Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
“Keep The Peasant Class Distracted”: 80 Brutal Reminders Of How Bad Consumerism Has Gotten (New Pics)
We only have one home, and it’s Planet Earth. So, it would make sense to structure society in such a way that you maximize environmental protection, resource efficiency, frugality, and long-term sustainability. And yet, it’s consumerism, greed, and profitability that get prioritized.
The ‘Anticonsumption’ online community criticizes consumer culture, materialism, planned obsolescence, exploitation, and all the other things that make the world a worse place. We’re featuring some of the group’s most accurate posts to inspire you to think about how your daily actions impact not just you, but society and the planet as a whole.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
What's Yours?
RELATED:
#2
And Here, We Are Buying Stuff We Don’t Need Thanks To Big Corp
Multa Nocte (she/her/8647) 4 days ago
And we've just seen examples of two of the worst of them - Bezos and Musk.
#3
Keep The Peasant Class Distracted And Fighting Amongst Themselves So They Will Never Revolt Against Their True Enemy
Daisydaisy 4 days ago
The billionaires like us to punch down: immigrants, welfare recipients, asylum seekers, the homeless, the mentally ill. Anything to make sure we don't look to closely at what they're doing
You might think that your individual actions don’t have much of an impact, but they do. Companies and organizations react to trends and shifts in consumer behavior, like prioritizing ethical practices, sustainability, and environmental protection.
So, when you, your family, friends, colleagues, and neighbors start voting with your wallets, eventually, businesses have to take note… or they risk being left behind. And no company wants to become obsolete.
#4
Corporations Have No Business Buying Residential Property
#5
This Is The Tweet From A Guy Back In 2022. 3 Years Later, There Is Still Greed
#6
Human Greed, Apathy Need To Be Addressed To Deal With Climate Change, Says Gus Speth. Agree?
Of course, many companies won’t change their business strategies merely from the goodness of their hearts.
They adjust their strategies because the shifts in consumer demand make it profitable for them to do so.
And the more vocal and visible these consumers are, the quicker those changes occur to align with these new values in society.
#7
Single Use Hell
I like to reuse travel sized bottles and am usually careful not to dispose of them. I lost/threw away my makeup remover travel sized bottle on accident so had to buy another because I travel a lot for work.
Color me surprised when I went to refill it and this new bottle you can’t!! Garnier designed the cap to be broken if opened. My old bottle was also from Garnier , same exact bottle and I could take the cap off, had it for years.
Y’all I’m tired. I’m tired of every company being evil and greedy. I get the last laugh though because I have syringes to refill ink pens so I’m going to use a clean one to refill this bottle.
Bill Walker 3 days ago
This happened with a swifter mop I have. I looked on Youtube on how to open the spray bottle thing. Bam! It worked. I'll be d****d if I'm going to pay 7$ everytime I run out of mop juice.
#8
Just Some Motivation I Saw On Instagram
Rinso The Red 3 days ago
We need a couple of dozen corporations/nations to be held accountable. While I agree reducing your footprint is a good thing, this type of thinking resolves the largest contributors to the issue of responsibility.
#9
Fame Funded By The Public
Profitability aside, companies that listen to their eco-conscious consumer base can strengthen their customer loyalty, improve the reputation of their brands, and stand out from their competitors.
What’s more, they can improve the resilience of their businesses by future-proofing themselves against resource scarcity or regulatory shifts.
On top of that, sustainability can lead to innovation, lower costs, and new revenue streams.
#10
“I’m So Exhausted With Wanting Things”
#11
Price Inflation Is A Tax On The 99%
Geoffrey Scott 4 days ago
One point I made during my contact with my Conservative Rep. "So...you would think that increased crude prices would reflect consistent profits for big oil, right? NOPE!!! RECORD profits which indicates price gouging".
#12
Let's Start Calling Ecological Disasters This Way
Daisydaisy 4 days ago
I love this!!! And yet these bas-tards have persuaded so many people to "not believe in" climate change, to dismiss science as nonsensical
During a previous interview, Bored Panda spoke with u/NihiloZerowe, one of the moderators running the ‘Anticonsumption’ community. They were kind enough to tell us all about the group.
