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“When Something Is Free, You Are The Product”: 50 Posts From This Anti-Consumption Community That Might Inspire You To Cut Back (New Pics)
Did you know that over 70% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions can be traced back to only 100 companies? Among this 100 are various oil, gas, energy, and coal producers from all around the world, but there’s one thing they all have in common: they are destroying the planet for profit and have no intentions of citizens consuming less.
Thankfully, there are many people who want to fight back against greedy capitalist corporations and urge others to make more conscious decisions about what they buy and use. One place where these like-minded individuals tend to gather is the Anticonsumption subreddit. We’ve gone through the group, and found some of the most insightful and eye-opening posts that might make you reconsider your next fast fashion purchase or inspire you to start biking to work. Be sure to upvote the posts that you agree with the most, and then let us know in the comments below how you aim to reduce, reuse, and recycle more. Keep reading to also find an interview with author and environmental activist Colin Beavan. Then if you’re looking for even more anticonsumption inspiration, you can check out Bored Panda’s last post on this same subreddit right here.
This post may include affiliate links.
Remember Kids, “Vegan Wool” Is Plastic. And When It Breaks, It’s Decomposition Will Not Be Friendly
It is unreasonable to expect everyone to drop everything and go zero-waste overnight. First of all, most societies are just not set up to support that kind of lifestyle. Even purchasing necessities at the supermarket requires some plastic, paper, glass and/or cardboard consumption. Also, many people are not taught to have a mindset of minimalism. Capitalism actually preaches the opposite. Consume consume consume. Bigger is better, and the more the merrier. Whether that be pairs of shoes, cars, how much food we eat, how large our homes are, how long our showers are, or how green our grass is, capitalism encourages extremes.
But who is really benefiting from that kind of lifestyle? Is buying the newest iPhone actually making you happier? Or is it causing you stress to think about how tight your budget will be now thanks to monthly payments on that small electronic device? And does having a huge home mean anything if you have to work 60 hours a week to be able to afford it? Groups like Anticonsumption challenge individuals to rethink what they have been taught and make conscious decisions that will actually benefit their lives and the planet.
Us Law Needs To Be Amended
It’s a proven fact they don’t care about the babies’ and parents’ lives, just control
I've said it before but... I really can't understand how a country can ban abortion without providing minimum social care. Free pre-natal care, free health care for children, monthly child benefits, paid parental leave, paid sick-days to take care of your children when they are sick and income-based child care. That is standard in countries with free abortion so obviously that would be the least they can do when they ban abortion right (if they care about "life" so much)?
Because cruelty is very popular here. Especially in the guise of religion or politics.
Load More Replies...And mom has to pay the hospital for 'skin contact' with her newborn.
I heard about this… I couldn’t actually believe it. What an outrage. The US is insane
Load More Replies...And then refuse to allow you to sterilise because it's against religious beliefs
and blocks comprehensive sex ed or allows pharmacists to deny sale of condoms or contraceptives
Load More Replies...Never thought I'd live in a time when Idiocracy went from a movie to a documentary, or The Handmaid's Tale from a TV series to real life, and yet here we are...
Because they thought that Handmaid's Tale is a user guide
Load More Replies...Oligarchy, dystopian nightmare. Let's call it what it truly is. There is nothing free or liberating about this place anymore. It's the exact opposite of it and if you actually read the constitution, you will see that those running things are doing the exact opposite of what the constitution says to do. Everything from human rights to justice, liberty, dignity, and decency has slowly been stripped away from everyone but the 1% and those in positions of power. Don't believe me? Go read every amendment and the entire constitution. Then ask yourself honestly, are you afforded and able to do everything it states? Or is the exact opposite of what it states happening?
