Consumerism and Masculinity

coco5440 · 2017-11-08T17:32:37+00:00

I'm 24. I drive a rusty, loud-exhaust, 2001 Chevy car with 175k miles on it. I pull 18-21 year olds on a very regular basis. My old roommate was 21, made more money than me, and drives around in a Charger. He has sunk thousands of dollars into payments towards the thing for the sole purpose of impressing people. I've seen him bring 1-2 girls home in the last year and a half. Just an example that it's counter-productive and unnecessary to have expensive things to get girls.

There are countless studies linking fewer possessions to higher happiness. I personally go through all my belongings every six months or so and purge everything I possibly can, selling, donating, or trashing 2-3 grocery bags worth of crap I don't need anymore.

I prefer spending my time and money on things like books, travel, friends, dating, education, and self-development. Sure, another form of consumerism but you'll always have your brain and memories. And when your brain no longer functions, nothing else will matter anyway.

MaliciousMack · 2017-11-08T19:13:19+00:00

I politefully disagree. As long as one has their life in order, one can do as they wish.

Triadis3 · 2017-11-08T17:19:37+00:00

Like everything, it's on a spectrum.

I collect cars and motorcycles. My daily sportscar is a mercedes slk55.

It's nice.

I enjoy it.

I have a gallardo and a vantage at home.

Women don't get to see those until I vet them a little more... the first meet is always in my slk.

Is even the slk too much? Hard to say. Should I buy a pos rusty f-150 to "prove" I don't buy into consumerism? I think that's as bad or worse than some middle manager up to their ass in a m3 with a fake rolex.

Nice things are nice things. Wealth makes your life easier. Period.

Do I buy nice things to show off? Maybe, but I primarily buy nice things because I can, and they're nice. For me.

And that's another nice thing wealth provides... the ability to say,"Fuck you... because it's what I want." Like it or not, you're judged on your appearance. Thrift store ties and Walmart khakis are holding you at a certain level. If you're ok there, then it's all good - you do you.

Think about this... we're otherwise identical.. same height, same build, same smv, same game. But you're in your ratty Target 10yo sportcoat and I'm rocking a hand fitted Savile suit with a Franck Muller. Guess whose getting laid? Not to say money=SMV.. but it allows SMV increases by having the ability to look better than the competition.

If you aspire to rise in the world, it costs money to make money.

Sir-Pumpalot · 2017-11-08T18:34:54+00:00

I disagree, spend money on high quality goods (consumerism) to avoid payin 2 times (minimalistic) I rather drive my audi then buying 2 fords in the same time, I rather use 3 tailored high qualiy suits, than buying multiple suits at stores in less time. I rather invest money into 1 audemars piguet watch OR vacheron constantine, which is also a good investment as they wont drop in price I like to be minimalistic, but that does not require to be cheap. Do you know what high quality man look at ? your shoes, you got some cheap ass shoes with bad sole, you should invest in yourself, not to impress but to be/stay at the top

Dmva100 · 2017-11-08T17:27:30+00:00

You should be buying/investing in things that cannot be taken away from you (non material shit). Otherwise, let women be the consumers.

The primary goal of feminism is to make women more effective consumers. In a traditional 'patriachy' men were the primary earners and thus had the most purchasing power. However it is a long running fact that women make up to roughly 80% of consumer spending. So what better way to drive consumerism then 'empowering Women' and shoving the career lifestyle down their throats and neglecting pursuit of family. Why should the men be the breadwinners if wifey is going to spend all his money, as well as shopping for him anyway? That just makes things so complicated and requires more advertising dollars! Give the women all the wealth and the power to be the best consumers possible, but just make sure you sell the idea under the guise of equal rights. This is why women are pandered to in society. Not so much for the pussy pass, but because they are the driving source of this economy. If the women don't get the best jobs (muh STEM field) or all the money in a divorce settlement, those evil men will get to keep their hard earned funds that they would rather save or invest instead of blowing it all on some brand name handbag. Even if they don't, odds are most of them are beta enough to blow it all on a woman anyway.

