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It's no secret that nowadays people consume a lot of things at a very fast pace – a phenomenon that's called overconsumption. Sadly, likely nobody is guilt-free of this sin. Sometimes we even participate in it without realizing it.
If you partook in any of the trends you will find in this list, people online will likely deem you an overconsumer. Did we pique your interest? Are you eager to check out if you've done any of these? We hope you are, and we'll be expecting you to confess if you did! So, without further ado, let's dive in!
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#2
Content
There's too many videos.
There's too many influencers.
There's too many podcasts.
There's too many think pieces.
There's too many newsletters.
And most of it is just trying to get people to buy more s**t.
#3
Plastic single cup coffee pods.
Margaret Wartime 4 months ago
I remember being baffled when these first came out. Like, I thought we were trying to save the planet?
In certain circles online (and offline), you can hear the word ‘overconsumption’ being thrown around quite a lot. Often, it is used correctly to draw attention to an actual problem of overconsumption, to raise awareness. Yet, there are some cases where people throw the term around without fully understanding what it means, and thus, how to use it.
So, what is overconsumption? University of the Built Environment explains it as “The excessive use of resources and generation of waste beyond the Earth’s carrying capacity, often driven by unsustainable production and consumption patterns, resulting in environmental degradation, social inequality, and resource depletion.”
#4
Buying 42 Stanley cups in different colors like hydration's a fashion show.
#5
The freaking disposable vapes!! Not only are people throwing away the vapes, but there are literal batteries in there that they also toss. It’s madness! The least they could do is keep them in a drawer and tell themselves they’ll go recycle them. They don’t even pretend to care anymore.
#6
We cheer people who have hundreds of billions of dollars they will never spend while a third of the country starves unhoused.
WindySwede 4 months ago
And Bill Gates gets accused of beeing a bad person for spending money on vaccines and other seemingly good stuff?
Essentially, it is a detrimental thing that, unfortunately, many of us take part in, sometimes even without realizing it. Or by realizing, but ignoring the negative impact.
For instance, take a peek at today’s list – it’s full of various trends that many people deem to be the face of overconsumption. It’s quite likely that you have dipped your toes in at least one of them. Maybe you bought a Stanley cup, made a balloon arch, or shopped on Temu. Nowadays, overconsumption is around every corner.
#7
Stanleys and Labubus.
Margaret Wartime 4 months ago
Any trend that people jump on just to stroke their own ego and fit in with the crowd, rather than enjoy something they genuinely like, is not worth it
#8
Temu is really just c**p that no one needs.
#9
Empty houses. F**k the rich.
DowntownStevieB 4 months ago
My city just got PACKED with condos all of a sudden and CAN'T fill them! Just big empty condos that cost way too much.
The biggest problem with it is that it impacts our Earth in a negative way. For all of the things we like to buy and use, we need the planet's resources to create them. And since we make things at such a fast pace, we use up those resources faster than they can regenerate. So, things such as constant resource extraction, pollution, and waste are at an all-time high.
That leads to grim predictions about the future. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development says that by 2050, particulate matter-polluted air will end three times as many lives as it did in 2000.
#10
I don't like the videos where people do s**t like "we're making crazy nachos" and they pour like 80 lbs of food on the table for about 4 people and you know it all goes in the trash.
#11
Ragebait "cooking" channels.
"So today I'm gonna be showing you a simple meal hack to make for your kiddos and hubby! Ok so first you're gonna wanna take a 5lb block of cheddar cheese and wrap it in bacon..."
We know it it all gets thrown out at the end and they know that we know, and that's why they keep doing it.
Margaret Wartime 4 months ago
Makes me so mad. I hate wasting food. I’m off work for a week and I even just texted my coworkers and told them to finish my coffee cream in the fridge because I don’t want it wasted lol
#12
Those "aesthetic" influencer videos where they have a million little samples of products and a bunch of disposable c**p. Restocking the guest bathroom with a bunch of disposable tiny face sponges, mini hotel-sized samples of products, dozens of tiny highlighters, etc. Just get a normal sized bottle of product and some reusable cloth face wipes. .
Lara Verne 4 months ago
Restocking fridges with food. A lot of food. Unless they have 20 children, food goes bad before they are able to eat it.