“There is a broad range of subject matter that gets discussed in the subreddit. You often see posts from people who are sick of litter, who are discontent with the dominant economic order, and who dislike excess packaging. There are a fair number of vegans in the sub and many subscribers are concerned about global warming and ecological degradation,” they said.
“Occasionally, someone will promote some sort of boycott or protest. I'd say the sub definitely leans left, but I don't ban people who want to argue about some sort of idealistic capitalist ecotopia. One thing that makes the sub stand out from other similar subs is that we don't have much tolerance for green consumerism,” they added that this community is not a place to market your “eco-groovy” products.
#13
Labubu Consumption Leads Us To Ask Question Of Human Fulfillment
Multa Nocte (she/her/8647) 4 days ago (edited)
When I lived in the US I used to buy things pretty regularly from Amazon, eBay, and other such places. Since we have moved to France I haven't bought a single thing on-line. Buying locally is so much easier when you have 4 daily marchés you can go to in different towns all close to here, and they actually sell clothes and shoes and jewelry and other things than just fresh locally grown food. I am now sort of ashamed about how much crap I used to buy, the amount of fuel it took to ship it, and especially that I was supporting Bezos by using Amazon.
#14
Chin Up
Geoffrey Scott 4 days ago (edited)
And, if you ever feel attacked because you profess to be ok with SNAP, Medicaid, the concept of Single payer health care, ask the person who thinks you are a 'bleeding heart' if it's ok that the largest, most profitable company, Walmart, refuses to insure, and pay living wages and instead relies on these programs to bolster their bottom line. And BTW gleefully accepts EBT. That is corporate welfare, Kevin!
#15
I Thought You All Might Like This Tweet
The moderator previously explained to us that they encourage people to post the type of content that they would prefer to see discussed.
In u/NihiloZero’s personal opinion, society might start consuming less in the near future. The caveat is that this likely won’t be caused by positive cultural shifts. Rather, it will be led by necessity.
“I believe that resource scarcity, environmental degradation, and political instability around the world will break down the modern system of consumerism as we know it,” they said. They added that the supply chain issues we’ve been seeing in recent years might be nothing compared to what’s to come.
#16
Each Cherry Individually Packaged. No Words, Sprouts
Daisydaisy 4 days ago
One day the producers of plastics will be made to clean up their own sh-it. It's not good enough to just make it a problem for consumers to feel bad and helpless about
#17
We Aren’t Asking For Anything Difficult 😞
#18
Offended Gymbros Around?
Earonn - 4 days ago
In all fairness, I don't have a gym membership anymore because I can run in the park, but the treadmill is nicer than running on streets in a city - no potholes, no sh/t on the pavement, no traffic lights, no obstacle to run around. It's much easier to get and keep your rhythm. Plus, try running in colder climates at -20 degrees Celsius.
“It would be nice if we could make a smooth transition to smaller self-sufficient and sustainable communities, and I won't try to stop you if that's what you're trying for, but I really don't expect such a transition to be smooth, if it ever happens at all," u/NihiloZero told Bored Panda.
The mod admitted that the community can be a bit holier-than-thou at times. “You see a fair bit of gatekeeping and fingers pointed at those who are deemed to be conspicuous consumers. The anti-capitalists don't like the capitalists. The vegans don't like animal eaters. The pedestrians don't like the filthy motorists. We probably get a relatively high number of luddites commenting in the sub.”
What unites most people who post, however, is that they are “sick of the violence, destruction, and waste in the modern world. Sometimes we can laugh about it, sometimes we can't. Sometimes we're serious, and sometimes we're not.”
#19
I Taught Myself To Sew With A Handcrank Machine To Make This Quilt. 90% Thrifted Fabric
#20
The Onion, Spot On As Always
Olive Moon 4 days ago
STOP buying it! JUST STOP. When did people become so complacent? It’s never going to end if you don’t just STOP!
#21
Oh Boy...at Least We Have Plastic Eating Fungi Now?
The long-running ‘Anticonsumption’ online community is utterly massive. It was created in late September of 2009 and continues to be incredibly active to this very day.
