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The Materialist — Why do We Have so Much Stuff? Pt. 1 of 3
Materialism is a Cultural Demon
First world culture embraces collecting. Having “stuff” is a comfort for a lot of people. It is not a devious plot to harm others. It is how many of us were raised. More stuff equals happiness. The opposite is true.
More things create stress. Do I have better/more/high valued widgets than anyone else? How will I keep them pristine? What if one is damaged? All the worries outshine the pleasure of possession. The ultimate high from collecting is the acquisition. From then on, it is a burden. Yet we still do it. Collecting can be a joy, it is a bond between family and friends who share the same interests. Then where is the middle ground? This essay in three parts explores materialism versus practicality.
When I was about 12 years old, I started collecting, comic books and sports cards, at 16 I added vinyl albums. At the peak, I had over 1,000 records and 500+ comic books. Now, I have less than 30 comic books and less than 75 records. All my sports cards (well over 10,000) I sold 15 years ago. It is a liberating feeling to not have all the extraneous stuff to tote from home to home. The long white boxes stacked was about the same as bricks. Other than moving from one location to another, there was little use for them. Once I decided to rid myself of these various…
