| Walking through a large mall yesterday (in Anytown | | | | item wasn't on my shopping list!) |
| USA), I had a real eye-opening experience. For the | | | | Another insulting shenanigan is the super-intrusive |
| first time in fifty years I actually saw through the | | | | sidewalk sales promoter. They rush up to you, |
| whole scheme; the facade, as it were, of the much | | | | frantically waving a clipboard and ask for "three |
| taken for granted ideal of consumerism. | | | | minutes of your time" as you try to deftly side-step |
| Boy, have we been bought off long enough... told | | | | yourself out of intrusion's way. In my opinion this is |
| where to shop, lured by false sales, mesmerized by | | | | much more offensive than telemarketing cold calls. At |
| painted smiles and standard cliches. | | | | least you can hang up on them. |
| Emotional Calories | | | | Quality Time |
| While looking for a no-frills place to fill my hungry | | | | For my money, nothing beats Quality Midnight |
| stomach, I glanced at the fancy restaurants with | | | | Shopping Time. The purpose of nocturnal forays into |
| their decidedly non-professional staff living job-to-job; | | | | consumerism is two-fold. To purchase those items on |
| going through the motions of trying to make 'me' | | | | my survival list, as well as taking note of the pitfalls |
| (the consumer) feel 'special' by offering pastiche | | | | and potholes to be avoid. Extremism and |
| coated and preserved flavorings, mass-produced | | | | excessiveness (Mega-Mac?) should not be tolerated. |
| toppings, and ultimately some realistic looking | | | | Keep it sensible, retailers. Back to basics. Honest |
| garnishes with flowers (also fake). Piped in muzac | | | | value, quality before quantity, and designed for |
| was sponsored by someone-or-other, and the | | | | reliability rather than gimmickry. |
| rewards bonus was double this month... | | | | The 'Constumer' is Always Right |
| Colourful photos of mouth-watering assembly-line | | | | I am a customer. At the same time, I am |
| dishes were brightly lit behind the order takers, on | | | | unfortunately a consumer. I strive to consume as |
| display because there was no aroma of home | | | | little as possible. Therefore, buy me something that |
| cooked food to compete. I thought to myself, | | | | does not need replacement, will last a lifetime, and/or |
| "These people don't really care about me, they just | | | | is easily repaired. Let me buy that item using my |
| want my money". And so it is - the happiest person | | | | integrity and knowledge of who I am, what my |
| in the restaurant was the cashier, ringing up sales | | | | budget is (no credit, please), and what I need. |
| from burping customers stumbling past to reach the | | | | By consuming efficiently, we create sustainability and |
| restroom. | | | | discourage the wasteful and rampant consumerism |
| We Bid You Entrance | | | | (along with the credit bubble) that has devastated |
| And so it was, strolling through the mall, window | | | | our planet and our economy. |
| after window competing for my eye's attention. | | | | More tips on how to consume efficiently: |
| Whether shiny or feigning motion, they failed to lure | | | | |
| me through the trap door. | | | | 1. Make a list before you go. |
| Don't you hate it when you're trying to walk in a mall | | | | 2. Buy only what you need (survival items). |
| with a destination in mind, only to be bumbling and | | | | 3. Select items that will outlast you! |
| tripping into the rumps of fellow mall-gawkers who | | | | 4. Select items that are easy to repair (common |
| stop to stare? | | | | parts replacement). |
| Marketing Insults | | | | 5. Be willing to sacrifice price for quality, because |
| Window fare: the latest cleverly marketed consumer | | | | quality costs more. |
| items guaranteed to evaporate your disposable | | | | 6. Do not be mislead or tantalized by pushy claims. |
| income: shoes, swimwear, handbags, golf clubs, jean | | | | Take your time and comparison shop. |
| promotion, public lingerie and sports equipment. | | | | 7. Buy with cash, or barter. (do not accumulate |
| What-have-you? What want you? Sorry, I already | | | | debts). |
| have. | | | | 8. If an item is expensive, consider pooling funds and |
| The next best alternative to window fare is media | | | | multi-ownership (sharing!). |
| fare, in the form of poster-like advertisements and | | | | Future Trends (when things get really bad) |
| or their 21st century counterparts, the ubiquitous flat | | | | |
| screen high definition video spamming machines. | | | | 1. Buy local whenever possible. |
| Positioned at strategic pedestrian buffer-zones, the | | | | 2. Do-It-Yourself whenever possible. |
| micro-minute repeating bits of attention pulling | | | | 3. Learn the skills you now outsource for (also DIY). |
| hyperactivity burst forth without provocation to insult | | | | 4. Grow your own. |
| law-abiding citizens. 'You asked for it!' simply by virtue | | | | 5. Get off the grid or have a backup plan when the |
| of walking in the mall. | | | | lights or water fails. |
| The third and latest scheme is the home-chef | | | | 6. Stock up on necessities (hoard items that have |
| approach. A part-timer is hired and stationed in the | | | | intrinsic value - can be swapped for food, services |
| supermarket or department store to whip up quick | | | | later). |
| couture and disseminate a morsel to every passer-by | | | | 7. Work at home (avoid commuter dependence). |
| in the hope of generating impulse sales (hey, that | | | | 8. Enable alternate transportation (bicycle, motorbike). |