tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37886248.post1326023746912668980..comments2024-03-22T00:35:19.082-07:00Comments on Casual Kitchen: Thorstein Veblen and Conspicuous ConsumptionDanielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02388302796031288076noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37886248.post-42270730171551161112014-12-11T09:41:21.838-08:002014-12-11T09:41:21.838-08:00I think what's important to be conscious of he...I think what's important to be conscious of here is that we do lie to ourselves. <br /><br />We tell ourselves we are buying the 2014 model car instead of the pre-owned 2008 that is still in mint condition because the 2014 is "safer" or "more reliable" or whatever else. But the truth is, we want a new car. And the reason we want a new car is because it is NEW and other people, not just we ourselves, will notice that. <br /><br />Same with buying a six-seater car when we really only need four. A bigger car says "status" in a way that most people don't even consciously recognize.<br /><br />We even tell ourselves we are stopping for fast food because it is convenient, conveniently forgetting that we could have packed PB&J sandwiches in half the time for a quarter of the price.<br /><br />Anytime we buy something we could have produced for ourselves, or anytime we buy something that is *more* than we absolutely need (another handbag when we already have four, a fresh pair of shoes when the old pair just needs polishing, a new wristwatch when we can check the time for free on our phones or computer monitors) that is, to some extent, the type of consumption that this refers to.<br /><br />Anything over bare subsistence waves a large (if invisible) banner that says "choice." And it's human nature to choose the best thing (according to our personal values and the degree to which we buy into marketing) we can.<br /><br />It's a wise consumer who doesn't kid themselves that they make decisions based on objective "value." There is no such thing.chacha1http://www.ombailamos.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37886248.post-87876588966416483372014-12-10T09:16:44.604-08:002014-12-10T09:16:44.604-08:00I hear it Marcia. Wal-Mart is of course just an ex...I hear it Marcia. Wal-Mart is of course just an example. A different person could just as easily feel "vaguely icky" going to their town's lowest-end grocery store, or (to choose an example with different socioeconomics) going to JC Penney rather than, I don't know, Nieman Marcus. This phenomenon exists at every tier of retailing. <br /><br />DKDanielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02388302796031288076noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37886248.post-7420879359490530702014-12-10T08:45:42.392-08:002014-12-10T08:45:42.392-08:00"Written a hundred years ahead of its time, t..."Written a hundred years ahead of its time, this passage helps explain why so many middle- and upper-middle class Americans feel vaguely icky shopping at Wal-Mart, why they feel too culturally superior to go to chain restaurants, and why they pay significant price premiums for branded merchandise without even a second thought. Veblen saw it all more than a century ago: these things reflect our status. "<br /><br />Personally, I'm not a fan of Walmart for their business practices and for the fact that many of their employees need public assistance. I'm also not a fan of chain restaurants - but I don't eat out much at all anyway. When I do, I prefer the local "chains" (their food is better).<br /><br />(But on a trip I am not above McDonald's, In-N-Out, Chik-fil-A, etc. - I just prefer places where I can get healthier options.)<br /><br />I generally don't shop for much else, so no price premiums there.Marciahttp://frugalhealthysimple.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.com