That's because the US has become a 3rd World country - started with Reagan and apart from one or two notable Presidents since then has continued on a downward spiral for the majority of Americans since then ..... Thank gawd I live in a reasonably sensible country, no, wait, I live in the UK - Please can I claim asylum in France or Germany or Spain or Switzerland ; actually, anywhere but here or the States !!
this was always the way, openly till the civil war and after Reagan, more discreetly with open phases in between (the two Jacksons, LBJ, Hoover etc.) but even Eisenhower warned against that.
Load More Replies...At least the baby has an opportunity to succeed. You’re very fortunate to have the opportunity to even comment on the topic because you were given an opportunity at life. Ironic.
Load More Replies...Millennials aren't breeding (gee, wonder why) and the depletion of the slave class is making them panic. You don't need to be healthy - you just need to replace yourself before dying
This is a comment related to the anti abortion laws in the USA but its relevant worldwide. I know it may be controversial but that doesn't mean its invalid .So - this planet can't sustain the population it has , it is massively overcrowded. This multiplies all of the problems we are inflicting on the planet, including global infernoing.So in its wisdom some USA states think its better to force unwanted pregnancies into the world to help increase the population against the woman's will. Like that makes sense🤔🙄. Birth control and sex education should be being propoted there and elsewhere. Some will say but what of people who want children.I say look at the state of the world they're being brought into.Dont we need to clean it up and cool it down and find ways for the population we've got to live in an ecologically sound way first. I would not dream of bringing a child into this mess.
As has been mentioned on a completely different thread, capitalism is a pyramid scheme based on having more people to buy more sh*t. Capitalists *need* population increase.
Load More Replies...Not giving birth is the most eco friendly option. After suicide ofcourse.
American society requires lots of people to support the rich. Birth rates have been going down. Banning abortion helps the rich. Remember people, the name of the game is capitalism and money is the only thing that matters.
And then charges upwards of 10k for someone else to adopt that child after they've been put through the most severe scrutiny and surprise house visits from CPS over and over for months before adoption and years after the adoption. Plus in some states the adoption can be reversed up to four years after the child was adopted. The whole system is stupid.
Once the baby is born they couldn’t care how many rat’s a**es they could fit into a healing mum’s VJ.
Bans on abortion have nothing to do with whether a fetus is an individual or not. The issue is slavery. Either women own their own body, or somebody else owns them- the state, the church, the Republican party - but somebody else. The push to ban abortion is part of a long-term plan to eliminate civil rights and return to a system of slavery by white racists. The recent opinions of SCOTUS make that clear - they intend a return to "states rights" and "local control" that have been the platform of the racists slavers since 1865, when their first insurrection failed.
Very deep... If only the rest of the world would think like you.. then we wouldn't have the problems we do....🤔
We don't really have any facts, so we're just going to make them up - pack the fact box.
This!!! This post needs a thousand upvotes.... Who on earth can even afford to have babies let alone afford to have them if they actually didn't plan on getting pregnant in the first place?
You're here, you ignorant selfish person, and you must be a move in from California. Your shelf life is short baby killer.
When my oldest was born, I got a congrats call from my then-husband's work. I asked about paternity leave, the employer LAUGHED like it was the funniest joke he'd ever heard.
Show me the links to actual programs that offer free stuff to ONLY undocumented individuals (person without legal immigration status and a valid social security). I'll wait. I am sure you have several to back up your claims. Don't bother with anecdotes give me actual links to programs.
Load More Replies...You keep repeating this question over and over on various posts, so I'll answer this one for you. Women in the US will march and protest. We will sign whatever petitions are necessary. We will write to our representatives and senators in protest. We will march and protest some more. We will vote for people who will tell us that they'll make abortion safe and legal, then watch them get elected and do exactly the opposite, or nothing, because that's how our government works. We'll support our fellow women who are faced with either traveling to a different state for an abortion (if they can get the time off work and can afford it), and we'll mourn the ones we lose to botched, back-alley procedures. Does this answer satisfy your arrogant question?
Load More Replies...Can We Agree That Libraries Are Underrated And Not Appreciated Enough In This Consumerist Society?
