Dave Dale discusses in his article the way we have become a throw away society. He says that it's more common for Americans to buy under-priced processed foods that are more like poison than food, than go to the farmers market and spend a little extra. It's partially about saving time and the laziness of our culture he says. He argues that as long as the void is filled we don't care what it is that fills it up. He goes on to talk about a laptop he bought and how the screen cracked not long after his purchase. He says that the whole ordeal would have been cheaper had he just thrown that one away and bought a brand new one. This is part of his argument for how our society is "throw away."
So, are we a throw away culture? I certainly see how the fast paced style of American culture would seem that way on the surface. If you dig a little bit deeper and look at our history you will see things differently. Duct tape was invented for the sole purpose of being able to fix anything that breaks if you ask anyone. I don't believe we are really a throw away culture unless you look at the fast food industries but when I think of consuming I don't think of actual food I think of products. It's not in our nature as a society to throw things away (see Hoarders). The generations before us fixed things and I believe that has been passed down a great deal. Products are made in a cheaper fashion and you do have to spend a little extra if you want that extended warranty or insurance on your product. Think of your toothpaste tube. Do you throw it away when it seems to be gone or do you squeeze every last bit of toothpaste out of it until it has no further use? Dave Dales article was interesting but I disagree with him greatly on the nature of our society as consumers. I've always thought of Americans as ones to mend a fence before building a wall, unless we are talking about immigration. We buy products, and use them until they can no longer service us in any way. So, what do you think? Do you view our consumer culture as a throw away society?
http://www.nugget.ca/2013/03/15/cheap-consumerism-killing-us-slowly
I believe we are throwaway society, in a lot of the product we buy form electronics to food. When we as Americans by products we already think that product will break within six months. I feel that when something breaks in America, people look for someone else to either fix it or get them a new one.
ReplyDeleteI can see both sides of the coin on this one. In the past things were made to last and be used over and over again. Today almost everything is made in single serving ways. No longer do we get items that we can use more than once, everything is made of cheap synthetic materials that wouldn’t last more than the one time they were made for. There are a few things that we do last for long periods of time, but long periods of time compared to what? There are cars from the 1940’s, 50’s, and 60’s that are out on the road today, and I feel that you will not see many cars from the 90’s fifty years from now.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Taylor in the fact that we contain an aspect of both. I think that in the past we definitely made things to last because you still see so many buildings, cars, and other items that are still alive today. However, over time and definitely in the present the idea of most retailers is to sell you a product that will break in 6 months so that you will purchase a new one. Or these same companies will make tiny trivial changes to a product, and making you feel like you have an out of date product so that you will buy the new "updated" version of it.
ReplyDeleteOur society is not a throw away society yet. However, we are on our way to one. Many people, such as myself, never throw things away until they are of no use to me anymore. At the same time I will not pay to get things such as my computer fixed because it is cheaper to get a new one. However, my computer has lasted six years and is outdated but still fulfills my need for a working computer. I personally believe that most people are like me. Dave Dale's article probably references many things like Iphones, of which there is a new one every year, because foolish people will buy a new phone for two hundred dollars every year because of one miniscule change in the product. This foolishness is now becoming more popular in our society, however, we have not reached throw away status yet.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Ryan's point. But I can also see how many would view our society as a throw away society. The fact that some people DO want to keep up with the latest and greatest products because of a few small changes can make it appear that way. However, I believe the percentage of people that do this is low, and that they have their reasons for doing it. Even if we upgrade to new technology, we tend to keep what was replaced unless it was broken. I've never really felt the need to buy an upgraded product unless there was something wrong with the old one, or much time had passed.
ReplyDeleteI disagree. I think we have absolutely reached throw away status. I know that can be dependent on one's socioeconomic status, but we are always "out with the old and in with the new!" Despite what mere minor changes have been made, we are all guilty of jumping at the latest and greatest technology item. Though it may be the upgraded iPhone every year for me or you, it can be yesterday's t-shirt for today's tank top. The pressure is always on to have the latest and greatest hot commodity item and if you don't, marketing tells us you're just not keeping up!
ReplyDeleteI would have to agree with both you and Dave Dale. There are those extremes in both cases (Hoarders and its reciprocal). However, most people do tend to fix things before giving up and purchasing a new one. The greatest example is the car: people do not throw away their cars; rather, they spend money paying other people who know how to fix it. My car is nearing 200,000 miles and it is not going anywhere anytime soon. I would say that it is the context of the person and how they were raised/how they live. Those upper class could probably more easily live a “throw-away” lifestyle simply because they have the financial means. I, on the other hand, just grew up in the simple middle-class and my family was full of “re-users” as I call them. Water bottles, Ziploc bags, or anything that could be re-used, was. However, my dad was an aspiring environment enthusiast, so he tended to keep us in line in regards to re-using. However, one can argue that we are a “throw-away” culture. We do have people that waste millions on flashy cars and jewelry simply because they can. I guess you have to know a person to understand the lifestyle they live. I would have to side with both you and Dale, honestly.
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