Does over-indulgence and conforming to societal trends bother you? (1 Viewer)

[absolution*]

I think we are all aware of how corporations capitalize on the age-old insecurities and self-doubts of teens by making them believe that to be truly cool, you need their products. It seems the youth market is able and willing to pay top dollar in order to be "cool." Does it bother you at all though that there are very real negative impacts of mass-consumerism.... the exploitation of workers in third world countries, the growing divide between rich and poor, the injustice of a Western society living in steeped surplus where others struggle to live from day to day.. etc.

 

[virgin^sexy]

yes it bothers me but not enough to dress like a hobo and send all my money away

 

[absolution*]

yes it bothers me but not enough to dress like a hobo and send all my money away

what if thats what all your friends do? would you do the same?

 

[virgin^sexy]

no probably not i'd rather dress normally in whatever style I like (whether that's fashionable or not) than just follow everything my friends do. i might have similar styles to my friends but that's more likely to be because we like the same things, not because we're copying each other on purpose.

i don't know if that made sense really.

 

[absolution*]

I believe what you consider to be a "normal" dress-code would be a function of what society tells you is normal/fashionable. If you do dress like your friends it would no doubt be due to a need to fit in with them. Its just a shame that people cant let their personality and character speak for them to a greater extent than the clothes they wear.

 

[virgin^sexy]

yeah you're probably right about what i like being what society tells me to like but i think that that's something that's kind of hard to avoid - i don't purposely buy things that i think are 'in' i try to choose what looks good on me or what i like. choosing to NOT buy 'fashionable' clothes that i think are ugly or stupid is an example of this i think.

i don't think i have a 'need' to fit in with my friends through the clothes i wear though. and just because people dress in what is considered 'fashionable' doesn't mean they can't show their personality or character show through what they wear.

 

[spin spin sugar]

hmm yeah i completely disagree with that comment hey, that fashionable clothes cant genuinely reflect a little bit of your personality. i think my personality shows in what i wear, and if people don't like what i wear they probably won't like me, so in that way its probably an effective warning label

I believe what you consider to be a "normal" dress-code would be a function of what society tells you is normal/fashionable.

and?

If you do dress like your friends it would no doubt be due to a need to fit in with them..

that or you already had something in common to begin with, e.g taste in music, people, CLOTHES... fancy that! aren't little commonalities like that the initial basis for a lot of friendships?

i really think at this age its a little silly to say people dress a certain way to 'fit in'... people wear what they like.

 

[my sharona]

Define over-indulgence?

You need to feel good about yourself. Part of that is how you present yourself. And if I feel good spending $2000 on a bag, then so be it.

Unless you're buying things that you don't like, I don't see why fashion trends should disturb anyone. What disturbs more is that people are easily fooled into thinking they like things they dont.

 

[transcendent]

who cares ?

 

[belly_moo]

i'm finding the kids who wear Von Dutch hats around Burwood westfields on thursday nights quite irritating now [ no offense to anyone who wears von dutch on bos ]

 

[Trippendicular]

You sound like the person that wrote this Society and Culture PIP that I read the other, it was the funniest thing I've ever seen

 

[iambored]

of course it bothers me. i like having nice, up to date things but i that has to be balanced out with how fortunate we are to have the opportunity to have these things and that there are other people in the world we will never be able to help even if we wanted to.

 

[Trippendicular]

Personally, if Ashton Kutcher or Justin Timberlake says its good, then I'll wear it. But not Eminem, he's just a weirdo, what do they call him, a "rap artist" or something like that

 

[shortie_689]

when it comes to clothes I would tend to wear clothes that just look ok on me I dont give much for trends cause I am really fussy when it comes to clothes...
But the whole trend things does upset me...
Today at work I was helping a girl who came up to me and asked the specific question "Is this kind of top in fashion I mean is it ok for me to wear it?" I almost fell over and died and reluctantly told her that yes it was in fashion and people where wearing them...
It doesnt so much annoy me as upset me to see that girls in particular feel they need to conform to the norm to be accepted...

 

[soha]

yes it bothers me
but what can ya do

 

[ameh]

i agree with spin. personally i like clothes that reflect personality and what I feel comfortable in, without draining the wallet (sounds like a commercial jingle)
those designer labels command a superficial image that I don't feel comfortable in, and buying, say polo over a generic brand - when the only difference is aesthetic, and accepted at face value then it aint worth it >> ok this is from an economic pov

certain people who set these ''norms'' are probably most comfy in a pair of jeans and t-shirt

bellymoo: my friend wears a von dutch hat, - made in china =P

 

[ameh]

oh and my answer to the thread is no.

if they manage to pull it off then good on them, and their bank balances...

 

[neo o]

I think we are all aware of how corporations capitalize on the age-old insecurities and self-doubts of teens by making them believe that to be truly cool, you need their products. It seems the youth market is able and willing to pay top dollar in order to be "cool." Does it bother you at all though that there are very real negative impacts of mass-consumerism.... the exploitation of workers in third world countries, the growing divide between rich and poor, the injustice of a Western society living in steeped surplus where others struggle to live from day to day.. etc.

You're a twat. At least now I've been given some insight into the minds of the feral arts students that habitually drift around any university campus. Yes, don't follow societal trends. Yes be "alternative". Yeah dude, all power to you for "sticking it to the man" and not wearing anything bought from outside a St Vinnies Store, but to be honest - nobody really gives a flying fuck.

No, I don't wear Von Dutch. No, I don't own a Prada handbag and no I don't own Nike shoes (In fact, most of my clothing is either shredded denim or leather ), but am I bothered by other people wearing Von Ductch clothing? No, only a twat (like yourself) would be.

Multinationals that employ people for low wages aren't the problem. The conditions that make said people work for such low wages are the problem. Poverty isn't the fault of the west but rather civil unrest and greedy despots. I don't see how companies that actually EMPLOY PEOPLE cause any damage socially or economically.

 

[rumour]

No, they don't bother me. It's not like we can stop them from occuring!

 

[ChrisE]

i dress like other people, i model my style on the style of others, i buy certain brands of clothing because of their quality and reputation, i over indulge on alcohol to block out my self confidence issues, i like buying things for myself but am i a bad person? no. makes me happy and im allowed to be happy arent i?