Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Dev]

Beyond buying ncessities like food and enough clothes, don't you think shopping is an illness?

I think about the 50 or more t-shirts that I own and too many cds to count. I find myself buying books that I could borrow from my puiblic library for free. Nope, gotta have my own.

The market wants us to buy loads of stuff we don't need. Companies produce "limited editions" of toys, comic books, cds and whatever to encouage us to start collecting things we won't use. "Hey! That might be worth money some day."

Sometimes I find myself buying something for no other reason than to get something new. It's like an addiction.

What are your views on this subject? Are you a shopaholic? Why do you think some people are this way?

[Fox]

Not an illness, but rather a form of entertainment. Lots of people simply enjoy shopping. That's what allows it to become an end in itself for some people.

[littlelisa]

I hate shopping (except food shopping which I usually don't mind and sometimes can be fun).

I put off buying things until I end up not needing them. Eg. I kept putting off going shopping for new clothes, and then poof, friends left Seoul and gave away some pretty nice clothes to everyone they knew because they were always buying new stuff and had too much. Now I don't need to go clothes shopping.

The only place I tend to spend unnecessarily is bookstores. I love books. But I try to swap when I can.

Absolutely companies try to get people to buy TONS of stuff they don't need. And most people do, to at least some extent.

To me, it's not about saving money, just about being happy with what I have.

[Girlygirl]

It's an illness if it fulfills some kind of instant gratification. Not to mention, if you spend more than what you earn, then you have a problem.

[chellovek]

To the extent that some people shop themselves into debt and ruin that could be considered an illness.

On the other hand, I don't really see anything intrinsically wrong in wanting to have a few nice things in life.

Most the stuff I see doesn't appeal, so I don't own tons of stuff.

On the other hand, I am hankering after some Quaker oats for some reason.

[Janny]

I love this subject.

I am NOT a shopper, but at times I do feel that *tingle* when I've made a new purchase, of something I don't actually need (like food) but want (like new boots). But fundamentally, I think everyone gets ripped off paying way too much of their money on overpriced items they don't need. Mostly I'm thinking about clothes, electronics and accessories like bags. So I don't shop that often, to quietly boycott that consumer-driven feeling of "fulfilment".

Why do people do it? In my opinion, shopping for non-essential items (owning the 'latest design') gives people a feeling of power and accomplishment. It's a reward for their work that brought in the money. It comes from the fact that maybe they don't get that actual fulfilment FROM their job. You need SOME kind of payoff. If you hate your job, or are not satisfied / challenged by it...what payoff is there besides buying a new TV etc? 'Instant gratification' is the operative term here.

And then there's those people who have ALOT of money. They don't respect it and just blow it on anything because it's ...there, an ATM machine away. That's a whole other issue. That's boredom.

And then there's parents. You don't see too many of them blowing wads on crap because the money goes to the kids' needs. The fulfilment comes from providing for your children.

Myself, I get so much joy from my job that I don't crave much fulfilment elsewhere.

[carpetdope]

Ridiculous! Shopping makes us complete people. Amassing possessions tells the world "I am successful". How else can a person prove that they are better than everyone else other than buying clothes, furniture, media, etc.?

Right?

[Dev]

One of the things that I've noticed is that I don't have the same appreciation for the things that I buy compared to when I was a kid. Getting a nice piece of clothing like a sweater or a board game was a big deal.

Today I buy a book, throw it on the shelf and start thinking about the next book I am going to buy.

These days many people don't use things for the whole life cycle of the product. They change their cell phone every year or their computer every 2 -3 years. What's wrong with using something until it konks out? That's the environmentally responsible thing to do.

I partly blame the electronics manufacturers who come out with "a more advanced product" every year. "Hey, you wanna be the cool kid on the block? Buy this!"

The latest gizmo is the I-Pad. I wonder what next year's new and improved gizmo will be? When are people going to wise up and say "Enough! I don't want to play your game any more."

[Janny]

Most people won't 'wise up'...it's up to the chosen few (who don't like consumerism) to teach as many children as possible, and set a new example.

[VanIslander]

[littlelisa]

Just a random thought... is there any freecycle group in Korea, or its equivalent? I mean a group where everyone just gives things away free. It's a great way to get stuff you need used or get rid of things you have, and with so many people coming and going, it should be pretty useful.

[Draz]

[chellovek]

[Murakano]

argh ebay in terms of online shopping ....used to buy a lot of stuff from there because I could get a "bargain" etc (though I didn't actually end up using most at the end of the day).....was a bit of a mild addiction.

[Sergio Stefanuto]

Do I think shopping is an illness? No, I don't. An excessive preoccupation with the private affairs of others, however, clearly is.