The Anticonsumption subreddit was created on September 25, 2009, and has amassed over 420k members since then. The group’s description simply states, “Consumerism Kills", and their rules explain that the group is “primarily for criticizing, questioning, and discussing consumerism and current consumption standards”. Common topics discussed among members include consumerism, planned obsolescence, economic materialism, inefficiency, marketing, advertising and branding, sustainability, exploitation, conspicuous consumption, social harm and intellectual property.
As you’ll see throughout this list, there are plenty of sneaky ways corporation try to persuade consumers into buying more and plenty of ideas the average person never stops to question. For example, why do people want mowed lawns with bright green grass when the weeds and wildflowers that naturally grow are actually beautiful? There’s no need to waste water and spend electricity and fuel on a lawnmower when you can just allow nature to take its course. Yet the expectation in many places is to have a perfectly manicured lawn, so residents continue to follow the trend.
The Covid Lockdown Exposed Consumerism
#4- Most people (in the USA, at least), value their pretend freedom over the health and lives of others.
We reached out to environmental activist and author of No Impact Man and How to Be Alive, Colin Beavan, to hear from an expert why we should all care about consuming less. "Some things we buy, and they support our happiness. Experiences are that way. Vacations. Meals with family and friends. Some things we buy because we get a short hit of happiness from buying them," Colin explained. "But if buying these things runs up our debt or keeps us in a job we don't like, then consumption actually undermines our happiness. That is not so good. Using resources can harm the habitat we depend on. It is silly to use them unmindfully. Consume in ways that are actually good for you and your world."
Billionaires
We also asked Colin how his No Impact project (where he spent a year while living in New York City attempting to live as environmentally conscious as possible in terms of waste production, energy usage, etc. and detailed the experience in this book) affected his mindset about how much is needed to have a comfortable life. "Since then, I've come to think that our environmental problem is also a spiritual problem. We constantly imagine that we have to change the world in order to feel happy. Thus, we do things knowing they will harm the world because we are scared of sacrificing our happiness," he explained. "But that's a mistake. Happiness comes from developing the wisdom to understand our true relationship to the world. Then what makes us happy is helping."
This Is Disturbing
Lastly, we asked Colin what his top tips are for anyone who wants to begin the journey of reducing their impact on the planet but just doesn't know where to start. "Find the change that helps you," he said. "If your diet needs a reboot, become vegetarian. If your social life needs help, join an environmental action community. If you care about other social causes, find a community that marries those causes with environmentalism. If you need to save money, learn to buy used."
If you'd like to hear more wisdom for Colin or check out his books, you can find his website right here.
I Saw This And Thought It Was A Good Idea! What Do You Think?
The idea of being “anticonsumption” might seem daunting at first because you might not even know where to begin. Once you start thinking about reducing your waste and energy usage, everything will stand out to you. Why is produce wrapped in plastic at the store? How many miles are you driving each week that you could easily bike instead? How much air conditioning are you blasting through your entire home each summer? If you agree with the mindset of anticonsumption, start taking small steps to reduce your carbon footprint.
You can start with buying less in general. The next time you see an ad for a kitchen gadget you swear you need or you feel the temptation to purchase a small novelty item, don’t just throw it into your shopping cart. Really consider how valuable the item is. Do you need it? How often will you use it? Will it improve your life? Will it actually make you happier? The first step to reducing your consumption is being mindful about what you purchase and what you are supporting by giving that company your money. If you can imagine an item ending up in the trash or shoved in the back of your closet within the next few months, maybe it isn’t worth it.
Free Vegetable Leaves For Pets In My Local Supermarket‘S Produce Section
Someone On My Street Said “No” To Big, Wasteful Lawns
When you really do need to purchase something, don’t just hop on Amazon or run to the nearest retail store. Think outside the box. Most things can be purchased second hand at a local thrift store or through online resources like Facebook marketplace. By shopping this way, you are likely to spend much less and you are not contributing to a huge corporation’s demand for products. We are told through countless advertisements and corporations that getting what we want as fast and as simply as possible is the best way to live, but that is exactly what is killing our planet. Remember that there are alternatives to purchasing something brand new, and although it might take a bit more effort than spending 5 minutes searching online, it will likely save you money and require less resources in the long run.
