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Rhetorical questions on materialism

I find often in media, specifically meta media, that we are told materialism (and its association to capitalism and greed) is a sickening disease. A disease that traps us to our boring, normal and sometimes if we are lucky enough, corporate lives. Lives without schizo episodes of terrorism, young boy play things, and massive bank heists. But I’m not so sure it IS a disease ...It can’t be a disease. Or maybe it's precisely that because our lives have been shortened by the disease, that I may expand my pathetic record collection into something bigger and continue making ‘investments’ on my epic, old school pokemon collection. “The things you own end up owning you"   -Tyler Durden. I fucking hope not, I’m this: |_| close to filling my new display case with action figures and I will not become batman's bitch. To see the opposite side of views we subscribe to, is not a difficult thing these days and yet my desire for materialism is supported by very fucking few (comedically, academically and socially). If weed and alcohol is supported and opposed, then why the fuck is no one arguing about my main poison materialism? A case for making your own homestead or even starting that epic #vanlife is so constantly supported and yet the lives we first world masses occupy is celebrated…when? Or maybe it’s truly as the pedos say? “The greatest wealth is to live content with little” -Plato. You’re right Mr Pedo, at least everyone believes that to be right, but in my first world society what most would consider “the greatest wealth” I’d consider “little”. Is it so much to ask for a massive one of a kind library in my house that's sitting on a few acres of fertile land? The kind of library that says, “My cock may be small, but my ego more than makes up for it!” -No, it isn’t so much to ask for, and if I could have it my way, it wouldn't be “so much” for anyone. (See! I'm a humanitarian!) I stumbled across this account on Instagram that seems to be going against the trends of #vanlife and homesteading with his reels depicting a ‘normal life’.The user romanticises the stability of a 9-5 office job (or rather the stability of HIS 9-5 office job.) that America seemed to adore so much, and kinda still does???  For a proud capitalist he makes me surprisingly sick to be honest. Preaching his trademarked phrase, “Normalise the Norm” along with well edited windows into his unsurprisingly grey life. When did the ‘norm’ become so fucking colourless? He isn’t nearly as exciting as or even palatable as a Japanese guy travelling around and living out out of his Kei truck or a big bearded man and his funny dog building a homestead. I must say though. It is nice to see someone defend our collective desire to hold onto our stones…Like an otter! And don’t worry (My teachers always taught me not to begin a sentence with “And”, but I’m a big boy now so you can go get fucked) - I do still romanticise the other side - The other political side if I may indulge even more actually.  The idea of shedding it all and running away, Hopping from person to person, bed to bed and adventure to adventure (STI to STI) is fucking fantastic! A dream perpetrated by my favourite explorer (Indiana Jones) and my favourite slave trader (Sir Francis Drake). Even now after discovering how accessible it is for me to have the comfy materialistic life, I find myself thinking about that badass ‘Heat’ quote: "Don’t let yourself get attached to anything you are not willing to walk out on in 30 seconds if you feel the heat around the corner.” - Not Al Pochino. Hmm, nah fuck all that. Materialistic people shouldn’t have to worry about “the heat around the corner” anyway.  I’m not sure I truly believe in materialism, only that I hope it’s not as bad as people say it is, because I have no intention of stopping.   – You, the reader, should tell me what you think (without forgetting that the title says my questions are rhetorical of course). -I won’t change my mind, but maybe I’ll discover someone as arrogant as me, and that would be cool.

@Grimeshaww

Jan 5, 2025

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"Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say, and not giving a damn."

"The more money an American accumulates, the less interesting he becomes." “I'm not a conspiracy theorist - I'm a conspiracy analyst.” “One is sorry one could not have taken both branches of the road. But we were not allotted multiple selves.” “The unfed mind devours itself.” “Until very recently, the artist was a magician who did his magic in public view but kept himself and his effects a matter of mystery.” “Yes. With us the ability to detect mediocrity or anything else is rare. Evaluation descends, through ignorance, to mere opinion, and opinion is a matter of fashion. And fashion is based on middle-class, middlebrow values, despite the mock defiance of an occasional licensed fool, like Vonnegut.” “Self-education is the point of education. But it is easier if you have escaped the stifling of the academy.” “The critic must know more than either writer or academic. He must also value experience and have a truth-telling nature. I think I have that. In their youth most people worry whether or not other people will like them. Not me. I had the choice of going under or surviving, and I survived by understanding (after the iron - if not the silver — had entered my soul) that it is I who am keeping score. What matters is what I think, not what others think of me; and I am willing to say what I think. That is the critical temperament.” "You can improve your talent, but your talent is a given, a mysterious constant. You must make it the best of its kind." — Gore Vidal, my toxic opinionated egocentric guiding light in this sick sad world (quotes which are not broadly inspirational but are inspirational to me to be my best most audacious evil hater self)

@taterhole

May 27, 2024

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listen to your heart of hearts

as someone who works adjacent to higher ed i often think about this. but i also always recall this toni morrison quote: “I tell my students, 'When you get these jobs that you have been so brilliantly trained for, just remember that your real job is that if you are free, you need to free somebody else. If you have some power, then your job is to empower somebody else. This is not just a grab-bag candy game.” as someone who wants my career to be rooted in my ethics, i def have a very “be the change you want to see in the world” sort of outlook. it may be a bit corny but it def helps me navigate all these opposing issues alongside my personal beliefs. i think the “no ethical consumption under capitalism” idea is often be used by others to be dismissive of working toward change, but i also think, in your case, this phrase applies.

@deardoveswings

May 18, 2024

Top Recs from @alexislang

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ACTUALLY TAKING YOUR FRIENDS’ RECOMMENDATIONS

sometimes i think i get so caught up in the stuff i share that i forget it also means a lot to my friends when i take their recommendations. ive been more mindful of watching or listening to the stuff they send in a timely manner and genuinely feel that ive become better friends w people ive known for years. it’s crazy how there’s always more to learn abt the people in ur life and it can be uncovered by doing something as simple as watching a movie or listening to a song

@alexislang

Mar 30, 2025

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Working out in pajamas

this is extremely guy coded but for some reason it’s cracked the whole gym thing wide open for me (granted i only do this at my apartment gym but still.) i roll right out of bed in the morning and head downstairs and i fucking love it. maybe it’s the secret to actually being consistent w the gym

@alexislang

Mar 18, 2025

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STRETCHING

as ive gotten older ive felt less and less flexible so ive been stretching in the mornings and it’s been amazing. i think everyone should. we only get one body, take care of it!

@alexislang

Mar 11, 2025