Alot of folks look at feminism from different angles. Some say it's just about equal rights and all that bullshit (BP/cucks/SJWs), some say it's all about maximising a woman's sexuality and hypergamy (Redpill/manosphere etc.) And then you have the Elites who are the smartest and just use all of these viewpoints and social engineering to become filthy fucking rich while everyone else is oblivious.

Most of the things we discuss here directly relate to this grand scheme. Women are all sluts and fuck everyone? Great! More pussy for us and more kids (new consumers/leverage for extracting funds from men.) Women and false rape accusations on college campuses? Great! Destroy as many men's reputations as possible so they can't get into the workplace because we need women in those roles so they can earn more AND SPEND IT. Gender fluidity? Great! If only more men would become women we can get more money from surgeries/hormone therapy etc., oh and dont forget those cosmetics and girl gear! Man and woman commit the same crime? Send that male away for life! His consumer potential sucks because he's 48 years old with no job and shitty health (prison is a cheaper option!), but she's 22 and has 'her whole life ahead of her.' The list goes on.

TL;DR - Money talks. ALWAYS. Feminism is the latest form of social engineering meant to drive consumerism. Women eating up the 'equal rights' is all a front while the Chad Elite plunder her (and her holes) for all she's worth. But hey it 'just happened' right?

The feminine imperative is the economical imperative

bluetangz · 2017-11-08T19:25:12+00:00

Also a minimalist, and I believe in spending my money on experiences rather than possessions. That said, if I do buy something, I’m going to make sure it’s quality. There’s really no pride in only buying thrift store ties or cheap clothes. A better outlook is to simply promote balance. Some things are worth dishing out for.

RatioRegnum · 2017-11-09T20:59:49+00:00

Twenty years ago I walked away from a decent career in IT, a house on a nice half-acre, with a pool and all the middle-class trimmings, friends, family, security everything, and joined the 1% - the bottom 1%. I left with what fit in my car, drove about ten thousand miles, and by the time I was done I was putting gas in the tank a litre at a time. I had no money, no food, no where to stay, and no idea where any of those things might next come from. In a place where unemployment was 25%, I could afford to print just five copies of my resume. When I finally got an income sorted, I lived on 500 a month for a year, and 1000 a month for the year after that. It was scary at first, but I never counted myself poor. Quite the opposite, I felt rich. For the first time, I had a direction, I had a mission, I was focused. I was, for the first time ever, my own man. Wealth is not about money, it is about freedom. You can make yourself wealthy by earning money, or by cutting obligations. If you have marketable skills, if you're willing to work hard and learn, you may be broke, but you'll never be poor. As long as you have food and a roof you have all you need, and more than many.

Today I'm in top 1%, and my life is much better than it was then. What makes it better is not money but the people I am involved with, the inner stability and security I have built through facing my fears and weaknesses and overcoming them, the position I have built myself. The money is a bonus, but it doesn't make a sunny day sunnier, a swim more relaxing, a book more interesting, a friend closer.

J2RDRC · 2017-11-08T17:46:25+00:00

I think everyone buys into consumerism in 2017. I don’t see any problem as long as you are being financially responsible and buying these things to improve your life in some way.

Just be sensible in what and how much you consume.

broscientologist · 2017-11-08T20:33:37+00:00

A man should look well put together. Not like a desperate ultra hype beast. You would be better served getting consumer advice from the gentlemen’s gazette instead of some streetstyle sub on Reddit.

This includes foreign men. Street wear is for kids.

party_next_door · 2017-11-08T22:40:45+00:00

If you are buying buy the best.

At times those higher end goods have a better turn over rate if you want to resell in the second hand market as well.

Spets87 · 2017-11-09T01:46:54+00:00

Buy stuff that makes you happy, for you. I like driving fast cars, so I bought a sports car that I can afford with cash, it's for me and only used on the weekends/ track days. Most of the time I drive my old beat up old Jeep and the girls don't seem to mind it at all. Own your possessions and don't be owned by them with stupid shit like repayments or loans. Buy with cash.

michael_wilkins · 2017-11-09T02:05:20+00:00

Back in the "good old days" marketing used to focus on features of products.