Who's The Thief?
I knew we are fishing the oceans to extinction but once I drove past harbour and saw a crate lifting fishing net full of fish. The volume of the net was like a house. I don’t know how many tons of fish but seeing it made me cry. I was driving and crying and will never forget that image.
This Sign-Holder At A Toronto Protest Might Have A Point
This Belongs Here
It is also important to be conscious of the quality of things we purchase. Opting to buy a cheap plastic product when there are more sustainable alternatives is not always the best choice. Think about where that object comes from and where it will end up. Will it even last one year? If you can manage to spend a little more at the time of purchase, items that are built to last are always worth it. It will be less hassle for you when you don’t have to worry about buying a new toothbrush every few months, and you will be creating less waste. The same goes for clothing as well. Fast fashion is extremely wasteful, so when you can afford to buy clothing made from well-made materials and fabrics, you are investing in that item for years to come. Birkenstocks and Doc Martens seem expensive until you have been wearing the same pair for 10 years and they are still going strong. Weigh the pros and cons of all of your purchases.
The American Dream
How Can People Still Be Proud Of This Country?
We Need A Different Economy
Adopting an anticonsumption mindset is important because our planet is running out of time. One report from the UN found that the richest one percent of the world’s population produces more than double the emissions of the poorest half of the world. The culprit for all of these emissions is consumption. Larger houses, more cars, more international and or private flights, etc. The more money they have, the more access they have to resources, and most affluent individuals are more concerned about their quality of life than leaving the planet in a livable state for future generations. The more we consume, the more stress we are putting on the Earth, so even if it seems like your impact is a drop in the bucket, remember that every ounce of effort counts.
Feeling Futile
And these same billionaires telling us to lower our carbon footprint as if it’ll do anything
You Cant Say Sustainable Without Saying F**k Golf Courses
Fake System
Consuming less might take lots of effort at first, but over time, it will become second nature. Passing up on small wasteful purchases will make the things that you do have more meaningful. Owning something for a long time allows it to build sentimental value and become much more valuable than a newer product that you didn’t really need but felt pressured into buying. Having a more simple life will likely make you feel more satisfied as well. By accepting what you have and not constantly searching for something new or attempting to keep up with everyone else, you can just relax. A time will come one day when that old blender will eventually break, and you will be tasked with buying a new (at least to you) one. But for the most part, you can be content knowing that your wallet and the planet thank you for purchasing less.
The Lucrative War Is A Thing
So Much Pointless Stuff
I’m severely allergic to the god awful scents in both fabric softener and dryer sheets. No one needs to use these two worthless and wasteful products. I live in an area with hard water. All you need to do is add extra borax to the above recipe. Also Dr. Bronners unscented liquid soap can be bought in gallon jugs and then diluted appropriately. So good for your skin and environmentally friendly.
We’re Individually Wrapping Olives Now!!!
Gaby Del Valle at Vox spoke to Richard Heede, co-founder and co-director of the Climate Accountability Institute, about how consumption is harming the planet and what we can do to help. Richard provided a host of recommendations for what individuals can do. “We can reduce our household footprint from 24,000 pounds [of CO2] per year, on average, if you take the average household in the United States. We can easily cut that in half if we invest in energy efficiency,” he explained. “A lot of things are free to do: We don’t have to brush our teeth or shave with hot water running, or take very long showers. Turning off unneeded light, air-drying clothes in the summer — those kinds of things are free, and they save several hundred pounds [in CO2 emissions] per year. And then you get into some things we can do to renovate and retrofit our houses to be more energy efficient. Replacing showerheads, insulating hot water heaters, buying more efficient lights, having automatic controls for thermostats. ... We can certainly travel by air less often. We can seek to work at home, if possible. We can combine trips.”