Plastic in the ocean is expected to quadruple over that time. Also, the Millennium Alliance for Humanity and Biosphere estimates that global oil reserves could be entirely depleted by 2052. Doesn’t sound nice, does it?
If all that wasn’t enough, it can also harm our health. Already, near the Niger Delta, where a lot of resource extraction is happening, many people are suffering from breathing problems and chronic bronchitis. Plus, cancer rates there are much higher than in non-oil-producing parts of Nigeria. Terrifying stuff.
So, what can we do to stop it? Well, technically, a sad truth is that on a personal level, there isn’t anything you can do to stop the whole phenomenon. Of course, if you have any ideas, please fulfill them; you will help us all.
#13
Mobile phone and new car each year being produced and purchased.
JayWantsACat 4 months ago
Because I'm cheap and don't really care about cars or tech, I only replace my phone when I have to. My new phone is still like 7 years old and I only had to upgrade because my previous phone was no longer going to be supported by the cell company. lmao
#14
I’ve always been skeptical that the “extreme couponers” actually use the volume of goods they buy.
#15
Blind boxes. I am so sick of everything being a “mystery”. If I want whatever toy, or key ring or pin just LET ME BUY IT. .
Besides that, we can all still do small acts that make the situation even the littlest bit better. For example, reducing meat consumption, reducing the amount of purchases we make, or buying secondhand, and being mindful about energy consumption, to mention a few. You can always look for more ideas on what to do online. Sometimes, even a small act can make more of a difference than anticipated.
Do you have any more examples of overconsumption? Or maybe ideas on how to solve it? We want to hear it all in the comments!
#16
“Hauls” or “collections” of the same article of clothing. A lot of young women are very wrapped up in this b******t right now and it’s all because of social media and influencers. I can’t wait for influencer culture to be over.
Huddo's sister 4 months ago
I saw on 'The War on Waste' about the trend of young women buying huge amounts from Shein, not even remembering everything they ordered, because it's cheap. They then film themselves opening the packages and trying everything on. Then they keep about 10% of it and throw the rest out. So much waste! Even if you do send them to fabric recyclers, you can't be sure they are actually being recycled.
#18
Custom shirts for every occasion. A family trip to Disney is no longer complete unless all 12 members have personalized shirts with the year on them that they will never wear again and that will get donated to a thrift store where no one will buy them and they’ll ultimately end up in a landfill. I also have a hatred for companies that put years on clothes when it’s wholly unnecessary. (I’m looking at you, Old Navy and The Children’s Place.)
Lady Eowyn 4 months ago
I do not have custom shirts, but I have shirts from places and occasions I've enjoyed over the years. They are like mementos, and I wear them all the time. Until they are no longer usable as shirts, and then I use them as cleaning rags.
#19
Balloon arches.
Mel in Georgia 4 months ago
I think parties in general, where you buy tons of themed c rap that will just be thrown out. Balloons are probably the least worrisome of these things.
#20
90% of kids toys. All plastic c**p that they play with once and it either breaks or the child moves on to the next thing.
Mel in Georgia 4 months ago
I love my kids and grandkids, but the amount of sheer plastic doodads and pieces of toys and games around their house gives me mild anxiety. No one needs so much stuff!
#21
I used to be in a Bath and Body Works group on Facebook that was absolutely crazy. A lot of the women in that group had "candle rooms" with hundreds or thousands of B&BW candles. Often like 10 of the same scent, just stacked up.
Cadena Norton 4 months ago
Not s candle person myself but I don't mind getting them as gifts cause I live in Florida so I know there'll be a hurricane eventually
#22
Funko pops. They're ugly and most of the time don't even look like the characters they're portraying. The differences between them are so subtle, you can't even tell what you're looking at without the box/label. Is that Ron Swanson, Burt Reynolds, Pedro Pascal, or Freddie Mercury?
Margaret Wartime 4 months ago (edited)
I can’t buy stuff like this, because they were purposely manufactured to be cheap garbage but also “collectible” and desirable so people would buy lots and lots of them, and it makes me feel kind of like I’m being brainwashed into giving the company my money lol.
#23
Purses. I get hav8ng a few different colors fpr people who go out a lot, but people go nuts over them and pay $1000's of dollars for what is basically a bag with pockets. I would only pay that much for a bag of holding?