Now it focuses on "feelings of products" (Thank you Bernays)

Buy products because they are useful and you need them.

Anything else is mindless consumerism.

All_hail_disney · 2017-11-10T00:29:30+00:00

I believe my opinion on this is the same as a lot of things. To each his own. If possessions like this make you happy, buy them, if not, don't buy them.

LeftHello · 2017-11-11T20:19:47+00:00

I value practicality over everything. But damn it sometimes you just want some nice shit. The key to me is I only spend extra on the stuff I really enjoy and am passionate about, even if its materialistic nonsense, i just like it. But i dont need super expensive book shelves for example, ikea will do.

gELSK · 2017-11-12T21:37:08+00:00

// , You need some Mr. Money Mustache in your life. I sometimes wonder if he is accidentally RP:

https://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2016/10/10/how-to-be-happy-rich-and-save-the-world/

He's also manly as fuck, and lifts to become huge.

Herdsengineers · 2017-11-08T17:12:09+00:00

trying to drive men to be more lavish spenders is part of the feminist agenda. the message that you have to spend more lavishly either to serve your LTR/wife/etc. OR to attract a LTR/wife/etc. is part of subordinating men to women's power. the economic forces involved are only too willing to go along because it means men spend more money, lining company's pockets more.

when you don't go along with consumerism, you create a life where you are less and less subject to control of others. the expensive life style indebts you to your corporate masters to keep the income flowing to support it. it indebts you to a woman in your life to keep her accustomed lifestyle. as said in fight club - one day you wake up and all your stuff that you own and pay for, things have changed and all that stuff really owns you - credit car debt and loans to pay for it all, entitled women, employers that you have to cowtow to in order to keep the income or they'll fire you and blow up your life.

it's all aimed at subjugating you. the more you can get away from materialism and consumerism, the more you free yourself.

Arabian_Wolf · 2017-11-08T19:05:18+00:00

For me I only buy mainstream brands with rich heritage for complex products (car, analog watch like those swiss watches, electronics etc).

For clothing, I tend to favor 100% cotton rule from either an established brand that’s not too expensive (not H&M, they suck, I love Armani Exchange on %70 sales, I don’t get the people that buy high end casual clothing from brands like Versace, emporio armani and such) or from not established brand with high quality fabric and design and not very cheap, I don’t trust cheap cloth materials and the chemicals they put on it (harmful coloring agents among others).

For shoes, sport ones Nike freerun flyknits, life changer for me, for formal I tend to buy from small expensive brands, superior quality, I generally splurge on shoes, as they are investment for my feet health (have relatives that suffer from feet health problems due to cheap shoes).

For personal hygiene, I use child products, sometimes I buy stuff from Lush but rarely, for shaving Nivea products, same for deodorant, no antiperspirant, those are harmful.

For perfumes, I prefer using simple oriental fragrant oils (rose oil, musk etc), I don’t trust chemicals that don’t have the ingredients listed on them like most eau de toilette and perfumes.

Hopefully I didn’t miss anything, I try to be basic and sometimes if I buy excess that I didn’t use nor gave the need for, I give it away to friends, hate having too much stuff in my space, I’m an advocate of having the essentials only.

Ichewfivegum · 2017-11-08T20:18:03+00:00

If it works for you, more power to ya but I'd rather dress well. Il spend however much I need to buy what I want so long as I can fit it in my budget. Abundance should apply to money as well, just don't spend it on women. If you want a Rolex, buy one. If you don't want one, don't buy one.

unixhamster · 2017-11-09T01:07:39+00:00

I've lived surrounded by lots of expensive shit and pulled pussy. I've lived as a vagabond and pulled pussy. In the end it's all in your head just do what ever you want there is no right or wrong answer.

