All this Black Friday talk has given me flashbacks to my last consumer experience a few weeks ago. Now before I go on I do need to warn you that this might be a little biased in its viewpoint given I actually opted out of consumerism many years ago and so far this year have had an average monthly spend on clothing of £2.64, miscellaneous (which covers gifts, gadgets, a suitcase, non-work/entertainment related public transport and homewares) of £15.80 and entertainment of a hefty £56.15.
While I opted out many of those around me haven’t and so I was asked if I’d like to partake in a little ‘retail therapy’ with a close friend. I hadn't caught up in a while and am conscious I've lost a number of ‘friends’ because of my lack of interest in consumption so I agreed to spend a few hours in a very large East London shopping centre. It really did reinforce to me that this was no longer my thing. It particularly hit home when I was looking at a scene not unlike this:
Firstly, not a single thing was as nature intended. It was all concrete, steel, glass, lights and colours designed to heighten your senses and draw you in like a moth to a flame. Importantly though watching the shoppers themselves moving through the walkways and aisles really did remind me of a hoard of zombies lumbering along in pursuit of the unknown. It was all just so passive with everyone moving along to the next bargain waiting for stuff to just wash over them.
While I opted out many of those around me haven’t and so I was asked if I’d like to partake in a little ‘retail therapy’ with a close friend. I hadn't caught up in a while and am conscious I've lost a number of ‘friends’ because of my lack of interest in consumption so I agreed to spend a few hours in a very large East London shopping centre. It really did reinforce to me that this was no longer my thing. It particularly hit home when I was looking at a scene not unlike this:
Source: Wikipedia.org
Firstly, not a single thing was as nature intended. It was all concrete, steel, glass, lights and colours designed to heighten your senses and draw you in like a moth to a flame. Importantly though watching the shoppers themselves moving through the walkways and aisles really did remind me of a hoard of zombies lumbering along in pursuit of the unknown. It was all just so passive with everyone moving along to the next bargain waiting for stuff to just wash over them.