Hypocrites Much?
Less Population = Less Sales = Sad Rich Overlords
And Then We Could Just Get A New Battery Instead Of Buying A Whole New Phone/Getting The Company To Replace It And Therefore Wasting More Materials
I had one of the early mobiles back in 1997, an NEC G9. Almost every time I took it out, I dropped it, but all was well and even the battery stayed in place. One time I was pulling it out of my pocket (probably showing off with it tbh lol) and I dropped it as I was walking. I ended up kicking it through the air about 5 metres ahead of me. I thought it was the end. But no, still working, battery attached. I have no idea where it is now (my dad's probably used it to strengthen the house foundations) but I would wager that it would still turn on even at 25 years old. I'm gonna resist the temptation to say 'they don't make 'em like they used to' because then I will feel truly old. (But they don't)
Richard also notes that everyone needs to be on board to help reduce the impacts of our consumption. “We all need to participate. We can’t just screw in an energy-efficient lightbulb and say, ‘That’s all I’m doing.’ We need to make the right voting choices. The household sector and personal consumption are big components, globally, but it won’t solve the problem to the degree that we need. We need leadership that puts a price on carbon. We need leadership that supports sane energy policies,” he says.
“I think it’s better to be hopeful and optimistic about our future than pessimistic and gloomy about it. We have the most innovative, intelligent, compassionate humans on this planet that we all share. If we exercise intelligence and compassion, we will collectively help solve this problem — or at least avoid the worst of what climate change has to offer.”
This Would Be A Good Visual For People. I Know It Would Be Heavier For Me Seeing It At A Restaurant
I Wish That Money Could've Been Spent On The Employees For Their Labor Instead
Don’t get me STARTED I. The “Helpful Honda Dealers”. Multi billion dollar company spends millions advertising s**t like, “Hey is your house getting repossessed? Here, enjoy a free AC window unit! 👍💁♀️“
Climate Dad Knows Better
We hope this list is inspiring you to rethink any new purchases and remember to avoid single use materials whenever possible. The next time you see an ad for something a large corporation wants to convince you that you need, take a moment to consider if you really do need it. You were just fine before, so you will probably manage just fine without it. Keep upvoting the posts that really speak to you, and let us know in the comments what your best anticonsumption tips are. Then don't forget to check out Bored Panda's last anticonsumption list right here.
Capitalists Doesn't Mean " Free Market"
It also means that if after you're done b*tching about the products and corporations that produce them, you don't buy those products they will no longer be produced, the company will either be forced to make another product, change labor practices, make it more affordable or go out of business. That's the part that people keep overlooking. They complain, insult, and denounce these $hitty corporations, and then still hand them their money.
Saw At The Exploratorium In Sf And Just Nails It
And When It Rains, It Pours
Marketing Dudes Thinking They’re Being Funny
Saw This And Thought It Was A Super Cute Idea! Would Be Perfect For An Outdoor Celebration
That Last Line
OK, so if I'm home sick &/or disabled watching Netflix, or any other streaming service, is costing me my time? Even if I'm not sick or whatever, I can't enjoy some screen viewing of an evening to relax? I'm calling BS on that & on the coke & social media things as well. The key to many things in life is moderation & self-responsibility rather than trying to suck enjoyment out of people's lives with absolutist nonsense
They Sure Know How To Make Two Opposing And Equally Stupid Ideas Coexist Harmoniously Inside A Desperate Person's Skull
Unchecked Capitalism. Greed
It Would Happen
Why Buy A Sled When You Can Borrow One?
looks like a crime waiting to happen *aka stealing instead of borrowing*
I Love This Idea. Each Item Gets So Much More Use When Locally Stored And Available For The Community
My partner and I thought this would be great for tools, power washers and birthday decorations. What would you put in a library if it didn't contain books? What should be rentable but isn't?
