Seriousness A Life ?

GeoffC · 08-17-2010, 05:29 AM

I can understand some of the arguments; but this makes me feel sad, and I'm not too sure why ...

BBC link

Cult of Less

Sparrow · 08-17-2010, 06:21 AM

Overall I like the idea; but it's a shame they call it a cult.

The aspects that give me pause are firstly that it ignores the sentimental associations of physical goods (the treasured gifts, mementos of great times etc.) - but then you can still treasure the memories without having the items; it's just that it takes courage to let them go (and I'm not very brave

).

Secondly, I would miss walking in to a room and seeing a pile of books I haven't read, the sudden reminder of pleasures to come isn't something I get from my ereader.

But, generally, I probably get more satisfaction out of dumping stuff than accumulating it - I sometimes think I accumulate it for the sheer joy of getting rid of it later.

Druid_Elf · 08-17-2010, 07:02 AM

Seems like a form of buddhism (well almost as they are still attached to their digital life).
It has it advantages. If you have to move then less stuff to move.

But I'd prefer a warm room over the digital comfort. A clock , a plant, some furniture, .. nice things to have

yvanleterrible · 08-17-2010, 07:19 AM

The preparations for our inception into the Matrix are going on as planned...

Seriously, this kind of thing can only happen in a country devoid of absolute misery. Transplant this fellow in today's Pakistan just to see how long his religion lasts. Misery focuses your energy towards immediate survival, no time for trivialities.

Ben Thornton · 08-17-2010, 07:21 AM

The chap who has given up his apartment is sleeping at friends' houses - this isn't much use as a long term trend.

Some things go digital well - music, books, photographs. Other things - clothes, food, shelter - are more tricky to store on a hard drive.

This strikes me as a bit of a "Phil Space" article.

Sparrow · 08-17-2010, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ben Thornton

This strikes me as a bit of a "Phil Space" article.

Isn't that the one thing it ain't?

FlorenceArt · 08-17-2010, 08:27 AM

I tend to be wary of things. I can feel crowded by them. I am crowded, of course, my appartment is as full of stuff as anyone's. Apart from the practical advantage of carrying around dozens of digital books with me anywhere, this was a factor in my adoption of e-reading.

Or course, the problem with that is that as a painter, I keep producing more stuff that keeps accumulating in my appartment

And for the moment, this is not stuff that can be digitised without a substantial loss. In a way, it's reassuring there are still such things. On the other hand, I am running out of space to store them.

I don't feel much sympathy with this cult though. Giving up your appartment to live as a parasite in other people's home does not strike me as particularly admirable. And they all seem to keep their designer's clothes, and of course their i-stuff. If the electronic gadgets that keep us connected were less short-lived and trend sensitive, the statement they are making (but are they?) would be more effective.

Not that I am especially better than they are, I have enough iGadgets already, and I'm planning on buying more. And on keeping my appartment

dsvick · 08-17-2010, 08:31 AM

I'm very much a minimalist, sometimes getting rid things when I still need them. But what they describe in the article is a bit much even for me. I like my house, but hate clutter.
I sort my mail over the garbage can.
If we haven't used something in 6 months we obviously don;'t need it anymore. - my wife and I disagree on that one a lot

beachwanderer · 08-17-2010, 08:41 AM

Interesting find. But at first reading it just hits my irony-nerves:

--- Ah, a "new" idea for healthy, youngish people who live in a strongly developed environment, can generate some sort of income and don't even dream about raising children. - Fine for them. If they don't ask me to give them shelter every other night. ---

On second thoughts:

--- I still got those filled boxes from the last time we moved ... Every time I tell my better half I'll drop them in the habour some dark winters night she will protest. But the protests have become less intense lately. We shall see ...

---

GeoffC · 08-17-2010, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ben Thornton

The chap who has given up his apartment is sleeping at friends' houses - this isn't much use as a long term trend.

Some things go digital well - music, books, photographs. Other things - clothes, food, shelter - are more tricky to store on a hard drive.

This strikes me as a bit of a "Phil Space" article.

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlorenceArt

I tend to be wary of things. I can feel crowded by them. I am crowded, of course, my appartment is as full of stuff as anyone's. Apart from the practical advantage of carrying around dozens of digital books with me anywhere, this was a factor in my adoption of e-reading.

Or course, the problem with that is that as a painter, I keep producing more stuff that keeps accumulating in my appartment

And for the moment, this is not stuff that can be digitised without a substantial loss. In a way, it's reassuring there are still such things. On the other hand, I am running out of space to store them.

I don't feel much sympathy with this cult though. Giving up your appartment to live as a parasite in other people's home does not strike me as particularly admirable. And they all seem to keep their designer's clothes, and of course their i-stuff. If the electronic gadgets that keep us connected were less short-lived and trend sensitive, the statement they are making (but are they?) would be more effective.

Not that I am especially better than they are, I have enough iGadgets already, and I'm planning on buying more. And on keeping my appartment

Quote:

Originally Posted by beachwanderer

Interesting find. But at first reading it just hits my irony-nerves:

--- Ah, a "new" idea for healthy, youngish people who live in a strongly developed environment, can generate some sort of income and don't even dream about raising children. - Fine for them. If they don't ask me to give them shelter every other night. ---

---

Much as how I thought it.

"Phil Space"

I don't know that one ....

Ben Thornton · 08-17-2010, 10:52 AM

"Phil Space" is a regular (spoof) reporter in Private Eye.

GeoffC · 08-17-2010, 10:56 AM

ah ....

poohbear_nc · 08-17-2010, 11:04 AM

It strikes me as a sort of "privileged minimalism" - when you have enough money to pretend you don't own anything.

HarryT · 08-17-2010, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

It strikes me as a sort of "privileged minimalism" - when you have enough money to pretend you don't own anything.