Many people were jealous of both lifestyles. One thing they had in common, I was doing what ever I wanted and didn't care.

barkinos98 · 2017-11-13T13:00:22+00:00

I have a few nice things, mainly my watch and shoes. I don't do it to impress others though, I do it for me. My daily is a Panerai - pretty exotic to anyone who isn't into watches. It's eye catching only because its 47mm (I have thick wrists). I could have easily went with a Rolex or two if I wanted to for the same price, but I'm not trying to show off.

I feel like same can be applied to many things. If you can afford it, get that BMW you wanted. Not to impress people though, because you always wanted to drive the "Ultimate Driving Machine". Buy that shirt because you like its colors, not because it's some edgy throwback to the 80s that might get you some comments.

obliviousfool93 · 2017-11-08T22:46:09+00:00

I don’t know. I don’t cheap out on clothes for work, nor do I go crazy. I buy everything from Banana Republic, almost always when there’s a sale. Usually can stock up for a season for 300. That doesn’t seem outlandish. At the same time, it’s pretty obvious when someone wears cheap clothes from Kohl’s. You can just tell.

getstronger17 · 2017-11-09T04:18:04+00:00

Quality over quantity. I'm in my mid 20s, excellent job might get close to 200k next year. I live on about a fifth of my gross pay and invest the rest. If you tether your self worth to material possessions you'll never be happy. Wearing designer clothes or driving an expensive vehicle doesn't make you a better person. True freedom comes from having fuck you money. If you get fed up with your job you got the resources to tell your boss fuck you and walk off.

follow_that_rabbit · 2017-11-09T11:06:31+00:00

Who fucking cares about consumerism or minimalism. They are just label.

Cost-effective is the best way to handle and buy things.

The new iPhone costs 900 bucks? Fuck that. I can do the same things with a 200-300 phone.

Consumerism makes you pay extra for the brand name, meanwhile with minimalism you risk to get not enough tools to get things done.

Fuck both.

Whycadz · 2017-11-09T01:27:53+00:00

I agree with you on many points. But here is my take, as others have mentioned-

If I am Buying something that will be used daily / seen by many people, I make it worth my while. This doesn't mean going and spending 200 on a pair of pants, but shopping around and getting something of nice quality that fits me right for a good price.

If I am making a big purchase such as a car, I get something well cared for like you said, but it can't be a rusty piece of shit with the interior falling apart. If people are going to see me in it, it needs to be presentable.

If I am buying food, I make sure it fits my intake needs and isn't shit food. Like clothes, this requires shopping around for deals and knowledge about nutrients, but I make sure it's worth my money.

My biggest thing is clothes. People see me in clothes everyday, and it's the first thing people notice about me before I open my mouth. So I want that impression to be a good one.

cEddowes · 2017-11-09T02:26:50+00:00

I don't think a broad prescription of the appropriate level of consumerism to have is realistic. There are too many factors. People come in an infinite amount of configurations. I myself can't handle excess possessions or the constant soul sacrifice for more decimal places in your bank account, but I have a sick car. No Lambo like u/triadis3, they're too finicky IMO. But again, that's individual preference. I also drive a 2004 ford van as a daily driver.

I think you should do whatever makes YOU happy, and don't be concerned with anything else really.

halfback910 · 2017-11-10T18:01:08+00:00

My position is that anything whose value is not derived from or dedicated to ostentation is fine.

So for instance, if I bought a Lamborghini, how much of what I've paid is to use it as a car? That is, to get me from A to B. Well, probably about 15k. Right? Because I got my decent used car for like 14k. It gets me from A to B just as quickly as (and way more affordably than) that lambo.

Everything over that 15k you paid, you paid for ostentation. And that's what I avoid. Spending money on ostentation. People should spend their money on what they want, this is just my philosophy.

Title	Consumerism and Masculinity
Author	coco5440
Upvotes	65
Comments	58
Date	November 8, 2017 4:38 PM UTC (8 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/TheRedPill
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/TheRedPill/comments/7bmhie/consumerism_and_masculinity/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/TheRedPill/consumerism-and-masculinity.47008 https://theredarchive.com/post/47008

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