My library loans pasta machines, food dehydrators, sewing machines, telescopes, shave ice, bubble, and popcorn machines for parties, ice cream machines, net bags with beach balls/buckets/shovels, tickets to the air museum/Chinese garden/other events. Also video to digital converters, air fryers, metal detectors, knitting machines, radon detectors, and lots of other items that you might but have to buy, only use occasionally, then store them for years. (Who's got room for all that stuff?) And it all started with cake pans several years ago!
Billionaires Buy And Own "Free Speech"
Can You Really Say You Love Her If You Won’t Buy Her Child Slave Mined Rocks?
Guzzolene Addicts
The Worker Exploitation To Food Waste Pipeline
Ready For No Nestle November?
My Company Loves To Throw Away Half A Day Old Fruit
Not Sure If You Saw The Video But The Fashion Zombies Didn't Like The Message
This really should be at H&M, Zara, Forever 21, Mango, and all the fast cheap fashion chains that pollute our environment exponentially more. But then you wouldn’t be able to hate on the rich, and would have to turn it on yourself instead.
Why On Earth Do We Need Individually Wrapped Potatoes!?
The Waste At Target This Morning. Going Right Into The Dumpster. Imagine All The People This Box Would Feed
Milking It
Just Saw This On Twitter. Credit To Andy Singer
Yikes
I mean, at least farmers are benefitting from it? But (and I know that probs didn't happen) Pizza Hut should donate the kale at the end of the day, either to their own employees or to people in need. I think in France now supermarkets and such cannot throw away food that's still good. They have to donate it. Gosh, imagine if that became law in every single country, how many people starving would benefit from it!
Note: this post originally had 86 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.
my thought exactly. This sucks. The world sucks. Future looks bleak
Load More Replies..."America, are you ok?" -- that's all I can think of after going through the thread :/
When I see posts like this I get really mad and pissed people complaining that they're got it soooo bad ! They make my a*s ache yes I'm " Boomer " all I see is ppl complaining about stuff they have the tools to correct
That first paragraph is based on a misunderstanding of a study from July 2017, Snopes investigated it and debunked the headline: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/corporations-greenhouse-gas/
it's a good thing that these things are now being able to surface thanks to social media. It's one of the good things that come out of that, ironic as it may sound since the same platform is also being utilized heavily to encourage more consumption.
Hi Pandas! I thought it would be a good idea to make a subreddit for Bored Panda. This is a place where you can share your favourite Bored Panda posts, funny comments or any posts you think should be on Bored Panda. I'm trying to make sure that Bored Panda finds out about this themselves. I will be posting this a lot, but i'm hoping you understand its not spam. The more members we get the better. It's a place where you can discuss issues of the site as well. (Such as the recent u.s bashing posts) Heres the link: https://www.reddit.com/r/BoredPanda/ Thank you!
my thought exactly. This sucks. The world sucks. Future looks bleak
Load More Replies..."America, are you ok?" -- that's all I can think of after going through the thread :/
When I see posts like this I get really mad and pissed people complaining that they're got it soooo bad ! They make my a*s ache yes I'm " Boomer " all I see is ppl complaining about stuff they have the tools to correct
That first paragraph is based on a misunderstanding of a study from July 2017, Snopes investigated it and debunked the headline: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/corporations-greenhouse-gas/
it's a good thing that these things are now being able to surface thanks to social media. It's one of the good things that come out of that, ironic as it may sound since the same platform is also being utilized heavily to encourage more consumption.
Hi Pandas! I thought it would be a good idea to make a subreddit for Bored Panda. This is a place where you can share your favourite Bored Panda posts, funny comments or any posts you think should be on Bored Panda. I'm trying to make sure that Bored Panda finds out about this themselves. I will be posting this a lot, but i'm hoping you understand its not spam. The more members we get the better. It's a place where you can discuss issues of the site as well. (Such as the recent u.s bashing posts) Heres the link: https://www.reddit.com/r/BoredPanda/ Thank you!