Case in point, at the time of writing, the community boasts a jaw-dropping 750k weekly visitors who share 8k contributions in the group every single week. This is proof of just how many people around the world are environmentally and socially conscious. And this is just one online group!
#22
Some Drugstores In The Czech Republic Introduced Shampoo And Shower Gel Filling Machines
#23
I Think About This Comic A Lot
#24
Monopoly
Luke || Kira (he/she) 3 days ago
"But capitalism is superior because it gives you a choice!!!"
The community itself is primarily a place to criticize and discuss consumer culture. This includes things like the environment, material consumption, media consumption, corporate influence, etc.
According to the moderators of the subreddit, everyone is encouraged to have polite discussions. That being said, you shouldn’t criticize any other internet users’ lifestyles, unless they specifically ask you to.
#25
Cnbc Wants You To Think Keeping Your Smartphone Longer Than A 2-Year Contract Is “Device Hoarding”
Multa Nocte (she/her/8647) 4 days ago
My computer is over 10 years old and does what I need it to do. It will be a while before I think of getting another.
#26
Fashion Becomes Waste, Overconsumption Left Ghana Drowning In Secondhand Clothes
#27
That Time Of Year Again
What’s more, the mods ask internet users not to make fun of the habits of regular people. However, you are allowed to post photos from the news, like stories about shopping trends or celebrities’ consumer habits.
Furthermore, there’s no room for anyone recommending any brands, products, apps, subscriptions, or software. And you shouldn’t be relying on generative AI to write your posts. (This makes sense considering how environmentally unfriendly the technology is, among other things.)
#28
Need A Reusable Mug? Try The Thrift Store
#29
Anyone Else Love Jomoing?
marianne eliza 3 days ago
OMG! Your JOMO pic is Ted Kaczynski. The Unabomber! He enjoyed his personal time by ki**ing people.
#30
5,000 Sq Ft Mansion Versus A 50,000 Sq Ft Mansion
I’d personally be ashamed of living something like that, knowing others are unhoused.
V 4 days ago
This going back a few years ago now, back when rent and house prices were achievable, but some friends of mine realised that if they got a group of them together it worked out cheaper to rent a mansion than several smaller houses. There were plenty of rooms, enough bathrooms, and a couple of kitchens so they weren't all on top of each other. It was like the one on the right, but on a smaller property.
Which of these posts resonated with you the most, dear Pandas? What are some small ways that you help protect the environment? What environmentally-conscious habits do you hope to pick up this year? Are you trying to curb shopping and food waste?
Share your thoughts and insights in the comments at the bottom of this post.
#31
The World Would Be A Better Place If We Adopt This Mindset - Let's Care For All Of Our Things!!!!
Geoffrey Scott 4 days ago
See... now buying an upgrade, not a Keurig, but a nicer insulated carafe unit (about $60) will make you pleased. You got your life out of it.
#32
Student Move In
Outside just a single dorm, and this is just the first day of a multiple day move in.
Mitch Glenn 4 days ago
Come back when they move out….disgusting how much of value they leave behind!
#33
Your Intent Is Worth $120 - And Bigtech Sells It Instantly
shg stewart 3 days ago
I used to have a job writing documentation for card readers attached to gas pumps. When I started the job, I did some research on gas pumps that have card readers integrated in them. For the next month, I ess aitch eye tee you not, I was getting ads for gas pumps all over everything online, like I would, I don't know, want one for my living room or something. I mean, sure, a heck of a conversation piece, but, ehh, I don't think so.
#34
Unchecked Capitalism And Consumption Leads To Whatever This Is
#35
An Extra $20 To Remove Ads From A Kindle You’d Own To Read Books You Pay For
Multa Nocte (she/her/8647) 4 days ago
Another reason to get hard copies, or, as we used to call them, "books."
#36
Billionaires Pay So High To Make You Buy Stuff You Don’t Need, Like X Blue Tick
Multa Nocte (she/her/8647) 4 days ago
Do people still buy blue ticks? Actually, do people still use this platform?
