Comments on: Why Materialism Makes You Unhappy

By: Lee

Lee — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 12:53:58 +0000

Now you’ve made me update my doodle to reflect the impact of money on happiness!

http://leesvoice.blogspot.com/2008/08/updated-motivation-and-happiness .html

By: PaulVI

PaulVI — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 17:02:26 +0000

@Chris Gregory: people in “poor” countries _become_ unhappy once we in the West show them all the good “stuff” that they don’t have . We tell them that our great things are the markers of success, power, and happiness.

As for us in relation to this post, we’ll never learn.

By: Thomas

Thomas — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 16:35:30 +0000

I have things I enjoy having and using, mostly for entertainment (music, video games) but for a couple of years I lived with no tv, no computer, etc. and I must say despite being quite poor, I did enjoy the time. I feel like I was able to separate myself from the life I led and concentrate on being me. It sounds like crap, but there is a certain satisfaction that can be had by removing yourself from the things that you think you can’t live without.

By: Tim

Tim — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 15:45:59 +0000

It’s really a matter of material vs spiritual needs. People are fullfilled more spiritually in life don’t need a lot of material BS to get through their days.

By: Mayor of Kentonville

Mayor of Kentonville — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 12:24:39 +0000

Buy a book to tell you buying stuff does not make you happy, really, that happened? I am not smart enough to provide the commentary that deserves.

By: JC

JC — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 06:26:40 +0000

Plagiarism is wrong. `-´

By: Neatoramawontsendmeapassword

Neatoramawontsendmeapassword — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 01:03:07 +0000

Geez, Chris Gregory. There’s no need to hate people just because they don’t see things the way you do. I’m glad you’re happy with all the stuff you “need”. But your experience isn’t everyone else’s experience.

By: ted

ted — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 00:46:02 +0000

Strange. I just couldn’t bring myself to read that. I think I fell asleep after the first sentence.

By: Chris Gregory

Chris Gregory — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 00:02:37 +0000

I hate these crappy people with their confused, puritanical notions and middle-class guilt. Poor people aren’t happier with less stuff. People in poor countries aren’t better off with less stuff. Owning less stuff isn’t virtuous. Stuff is just stuff. I’ve got lots of stuff – thousands of things. Books, things I’ve made, music, electronics and kitchen stuff. It all make me happy because I need it all. They’re all tools, in one way or another. And it’s the bad mechanic who blames the tools…

What we’re talking about is what’s called veblen goods (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veblen_goods) – stuff that people pay too much money for because they believe it’ll improve their social status. Maybe their mothers didn’t breastfeed them or something. If you think that buying something’s going to make you happier, and you’re disappointed when it doesn’t, don’t blame the stuff. Blame your own fool self.

By: Lee

Lee — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 23:40:20 +0000

Interestingly enough, Seth Godin recently posted in a similar theme “When in doubt, (don’t) follow the money.”

http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2008/08/when-in-doubt-d.html

By: bean

bean — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 21:33:44 +0000

I’m pretty sure the reason most materialists are unhappy is because there are only so many materials to go around. Some materialists are extremely happy, because they have access to all the items they could possibly want.

By: Maslow

Maslow — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 19:52:20 +0000

Wow..where have I heard this before..oh yea..MGMT 101 it’s called Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. HACK!