CBS's Overwhelmed by Choices story.

[cornermouse]

I disagree.

We're not overwhelmed by choices. We're continually bombarded and overwhelmed by greed; stone cold, rock hard, grasping and agressive greed. No matter where you go, what you do, which direction you turn, someone is trying to get their hand in your billfold or purse.

Want or need to go shopping? Try a one stop shopping megastore and save time and money...Not. After you spend the time and energy walking 5 miles or more trying to find the objects that you need the most only to discover that they have deliberately placed those objects at the back and far ends of the store, you realize that the entire store is nothing more than the check-out counter with its last minute spending experience magnified to an unbelievable scale. At the end of the experience, you're somewhere between tired and exhausted, frustrated at having to choose between taking up time standing in a long line or taking your chances at the do-it-yourself checkout machine, annoyed and irritated by the commercials running on the tvs that they have suspended from the ceiling, and generally speaking, totally out of sorts otherwise known as crabby. That's when they surprise you with the self-given gift of reaching into your bank account and taking the money out via electronic means right on the spot. Even knowing that you have the money in the bank there's something rather offensive about that. I usually stop at those stores the first time only. Once out in the car, you realize this has NOT been a pleasant experience and usually taken as an overall purchase, prices aren't much cheaper any way.

Want money after banking hours? No problem, but its going to cost you not just the money that you withdraw but the fees associated with it. In the past you didn't get the money out, didn't go out to spend and the next morning still had the money after last night's impulse to spend had cooled. And how about those debit cards... They look like another invitation to accidentally bust your budget.

Maybe its the enhanced ability that the Bush administration has gifted all these corporations with, maybe its just the feeling that we're surrounded by a mob of people trying to get our money and I can't speak for anyone else, but I think its time to consider returning to doing things the old fashioned way, shopping at smaller stores, making access to money less easy and less immediate, just living life slower and cheaper. I'm tired of being surrounded by constant and excessive greed.

:rant:

[IsItJustMe]

1. There is a word for what you are talking about: Simplification

When I grew up there were three channels on TV and you couldn't get two of them half the time. You had to create your own fun. For me this meant riding my bike, fishing or going for a hike.

Now I have over a hundred channels and nothing is really ever on. A million different distractions to indulge in, but I think I would be happier if life were more simple.

A decision I guess we all have to make in one way or another.

[cornermouse]

2. Yep and with warm weather coming on, I'm going to be making it.

Although not to the extent that Thoreau briefly went to.

[malaise]

3. Well there is something called control

and focus. They can show a million ads on TV and in stores - if I enter for five items, I'm coming out with only those five. I don't own a credit card and put just enough money in my current account which is linked to my debit card. The corporations and mega-corporations can be as greedy as they like but as long as I remain clear about needs versus wants, they won't be getting my money.

If we show our kids that two trips a week per year to fast food restaurants work out to three airline tickets for a nice vacation, several car payments, or useful techi stuff, they catch on fast as well.

If the corporate media can't brainwash me re their version of the truth, why should their advertisers do any better.

The bottom line is they only succeed if we let them and I'm impermeable.
Edit -changed word.

[lanlady]

4. it's why Costco has been so successful

especially with male shoppers: you want a toaster, they offer one model of toaster, not a dozen. You need underwear, your choice is white or dark colored. Men especially have no patience with too many choices, whereas we women are more tolerant because we like to shop.

[TreasonousBastard]

6. That's a problem, too...

because it limits your choices to what the retailer thinks you want. Or what's best for the retailer.

If I want, say, a particular saw blade, there used to be a dozen places that carried saw blades-- each with a different selection and I usually knew the place that had what I wanted. If they didn't, they could often order it.

But, now there's Home Despot and just a couple of others, and I'm stuck with what they stock. So, I'm ordering online if I really need it (and paying more after spending more time online looking for it than a trip to the store would take) and there's no old guy to talk to who knows more about saw blades than I ever need to know.

[Katherine Brengle]

5. I am soooo with you on this one--

I was in BJs Wholesale Club a week or so ago (buying spaghetti and pasta sauce) and I just stopped in the middle of one of the massive aisles and looked around me and this wave of disgust just swept over me.

I like my "stuff" just as much as anyone else, until I am away from home for a few days or sick and AT home and realize that I don't really need most of it. On any given day I use my computer, some small portion of my wardrobe, and a towel... add food and the means to prepare and serve it... my books, but not most of them, just the important ones, which number maybe 20 or 30 total.

This rampant consumerism is really starting to wear me down...