Bonnie Gardiner 4 months ago
I have a summer purse and a winter purse, and two pairs of shoes to make each. I really don't get this either.
#24
Any sponsored event merch items. Marathons, conventions etc. Usually just useless waste nobody asked for or needs.
Ellinor she/they/elle 4 months ago
Isn't the money from the merchandising used to make sure no money is lost in the event ?
#25
That guy who does all he lame morning routine c**p with bottles of Saratoga Spring water.
#26
Decantering items that already are in a container. Like a gallon of milk decanted into a glass bottle for the looks. What a waste.
Becky Samuel 4 months ago
How is decanting into a reusable container a 'waste'? Your pantry goods should all be transferred into containers with a good airtight seal if you want to maintain freshness and prevent infestations. You only need to see your flour moving once to learn the lesson.
#27
People who waste money on lottery tickets. One or two tickets isn’t so bad, but when you spend all your money one something just to lose!
nicholas nolan 4 months ago
This is less wasteful stupidity and more desperation. Some feel like luck is the only possible way out of poverty. I know that's what I thought. And I was right. I was lucky enough to get a great job at a stable, understanding company. I know so many aren't lucky.
#28
Any Collection hobby that simply requires you go on Amazon (or wherever) in order to engage in the hobby. I'm sorry, buying Funkos or whatever isn't a hobby. You just have a shopping a*******n.
Margaret Wartime 4 months ago (edited)
Kind of depends. I have a friend who loves collecting vintage toys. She can spend hours on eBay or Etsy or whatever, she calls it “treasure hunting.” It’s actually so fun. But I get what OP is trying to say. Collecting pointless plastic garbage because a company convinced you it was collectible so you’d buy more of it is kinda ridiculous.
#29
Body washes, perfumes and waterbottles. u don't need 30 dif scents of body washes it's just collecting dust plus i rlly doubt ur gunna use all of em 4 or 5 is enough i like smelling dif too. perfume too u dont need 300 of em. same with waterbottles u dont need every single color of the brand.
What do you think ?
Brian Droste 4 months ago (edited)
Not sure if this fits but why don't people buy reusable totes to use for their grocery shopping than keep using plastic bags. How many get recycled compared to get thrown away. Another one is pre bottled water in plastic bottles. How many plastic bottles get thrown out than recycled. Now they say people have microscopic plastic in there bodies because of all the plastic people use to drink out of.
Lea S. 2 months ago
I buy plastic water bottles and keep them in my trunk and give them away to the unhomed during the summer.
Load More Replies...
Androgyny Lunacy 4 months ago
I don't like overconsumerism, but I also think autistic people like to collect stuff so kinda eff off about it. Aiming to sell products makes me angry, yes. Throwing away things that are disposable like vapes and single use things like pods, yes and also that is the company's fault that they didn't make their products more disposable, knowing that Americans are busy slaving away at their jobs and don't have time to wash out and figure out where to recycle certain kinds of materials since recyclables have so many numbers and half of what goes to recycling gets thrown out anyway instead of repurposed. It bothers me just as much that the word "ad dic tion" has to be censored like those don't exist. Wth censorship has gone way too far.
Brian Droste 4 months ago (edited)
Not sure if this fits but why don't people buy reusable totes to use for their grocery shopping than keep using plastic bags. How many get recycled compared to get thrown away. Another one is pre bottled water in plastic bottles. How many plastic bottles get thrown out than recycled. Now they say people have microscopic plastic in there bodies because of all the plastic people use to drink out of.
Lea S. 2 months ago
I buy plastic water bottles and keep them in my trunk and give them away to the unhomed during the summer.
Load More Replies... Androgyny Lunacy 4 months ago
I don't like overconsumerism, but I also think autistic people like to collect stuff so kinda eff off about it. Aiming to sell products makes me angry, yes. Throwing away things that are disposable like vapes and single use things like pods, yes and also that is the company's fault that they didn't make their products more disposable, knowing that Americans are busy slaving away at their jobs and don't have time to wash out and figure out where to recycle certain kinds of materials since recyclables have so many numbers and half of what goes to recycling gets thrown out anyway instead of repurposed. It bothers me just as much that the word "ad dic tion" has to be censored like those don't exist. Wth censorship has gone way too far.
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