Growing up I loved watching TV. It was a form to escape reality, to picture one self as a character of your favorite TV show or celebrity or athlete. Unaware of the damage that was leaking into my mind by the fantasy of movie stars, athletes, fame and glam, materialism and riches.
I slowly but surely was convinced that be happy or be consider successful by society at large and my closest peers was that I somehow, someway I had to accomplish to live in among the prestigious communities, drive a fleet of luxury cars and wear designer shoes and clothing.
I wasted years dreaming and chasing these so called "Things" that are suppose to make one happy, only to find out that I was a lied too from Satan TV Stations.
Better Not Count On Materialism.
I like a nice house, condo and car. Nothing is inherently evil about that. Who desires to live in a rundown apartement with roaches and rats, low class, loud and dirty neighbors? And a drive a old car that's in its last legs that at any moment can fail you right in the middle of a busy intersection?
Moreover, I believe in My heart of hearts that those people who purchase 5 million dollars mansion, condos and $300,000 fast cars really don't desire those things at all. They just buy it to be admired, easy access to attract and sex whores, have their egos stroke and fed and be envy by those who can't come even close to having those things. I never owned a Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bentely and Roy Royce, but I have driven them. I can truly testify those cars aren't all that. They look real nice, but nothing really special. At the end of the day it gets you from point A to point B like manner of a Honda and Toyota.
Do You Really Need All That?
I remember one particular episode on a hit series in the early to mid 2000's on MTV that was called MTV "Crips" where celebrities and star athletes show case their house, cars, shoes and clothing etc. This episode in particular was Moriah Carry showing her lifestyle. Her overall house was standard like most people that have millions of dollars, but her closet wasn't. It was drastically over the top with dresses and shoes. I recall she literally had to put polaroid pictures on the outside of the shoe boxes, for her to cut time to figure out what pair of shoes was in each box without having to open it. She estimated that she had about 2,000 pair shoes in her closet. I think just by her daily trying to figure out what pair of shoes she wants to wear must be torture in itself alone. Not counting the dresses. Lol.
Wanna Be Happy? Give Me Your Money Fool!
Turn on the TV and flip through channels and watch a commercial, there is a man or woman excited and smiling telling you that you "Need" the latest phone, computer, TV, car, sofa and dining room table etc. I'm not against buying products, but I am against stupidity and greed. If your IPhone 7, computer, TV and your furniture is still in great condition, why go and buy another one? Marketers and companies prey and feed off your stupidity and greed. Many Americans are up to the neck with debt. Because they and have been bamboozled to think that having more stuff to hoard somehow translates to happiness. When nothing could be further from the truth!
Cool Friends. Happy Times!
Driving a Mercedes Benz and wearing a $2,000 Rolex has no insintric vaule. It's a just a brand and a famous name that morons worship as a god. What has insintric value is being around great, loving, kind and hilarious people. People that can make you laugh til your stomach hurts and tears come out your eyes. People that you can create fond and lasting memories of going to the beach together, going to the movie theatre together to enjoy a good movie, eating at Denny's @ 2:00 AM, watching sports together, playing games like poker, billiards, video games or just chilling at a bond fire talking about the craziness of life and sharing how each of your individual lives are crap and cracking jokes about each other.
Let's Stay In Bed Babe.
Being with the one you admire, trust and love and being loved back equally, what more can you ask for? Picture a stormy, cloudy day laying in a comfortable warm bed with her your wife or husband talking about life and future plans. Cuddling and kissing with passion and tenderness. Holding hands and falling asleep together in each other's arms. Later, waking up to a sensual love making session while hearing the rain outside. Then just laying there flipping through channels to see what' on TV while eating a hot steamy pizza delivery from Pizza Hut. What a great experience to experience over and over with your significant other!💖
Conclusion.
Life is all about the simple things that we foolishly take for granted daily like our health, food, relationships and shelter. And finding a job or career that you enjoy weather it pays 18k or 100k a year. It took me years to wake up out of the maze I was trapped me. Believing that wealth and cars was My ticket to happiness. I realized it was all a lie that I was being fed by TV, magazines, stupid rap music and just everyday peers that thought exactly how I thought about what "Success" is really all about. The CEO of True Religion laughs at the stupidity and naiviness of a customer who spend $150 for a hat and $800 for pants. Department store Ross has great clothing and deals. Screw over priced JC Penny and Macy's.
Now don't miss understanding me thinking that you should settle for a sorry car, a trash riddled community or apartment with mice. Far from it! Desire to live comfortably in a decent community, but don't be stupid thinking you need to drop a 100,000 grand on some car or work 70 hours a week to purchase or keep up with the Jones's lifestyle. It will only ruin you and your family in the long run. Money is important, but it isn't everything. Life Is All About Having The Right And Healthy Perspective.
