Is It Ethical To Prefer Purchasing New Goods Over Used Goods?

[Mesopotamian]

I lately noticed some of the aspect of capitalism and that's pushing to buy new things all the time, and at the same time the world is filled with already made second-hand good. Here in Iraq the government isn't pro-manufacturing at all, but they allow any amount of imported goods to enter Iraq, even tons and dons of second hand goods, and lately Amazon returns good, but even so, the culture here is that people who can afford should purchase new stuff as a status symbol. The society here proud themselves to be guardians of morality, but recently I found out how they are being immoral, not by consuming loads of new goods, but also they can't see that with this approach to life, they are creating suffering for the people who manufacture these goods.

I dream of a world where we can all share the resources in a fair way, and that people don't have to work 24/7 to get money.

Why wouldn't rich people start buying second hand goods and donating the money directly to the workers who make new goods?

is it moral that there are people dying in sweatshops and others who want to purchase only new goods?

 

[VioletFlame]

Most of the gems I've found in second hand shops has provided me some of the richest experiences of my life. 

In Sociology, there is a concept called "conspicuous consumption" which basically explains the consumer practice of ostentatiously purchasing specific "high-quality" goods for the sole purpose of displaying "prestige" or gaining status, reputation, or acceptance in society. This materialistic way of thinking and spending is very common in Western Civilization. We also live in a society which chases instant gratification and temporary thrills. In turn, this of course, disrupts our financial health and personal well-being. For me, a "high-quality" item is one which provides long-lasting joy, meaning, satisfaction, and sufficiency. 

Personally, I believe used goods provide just as much value, if not more, as new goods do. In a way, there contains a great deal of spiritual value in used goods. There is so much history and energy embedded in a used item. Think of when you touch or hold an antique; you can almost feel the historical energy attached to it. Depending on how powerful its energy is, certain objects can almost heighten your awareness of their consciousness. 

But to answer your question, I think people are just forgetting to align and integrate their values and understanding of real value with their financial decisions. Surface-level value may refer to how much the thing might cost. But what is that item actually going to do for you and how will it benefit you or improve your life? That's where the true value lies.

Edited June 8, 2022 by VioletFlame

[Mesopotamian]

@VioletFlame People are simply having fake morality, they can't see the result of their action and the suffering they are creating for others

On 6/8/2022 at 3:54 PM, Mesopotamian said:

The society here proud themselves to be guardians of morality, but recently I found out how they are being immoral, not by consuming loads of new goods, but also they can't see that with this approach to life, they are creating suffering for the people who manufacture these goods.

There are probably going to be consequences from the evil created by them while you seem to be refraining or trying to distant yourself from condemning their actions in any direct/explicit way or form.

But it is alright though, if you can't dare to point out the obvious, then this doesn't affect the reality in any way or shape or form, and you're going to suffer as a consequence because you seem to lack the ability to judge when is needed, therefore you let evil continue in this world, and your reward is just whiteness atrocities happening before your eyes until you are able to use your intellect to point out the obvious and try to change it before it spirals down uncontrollably.

[Mesopotamian]

@VioletFlame Also you are not smarter than me, and in fact you seem to be sitting there doing philosophy and completely detached from reality, trying to interpret it from a distance and see it as less ugly that it really is. I truly hate that philosophy that you've presented in your reply. When it came to the main point, you refrained from pointing the obvious and admitting that these folks are just selfish mother fuckers, but you brought up a rather peaceful answer, they are simply "forgetting to align values.."like wow! can it even be more peaceful than that? but also can your answer be more detached than that?

 

[Bobby_2021]

On 6/8/2022 at 7:37 PM, VioletFlame said:

I believe used goods provide just as much value, if not more, as new goods do

I dunno. A used car has probably less value than a new one due to obvious reasons.

I appreciate your effort to be more conscious in your consumption, but I don't think it's really going to work.

As more people use something, then those people leave a certain portion of their memory on that object.

It makes it rich as you have mentioned, in the case of historical objects.

But the flip side is also true, in that it also has negative memory and bad karma associated with it. You can instantly feel when you are in a place that was once filled with people, compared to a place in which no one lived.

This memory left by other people will interfere with the memory you have in your own body and cause subtle problems.

So I don't think it's a superb idea, we must be more focused on creating an abundance. But this is still a viable thing, in the mean time. It's better that someone benifits from it instead of wasting it. 

[BlueOak]

I think you were harsh on violet there, she was giving you the path that most materialist countries need to take to adjust. By alienating those who would try to help you'll get nowhere. A step to be free of overt materialism where it exists is recycling and using second-hand goods. Minimalism and using less or being self-sufficient where possible is the step after that. Another way is to address the need people have to fill loneliness or a lack of driving purpose with items/stimuli.

Taking the premise that most are of average consciousness. People grow up in the society they are born in and take on the values they are presented with. They are that group consciousness. Occasionally making small changes along the way from experience.

To take the great leap you want from a materialist lifestyle doesn't happen often, and I honestly doubt your country would be all that different in the same place. Sure there are contrarian individuals like me that will agree, that the only way to achieve what you want is to fight yourself and your own need to consume, or the animal instinct present in all people, which is how you become more spiritual over lifetimes. In spiritual texts it would be called the beast or animal, the only failing in some texts is they look outside of themselves for it.

All the so-called second-world countries that develop into first-world countries are the same because they follow the same pattern. The more they get the more they want. Because that's who those people are. It all comes from their own body.

I would love to be out there now in a mass protest against materialism and corporate greed. But protest and organizing as groups were suppressed and the population diverted or programmed away from them decades ago. Protest itself is a dirty word, and rendered largely ineffectual by law, because it doesn't target the billionaires in positions of power, it targets their middle-management politicians. Whereas gatherings of social change are considered radical fringe elements at best and cults at worst.

If you want effective social change start looking at where the efforts of that change are capped or stopped. The great effort put into labelling people outside of normal social structure as bad, wrong or ill in some form. Looking at online surveillance, censoring, laws on protest or social reform, and the many societal structures that prevent you from actually influencing people of power. The ones with the actual power, those with vast amounts of money.

Billionaires - With actual power.
Law - Protecting them
Politicians - Taking all the credit/blame. Giving you leaders to root for or hate.
Political Delusion - Splitting the populace into two or more groups to argue with each other.

Its so bad at this point, not only do we have a layer of focus away from people with wealth and power towards politicians, but we have a great illusion going on that people are arguing with themselves below that. They've been divided up, and to hold that division two entirely separate sets of facts are released, that are contrary to each other, it's a brilliant and sadistic manipulation that is three layers deep. You'll see it on this very forum on all manner of important topics.

Edited June 12, 2022 by BlueOak