinite life expectancy, we shall quickly need to find another home.

We shall become that invading alien, seeking to farm the occupants of another planet ready to flail them for sustenance and to wear their skin for decoration, especially their children, they're the really tasty ones.

Yummy.

Unfortunately we are an arrogant race and we choose our leaders to be especially so.

Blimey, even I'm depressed now.

 

[ayceejay]

Materialism is not all bad it is only when our economy is based on consumerism that alternatives disappear. And when objects like cars and houses and computers become little more than wampum we would be better off with a string of beads.

 

[jonny jeez]

It is hard to comprehend, but the modern life we live now is just another phase in what will become history. I don't think it's luck that humans evolved to be intelligent (I'm not religious BTW). Cavemen were doing the same as us all those years ago - trying to save time and effort by essentially building tools, and then building tools to build bigger tools.

So, out of that comes "leisure" i.e. stuff that we have that isn't essential. Again, there is evidence to show that early Homo Erectus actually built things like musical instruments. We're just building on what they started.

To answer your question, no there is no alternative. If we were forced to live like cavemen again, it would be because of some global catastrophe. But you can't call that an alternative. If a few people wanted to live "off grid" it would be very difficult. We'd soon be arrested for not paying taxes, or for creating a dwelling on national park, or for eating a squirrel. We've come too far for people to actively choose something different.

Evolution may not be luck (it may on the other hand be the very definition of it) but our opportunity to evolve most certainly is.

Some view the goldilocks effect of our planet being just far enough from the sun to be warm but not baked, whilst possessing a mineral core and magnetic shield to repel nasty radiation as a perfect opportunity.

Its just luck.

Scatter enough stars and planets about the place and one of them will surely end up being able to support some form of evolutionary life.

 

[Tin Pot]

We live in a society based on the above and many people criticise the way we live as we use more and more raw materials , although recycling is improving all the time . My question is: " What is the alternative?" Centuries ago, most people just worked just to survive, without any of the pleasures we enjoy today. A small minority had all the privileges and comforts of life while the majority just got by and survived, often, dying young through illness or just being worn out.
Today, most of us can enjoy a life our ancesters would have never imagined and better than the wealthiest had then. This is all because we have become accustomed to acquiring material things to brighten our daily lives.
Can you imagine going back 200 years and living like humans used to then? No thank you.
Personally, I like the way we live now and the things modernism can give me. I understand about the way we also create pollution but humans are working on it and improvement are being made, although " saving the planet" is a ridiculous thing to say as planet earth is not under threat, we are. The earth has at least another 5 billion years to live , until the sun dies out. The earth will go through many climatic changes in that period but I don't believe that humans will survive that long as all species eventually disappear, to be replaced by different species.
So, to come back to my title, " What is the alternative?"

...based on assigning the monopoly on violence to the state

...based on queueing

...based on Christian values

...and so on.

Materialism and Consumerism is merely one angle from which you choose to view the society you live in. It is not the be all and end all of society. As such, all arguments like this are fundamentally flawed.

 

[ufkacbln]

[QUOTE 4462945, member: 259"]Buy a puppy for Christmas and you'll never walk alone.[/QUOTE]

Puppies aren't just for Christmas

 

[Bollo]

Puppies aren't just for Christmas

True. The leftovers make great sandwiches on Boxing Day.

 

[Drago]

...based on assigning the monopoly on violence to the state

...based on queueing

...based on Christian values

...and so on.

Materialism and Consumerism is merely one angle from which you choose to view the society you live in. It is not the be all and end all of society. As such, all arguments like this are fundamentally flawed.

Based on the iPhone lemmings going bonkers every September when the new model arrives. It's bad enough we're raping the planet, but to do so for frivolous sheet like that is just incredible.

 

[snorri]

We should all go back to Izal toilet paper. ..

Yeah! Bring back Izal, I haven't been able to make music with my comb since Izal disappeared off the shelves

 

[gavroche]

...based on assigning the monopoly on violence to the state

...based on queueing

...based on Christian values

...and so on.

Materialism and Consumerism is merely one angle from which you choose to view the society you live in. It is not the be all and end all of society. As such, all arguments like this are fundamentally flawed.

May I suggest you read "History tells us what may happen next with Brexit & Trump." by Tobias Stone. Look it up on internet . I found out about this after posting my thread. I found it interesting and very relevant.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Puppies aren't just for Christmas

If the marketing people have any say in this, Christmas will become continuous and, thus, the dog will stay safe.

 

[ufkacbln]

[QUOTE 4463562, member: 259"][/QUOTE]

Used to come in there thicknesses

Standard,
Light
Yeuch

 

[screenman]

Izal, no fun with piles.

On the note, how do they get poo off of recycled toilet paper?

 

[Markymark]

Money, money, money.