I'll leave you with this amazing wisdom from the Lord Jesus.😊
Luke 12:13-15:
Then one from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
But He said to him, “Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?”And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”
It's A Trap! How My Culture, TV, Materialism And Money Deceived Me! And What Really Matters In Life.
I dropped the TV as early as I could remember. When I first heard the reason why amok runs happened was because of video games was the moment I last voluntarily watched TV (sometime before 2010). I did not allow myself to be manipulated by the obvious lies.
Fortunately I figured out how marketing works over my time of living by buying products of various qualities. I bought several low quality products, mid-quality products and high end quality products. Then I noticed, that there is a pattern with the price tags and the marketing. Marketers would put anything in the label to make us buy them. Ever since that I take great caution when making purchases of any sort. For me it is not about "want" and "need" anymore. For me it is about "worth it or not".
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Anonymous
(25-29)
+1 y
u r so right we should start from somewhere n stop consuming that much
I like the message. I have a slightly different take on materialism though. I think it's all right if it makes someone happy.
A problem I see is how many consumers are being (mis) lead in America through advertising. It's similar to what you're talking about but I'm seeing it from a slightly different free market perspective.
Americans are becoming too gullible as I see it. I hope that's not too offensive and I don't mean every American.
I'm talking about, say, people who buy some designer-brand t-shirt at 20 times the cost of production just because of the brand name. They're letting those companies get away with highway robbery by falling for that illusion of quality. When these types of illusions are effective, it distorts the entire market.
This doesn't just apply to rich people. American infomercials often disgust me with how they go about advertising. "Buy one and get two free!" "This product is normally priced at $400. Order now and get it for not $100, not $50, but just $20!"
It's ridiculous that so many people fall for these types of deceptions, and so many people must be falling for this type of marketing for it to continue to exist. The fact that this type of marketing is effective disturbs me a lot.
It especially becomes disturbing when the masses fall for that type of "free lunch" marketing when it comes to electing politicians. That could ruin the entire country.
I'm not sure what to do about it except to attempt to educate future generations, somewhat as you are doing now, to make better choices as consumers and as citizens about where they're pouring their money.
I'd love to see a consumer base where a slightly less deceptive style of marketing starts to work better for the masses. It's the only way they can avoid being mislead left and right.
Basically I'd like to see the scam radar of every American become more acute. We also have this problem to some degree in Japan, mind you, especially with respect to designer brands (but not quite as bad as American infomercials in my opinion). Without a functioning scam radar, it's inevitable that only con-artists will rise to the top.
American infomercials often disgust me with how they go about advertising. "Buy one and get two free!" "This product is normally priced at $400. Order now and get it for not $100, not $50, but just $20!"
Cheers. :-D I might be a bit paranoid but I'm worried about that whole style of Infomercial-esque advertising being effective on citizens. I actually think that could potentially be the greatest threat to the country.
That's right, it's the group of folks who work hard, save a lot and quit their ugly jobs and do whatever they wanted before their 50s.
If you save half of what you make then every year you work would add another year you don't have to. The maths add up! If you work for 50k a year but you only spend 25k and save 25k then you just earned yourself a free year without working by using that 25k savings!
Wait! It only gets better! On average, everything you save will tend to double itself in 7-10 years! That means a 10-savings would give you at least 15 years worth of money!!!
Wait! There is more!!! If you save 25+ years worth of your yearly expenses then you would reach the financial independence point! You will no longer have to work anymore because profits from your investment would last you forever!
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Anonymous
(36-45)
+1 y
What gives true happiness is giving your money to the poor
That death star is operational! But zeriously, quoting the bible, that just makes people lose respect for your intelligence. Quote Star Wars or The Matrix.
Are you even serious? Is it better to quote from the most respected book in the world (and please don't argue over this, the statistics are all there) that has stood the test of time or some TV programs that have major plot holes, are academically laughable and have been around for less than 60 years? Gee, I wonder!
@datdopegirl the most respected book in the world? Appeal to majority makes you look ignorant. The second most respected book in the world is Mein Kempf by Adolf Hitler. And your reference to plot holes, oh the irony. How many plot holes does the bible have?
So according to you an appeal to the majority is ignorant then? I suppose that democracy is a hilarious joke then. And the second most respected book is actually the Koran. Where the hell did you pick up that statistic? Considering that the the Bible was made of several ancient records and translated several times it stands yet still is mostly intelligent, logical and academically fascinating makes it the most remarkable book in the history of mankind. Whilst Star Wars and the Matrix are pure entertainment with no academic or logical value beyond recording how much time someone can waste.
Speaking of laying in bed with girlfriend while raining outside... I was gonna make love with my girlfriend one rainy morning when we didn't need to work, only to find out the basement is flooded and we had to scoop water instead...*sighs*
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Anonymous
(30-35)
+1 y
All I need is money and girls.
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