[GoingInsane]

Opinions?

[Electronica]

Naturally ingrained part of our psychology. Blame evolution.

[sarahthegemini]

I like pretty things.

[Sisu]

Why shouldn't we be materialistic? Aren't we going to die and that's it? So, what's to live for? Happiness. Being a new car, TV, Jewellery, etc can bring happiness. So can meditating or engaging in intellectual discourse but that doesn't mean that the latter are superior to the former, it's relative to the individual. Unless you're some new age hippy, you'd realize there's nothing wrong with materialism.

[squishy123]

Materialism brings satisfaction, not happiness. It may seem like happiness but that state is transient. The acquisition of assets does not automatically imply happiness.

People who are super rich and acquire the most luxurious of items can sometimes be unhappy with their lives. On the other hand, some people are "happy" with food and shelter.

[Dux_Helvetica]

Materialism is linked with bettering our own standard of living; it is linked to our own self-interest.

[falseprofit]

Having material items makes some people react towards us with envy or admiration depending. Receiving envy and admiration gives many people validation. Validation offers a certain level of satisfaction to most. So we seek materialistic things to achieve satisfaction.

[pauline_lg]

I think we're kind of programmed into thinking that we need to buy stuff in order to be happy/motivated etc.

e.g. whenever me and my friend become de-motivated with studying we go into town and buy loads of 'inspiring' stationary... think it's just tuned into society!

[Martyn*]

To the extremes that we have it today, excessive materialism probably began in the 19th century in the push for militarism, industrialism, individualism, and scientific progress.

[Joinedup]

Decline of religious morality... People still need something to fill the gaping existential void so they just focus on acquiring status symbols instead of trying hard to 'be good people'

[plimsolls]

They're chasing happiness, status, one-upmanship.

[Aspiringlawstudent]

I like nice things. I enjoy them.

What business is it of yours? Why does it matter?

I don't tell you what to like.

[KJane]

(Original post by Joinedup)
Decline of religious morality... People still need something to fill the gaping existential void so they just focus on acquiring status symbols instead of trying hard to 'be good people'

Yet some of the biggest materialistic events of the year are religious ones. Religious people can be just as equally materialist as non religious people.

[Pawsies]

Capitalist state.

[screenager2004]

We're taught to be materialistic by the society we grow up in. We're taught it from the day we are born, we are rewarded as children by being given things.

[TGH1]

[s.a.u]

because the reality is that people are instantly judged on their appearance

[Joinedup]

(Original post by KJane)
Yet some of the biggest materialistic events of the year are religious ones. Religious people can be just as equally materialist as non religious people.

well christmas is only quasi religious... Jesus never said he wanted his followers to throw him a birthday party. But a lot of religious people have poor morals.

[Kiss]

Because the Legend of Zelda is just too damn fun.

[plimsolls]

(Original post by Aspiringlawstudent)
I like nice things. I enjoy them.

What business is it of yours? Why does it matter?

I don't tell you what to like.

Why are you so defensive?