From a consumer perspective and even from a GDP perspective, owning too many products or things may indicate success. However, from a freedom/financial independence or environmental/sustainability perspective, owning too many products indicates only one thing: failure.
Conversely, friends and family are likely to view a skills-based lifestyle with some skepticism. They’ll wonder why you don’t have a full set of gadgets, a blender, juicer, food processor, a (bigger) car, nicer furniture, or a closet full of suits and shoes. They’ll also have a hard time understanding why you don’t want these things.
This is something one has to get used to when one breaks the rules. Thinking and living differently from 95% to 99% of the rest of the population is something one has to learn. And of course, this is something that a minority of people struggle with on a daily basis: religious and ethnic minorities, vegetarians, gays, highly intelligent people, and people who choose not to have children.
I can only suggest that you be diplomatic about this and say something like “I’ll think about it” or “maybe someday” when you receive unsolicited advice. On the other hand, if you feel like retaliating, try the reverse trick. When you walk into someone’s home, feign surprise and say “Wow! You have so much stuff?! How long did it take to put all of this together? Imagine what you could do if you didn’t have to take care of it. You could go visit Europe or Asia, …, or quit your job and write a book or go back to college, … If you hadn’t bought it, I bet you’d be retired by now, …”.
Maybe they’ll get the point.
Yakizi Short Daily Carnival: A look at personal financial data @ The narrow bridge, Save time and money with Dvorak @ Eliminate Moda!, Why am I a fan of lifestyle inflation? @ Sweating over big things, & Are you a monthly or budget buyer? @ Car Negotiation Coach
Jacob comments: This problem is very much like the problem of introversion (another minority) in an open world. I’m not sure there’s much to be gained by counter-attacking the problem directly because the way we use language is so directly to make the majority view seem neutral. Maybe the idea is to just shut up and write angry blogs.
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Originally published on 2010-05-21 15:05:11.
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