#37
What Looking At A Recipe In 2025 Looks Like
#38
Standing Against Workers? Socialist!
#39
We Need To Normalize Bringing Reusable Cups To Coffee/Boba Shops
#40
Landfillcore
#41
The Sheer Amount Of Fake Plastic Credit Cards I Get In The Mail
My mom has been in the hospital for a few weeks and we have no insurance so my family has been trying to figure out how to pay for the care she needs in and after she gets out ,and it seems every possible bank and credit card company smells blood in the water and is trying to get us to sign up with them. This pile is only part of it. I have thrown out probably a dozen more.
#42
What Other Ways Have You Found To Benefit The Community But Not The Corporations?
Multa Nocte (she/her/8647) 4 days ago (edited)
In my area of France there are book fairs twice a year both for used English books and for used French books. I go to both fairs, and all the books are a euro each. The resultant money goes to various local charities, and I grab a dozen or so books each time I go. When I am finished with a book, unless I am inspired to keep it, I then donate it to the local book tables each little town has where you put books out for free. This obviously doesn't work if you are after a specific book, but I've been surprised at some of the books I have found there for free, or some books that I wouldn't have thought of or known about if I hadn't run into them at a book table. I believe the only books I have bought new the past 4 years are the French translations of The Lord of the Rings.
#44
Pound Sand United- You Pay To Fight Climate Change
General Anaesthesia 4 days ago
The Sustainable Flight Account pays for advertising how much United cares.
#45
My Work Got New Chairs…
#46
Still So True
#47
Landlords Love To Blame Everything Except Rent-Seeking
#48
This Image Says A Lot. “Free Play” By R. Kikuo Johnson For The New Yorker Magazine Cover
#49
The Current Housing Crisis Summed Up In One Image
michael Chock 4 days ago
The problem are huge property brokers that own so much land but use loopholes to pay almost no taxes.
#51
Boycott Manipulation
#52
Inspiring Words From Someone Who “Gathered” $16b Dollars Before She [passed]
#53
The Consumerist System Isn't Working For The Majority Of People
#54
Pay Your Employees
Stephanie A Mutti 3 days ago
In college many years ago I delivered pizza and the fee was definitely paid to the driver: $2/delivery [back when $20 was good money for a night in college] but someone discovered the corporation could just keep that fee too.
#55
Make The Valentine’s Day Junk Go Away! We Are Tired
Geoffrey Scott 4 days ago
"Take all this Xmas c**p down!" This said to an associate in October. "I have no control over this".."Yes, I know, but push it up the chain, willya?"
#56
This Is What Happens When Every Aspect Of Our Lives Is Commercialized For Profit
Olive Moon 4 days ago
Call out Boomers if you must, but we “gathered” at dances, clubs, and each other’s homes. IN PERSON. What the fūck happened to that? Maybe too expensive at clubs these days. Dances seem to be extinct. But parties at homes?
#57
Consumption Will Not Make You Happy
Lady Eowyn 3 days ago
The last new addition to my wardrobe was a sweatshirt that I won in a sweepstakes. Most of my clothes are 30+ years old. I don't understand people who buy more and more clothes, or fast fashion. Sometimes I'm actually fashionable, not by intent, but because the cycle has swung around to my style again.
#58
Rent A "Tablet Strollers" So You Can Let Your iPad Kid Watch Even More While You Shop!
#59
Majority Of The Comments Don’t Find This Messed Up
Multa Nocte (she/her/8647) 4 days ago
Yes there is. All that money you guys spend on gadgets of any sort.
#60
#1 Enemy For This Sub
#61
Subscription Socks And Bedsheets That You're Supposed To Throw Away After Use?! 🤮
#62
Another One Down
#63
Stop Buying Phones
Richard Smith 3 days ago
Oh noooooooooooooooooo! You won't get security updates! Can't keep using old tech! :-(
#64
Merry Trashmus
#65
The Grinch Setting Good Examples
Multa Nocte (she/her/8647) 4 days ago
Interesting that the Grinch is wearing approximately the same amount of make-up that Donald Trump wears, even though it's a different colour, yet no conservatives bitch about Trump wearing make-up. And is that eye-liner I see on this Grinch, just like the Vice President of the United States wears? Interesting how much conservatives get pissy about men in make-up unless it's one of their own.