... and it only work when your friends DO own stuff - such as couches for you to sleep on

.

yvanleterrible · 08-17-2010, 12:53 PM

Religion can't be built around selfishness...

08-17-2010, 05:29 AM	#1
GeoffC Chocolate Grasshopper ... Posts: 27,599 Karma: 20821184 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Scotland Device: Muse HD , Cybook Gen3 , Pocketbook 302 (Black) , Nexus 10: wife has PW	A Life ? I can understand some of the arguments; but this makes me feel sad, and I'm not too sure why ... BBC link Cult of Less

08-17-2010, 08:41 AM	#9
beachwanderer - Posts: 2,602 Karma: 16748808 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: At the Baltic Sea Device: Some	Interesting find. But at first reading it just hits my irony-nerves: --- Ah, a "new" idea for healthy, youngish people who live in a strongly developed environment, can generate some sort of income and don't even dream about raising children. - Fine for them. If they don't ask me to give them shelter every other night. --- On second thoughts: --- I still got those filled boxes from the last time we moved ... Every time I tell my better half I'll drop them in the habour some dark winters night she will protest. But the protests have become less intense lately. We shall see ... --- Last edited by beachwanderer; 08-17-2010 at 09:21 AM.

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08-17-2010, 06:21 AM	#2
Sparrow Wizard Posts: 4,395 Karma: 1358132 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: UK Device: Palm TX, CyBook Gen3	Overall I like the idea; but it's a shame they call it a cult. The aspects that give me pause are firstly that it ignores the sentimental associations of physical goods (the treasured gifts, mementos of great times etc.) - but then you can still treasure the memories without having the items; it's just that it takes courage to let them go (and I'm not very brave ). Secondly, I would miss walking in to a room and seeing a pile of books I haven't read, the sudden reminder of pleasures to come isn't something I get from my ereader. But, generally, I probably get more satisfaction out of dumping stuff than accumulating it - I sometimes think I accumulate it for the sheer joy of getting rid of it later.

08-17-2010, 07:02 AM	#3
Druid_Elf Zealot Posts: 109 Karma: 612 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: belgium Device: none	Seems like a form of buddhism (well almost as they are still attached to their digital life). It has it advantages. If you have to move then less stuff to move. But I'd prefer a warm room over the digital comfort. A clock , a plant, some furniture, .. nice things to have

08-17-2010, 07:19 AM	#4
yvanleterrible Reborn Paper User Posts: 8,616 Karma: 15446734 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Que Nada Device: iPhone8, iPad Air	The preparations for our inception into the Matrix are going on as planned... Seriously, this kind of thing can only happen in a country devoid of absolute misery. Transplant this fellow in today's Pakistan just to see how long his religion lasts. Misery focuses your energy towards immediate survival, no time for trivialities.

08-17-2010, 07:21 AM	#5
Ben Thornton Guru Posts: 900 Karma: 779635 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: UK Device: Kindle 3, iPad 2 (but not for e-books)	The chap who has given up his apartment is sleeping at friends' houses - this isn't much use as a long term trend. Some things go digital well - music, books, photographs. Other things - clothes, food, shelter - are more tricky to store on a hard drive. This strikes me as a bit of a "Phil Space" article.

08-17-2010, 08:27 AM	#7
FlorenceArt High Priestess Posts: 5,761 Karma: 5042529 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Montreuil sous bois, France Device: iPad Pro 9.7, iPhone 6 Plus	I tend to be wary of things. I can feel crowded by them. I am crowded, of course, my appartment is as full of stuff as anyone's. Apart from the practical advantage of carrying around dozens of digital books with me anywhere, this was a factor in my adoption of e-reading. Or course, the problem with that is that as a painter, I keep producing more stuff that keeps accumulating in my appartment And for the moment, this is not stuff that can be digitised without a substantial loss. In a way, it's reassuring there are still such things. On the other hand, I am running out of space to store them. I don't feel much sympathy with this cult though. Giving up your appartment to live as a parasite in other people's home does not strike me as particularly admirable. And they all seem to keep their designer's clothes, and of course their i-stuff. If the electronic gadgets that keep us connected were less short-lived and trend sensitive, the statement they are making (but are they?) would be more effective. Not that I am especially better than they are, I have enough iGadgets already, and I'm planning on buying more. And on keeping my appartment

08-17-2010, 08:31 AM	#8
dsvick Wizard Posts: 2,737 Karma: 635747 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Northeast Ohio, USA Device: PRS-900	I'm very much a minimalist, sometimes getting rid things when I still need them. But what they describe in the article is a bit much even for me. I like my house, but hate clutter. I sort my mail over the garbage can. If we haven't used something in 6 months we obviously don;'t need it anymore. - my wife and I disagree on that one a lot

08-17-2010, 10:52 AM	#11
Ben Thornton Guru Posts: 900 Karma: 779635 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: UK Device: Kindle 3, iPad 2 (but not for e-books)	"Phil Space" is a regular (spoof) reporter in Private Eye.

08-17-2010, 10:56 AM	#12
GeoffC Chocolate Grasshopper ... Posts: 27,599 Karma: 20821184 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Scotland Device: Muse HD , Cybook Gen3 , Pocketbook 302 (Black) , Nexus 10: wife has PW	ah ....

08-17-2010, 11:04 AM	#13
poohbear_nc Bah! Humbug! Posts: 64,193 Karma: 135242149 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Durham, NC Device: Every Kindle Ever Made & To Be Made!	It strikes me as a sort of "privileged minimalism" - when you have enough money to pretend you don't own anything.

08-17-2010, 12:53 PM	#15
yvanleterrible Reborn Paper User Posts: 8,616 Karma: 15446734 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Que Nada Device: iPhone8, iPad Air	Religion can't be built around selfishness...