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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
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
Exactly! Who cares if you "waste" your time. Time you enjoyed wasting is not wasted (Can't remember who this quote is from)
Load More Replies...This is such sanctimonious nonsense. Netflix "costs my time?" No, working costs me my time. Spending 9-10 hours every day doing an activity that brings me no joy is costing me my time. Watching Netflix is me reclaiming the brief amount of time I have left to do something I actually like.
If something is free, you are not the 'product' . That's sensationalist garbage. Someone paid for that free thing. If you want to buy the free thing in future that's your choice. But, you don't HAVE to....
Only one of those things is actually free, so the ending quotation doesn't fit all the examples. Final grade C+
Netflix isn't costing me time, that's the work/school/commute daily doing it
If we got paid for our data, we could probably all stop working today and retire comfortably.
My husband was severely disabled; something that happened slowly over many years but reached the level of near-bed bound for the last 8 years of his life. He would have gone mad without that variety and I worked very hard to give it to him. Debt was becoming unmanageable and, after I lost him, I ended up bankrupt. To have given him those choices (I would come home to him having things like three different news shows, with all their talking heads and understanding what they were saying) was worth every penny.
"When something is free, you are the product". How many of you paid for this website?
I have never worn a shirt that I paid for that advertised the company that took my money.
The only one of the "Big 5" technology companies that doesn't harvest and sell your data is Apple. That is why their hardware is so expensive: because it is their only income stream.
apple is literally the main money grabber for the deep state. the russians destroying each of them caught on active soldiers had a reason for that. o would guess cia, since they collect more than producing military technology., but what's the difference these days? so they fight the syrians, then make the syrians (Jobs) rule you; that's why you need to take control on morality, to prevent the mechanism itself that generates abnormalities. fighting one symptom at a time )infiltration, then misguided racism, then even more infiltration in the name of the anti-racism) makes the countries (even the victims among the western ones) look like a kid fighting a wrestling champion. As for the price, this is never a justification; the truly moral (or rather functional) companies do all the good things and cheap. What Apples does with prices is a system-backed move to seize the money from the society and make it dependent, growing the worthless dollar abroad and pressing the unprotected part of the public home. the billions that the executives make are really just the crumbles, the real money go elsewhere and are hidden on all transactions, from intra-company sales to book cooking and depositing offshore.
Load More Replies...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!
Remember
My Public Library Tells You How Much Money You’ve Saved By Checking Things Out Instead Of Buying Them
While I agree with this in theory, in reality borrowing 40 books a year from a library does not mean I would have bought them instead. I'm more likely to borrow many more books from the library - because they're free - than to buy them. It's nice to know what 40 books would have cost but I'm not saving that much money.
Totally. The Cost Of Capitalism Is Socialized, The Profits Are Privatized
Buy This Little Sign As A Reminder That You Should Not Have Bought This Sign
And Companies Even More
Packaging Within Packaging Within Packaging
Its Not Much But These 4 Year Old Headphones Wont Be Going To The Landfill Today!
Maybe Kylie can use a them on her 3 minute private jet flight! Thanks for toiling away with your difference!
Did They Really Thought We Will Pay For All Of This
I Love This Comic
Welcome To Dooms Beach
Things Are Bad For You
I Chose The Bottle Because A Tube Wasn't Enough! This Trojan Trickery Is An Abuse Coming From A Brand With Recognition
The Real Reason
These Earbuds That Cost $5 / Month. Every Month. Forever. Don’t Pay And They’ll Remotely Deactivate Them
So BMW are now charging a subscription to people to use 'your' heated seats and other car features. "A monthly subscription to heat your BMW’s front seats costs roughly $18, with options to subscribe for a year ($180), three years ($300), or pay for “unlimited” access for $415." https://www.theverge.com/2022/7/12/23204950/bmw-subscriptions-microtransactions-heated-seats-feature
Capitalism Is Disgusting
Wait, why can't they be sold? And if so, why aren't they donated to the MILLIONS of homeless and below-poverty line people????
A Priceless Gold Hat With A 317-Carat Diamond And 400 Other Jewels Was Driven In A Custom-Made Rolls Royce To A £2.5 Billion Palace, Where It Was Placed Next To A Gold Chair In Which Sat One Of The World's Richest Men, Who Told 2 Million Hungry Britons There's No Money
As an American I simply cannot wrap my mind around the obsession with this useless family. The only way I’d watch them is if we can have them and the Kardashians battle it out to the death like Hunger Games. I wouldn’t just watch that, I’d go bankrupt producing it.
[satire] Since Micro Plastic Is Already In Our Bloodstream
Over 2,000 Pounds Of Fresh Pork Being Rejected By The Walmart Distribution Center Because The Sell By Dates Occur When Their Stores Are Closed For Thanksgiving
The Humble Bicycle
They Reinvented Sugar Water
I bet not long and people on TikTok will drink it as a challenge instead of feeding it to the bee.
The Glamor, The Elegance
World Falling Apart Around Us You Say? Obviously The Solution Is To Consume More
I'm Speechless
A Single Jellybean Wrapped In Plastic
The reality is, modern medicine medicine generates a massive amount of singe-use-plastic waste. When I was little the doctor kept dozens of glass thermometers in a little glass canister full of rubbing alcohol, and took one out for each patient, then put it in a second glass canister also filled with rubbing alcohol. The next day all the thermometers were clean and they were used every day until the broke.
Just Buy Something. Don’t Worry About What It Is, If You’ll Like It, Or If You Need It. Just Buy It
Its All About The Money, Isnt It?
How about paying for a lab-made diamond? Will be durable af (cos it's a real diamond) and no child was exploited in the making of it
Capitalism Is Delusional Dogma
I’m Gonna Just Leave This Here
Fun fact about Apple, they sit on all their money and do not give it away in any capacity, except to further investment. It's because big papa Steve didn't believe in 'charity'. So not only do they make the most money, they hoard it the most too! Fck Apple, seriously. Source: https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2011/08/yes-you-can-think-less-steve-jobs-not-being-philanthropist/338546/
Join The Boycott
Absolutely Revolting
How Is This Stupid Necklace A Conscious Choice?
Low Paid "Essential" Workers Won't Get Time Off During Ultra-Consumption Season
The Obvious Solution Of Course
Given That The Average American Eats Around 181 Pounds Of Meat Annually, It Is Easy To See How Meat Consumption Might Account For So Much Of An American’s Water Footprint
Remember: none of this actually matters if we don't take care of the so-much-larger-our-individual-footprint-is-insignificant corporate waste. You can skimp and scrounge and save all day and it won't make a lick of difference until we starting holding the real wasters accountable. It's like spitting on a forest fire.
Why Don't These Politicians Tell The People The Truth?
False. He cancelled them (they were standing deals from previous admins). Please be more careful BP.
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!