#66
Spoon Broke After Just 28 Years Of Service. Clearly Planned Obsolescence
#67
First There Are Bridesmaid Proposal Boxes, Then There Are Bachorlette Gift Bags
michael Chock 4 days ago
Life hack. You will be the same amount of married no matter how much the wedding costs.
#68
Ffs Why?
Multa Nocte (she/her/8647) 4 days ago
Seriously. Just grab a damn honey bottle and re-use it.
#69
Oh No... My Bad 🙄😒
sofacushionfort 3 days ago
It’s easy to price yourself out of a market that can be done without entirely
#70
This Is Funny, But Too Many People Genuinely Have This Attitude
WhyamIhere? 3 days ago
And it came the next day!? I may just be an isolated Australian, but ordering something online doesn't come that fast so why bother?
#71
In 2024 The U.S. Spent $43,000 Per Working-Age Person ($9 Trillion) On Cars
Multa Nocte (she/her/8647) 4 days ago (edited)
It's weird looking at this picture of Reagan and Bush and everyone from the 80s, and the current Presidential cabinet looks pretty much like this - mostly older white men. And people wonder why some of us think we see no progress.
#72
My Coffee Maker Broke Over A Year Ago And This Is How I've Been Making My Morning Coffee Since
#73
They Would (Satire)
michael Chock 4 days ago (edited)
Landowners should compensate everyone else for taking away our natural habitat.
#75
They Found A Way To Monetize The 2 Minutes We Spend Pumping Fuel In The Netherlands
#76
Pro-Billionaire Propaganda? What Next, Pro-Consumption Propaganda?
michael Chock 4 days ago
I believe everyone else paid for the billionaires entire lifestyle. No single person creates Billions in value during their lives (they only reallocate what others have created).
#77
Washing Broke, I Took It Apart And Fixed It Yesterday
Fellfromthemoon 3 days ago
43 years old washing maschine will be out of our lives the day after tomorrow. There are no parts to replace the broken ones anymore. On the flip side, I'm sure the new one will use less water and electricity.
#78
The Mass Is Wisening!
#79
Remember When You Could Get Good Quality Second Hand Clothes...yeah
#80
Influencer Stays With Family While Husband Is Deployed, Comes Home To Eight Months Of Pr Packages
Lost Panda 4 days ago
My lord... please tell me he revoked her Tricare and sent her packing with the boxes in tow
#81
Sexual Assault Bad. Consumerism To The Rescue!
#82
I Covered All The Branding On My Makeup
Add New Image
Explore more of these tags
What do you think ?
Olive Moon 4 days ago
I couldn’t finish reading. The brainwashing is brain-breaking. When did we lose the ability to think, “this is unreasonable, and I’m not paying for that?!” Here’s a little secret: if people refuse to pay for things, and stop buying them, they will become obsolete.
moggiemoo 2 days ago
Since prices have been rising so ridiculously there are quite a few things I no longer buy as I'm not prepared to pay that much. My wife says she'll buy them for me, I tell her she bloody won't! I'd rather do without.
Load More Replies...
Ryan Mercer 1 day ago
Only a few things can improve one's quality of life: identity, job, material needs, social policy, and personal relationships. Only one of those feels uncomplicated.
Olive Moon 4 days ago
I couldn’t finish reading. The brainwashing is brain-breaking. When did we lose the ability to think, “this is unreasonable, and I’m not paying for that?!” Here’s a little secret: if people refuse to pay for things, and stop buying them, they will become obsolete.
moggiemoo 2 days ago
Since prices have been rising so ridiculously there are quite a few things I no longer buy as I'm not prepared to pay that much. My wife says she'll buy them for me, I tell her she bloody won't! I'd rather do without.
Load More Replies... Ryan Mercer 1 day ago
Only a few things can improve one's quality of life: identity, job, material needs, social policy, and personal relationships. Only one of those feels uncomplicated.
Related on Bored Panda
