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In Fight Club, Brad Pitt’s character, Tyler Durden, delivered a powerful line: “The things you own end up owning you.” The main message is that many define themselves through material things, whether branded clothes, shiny gadgets, unneeded furniture, or expensive jewelry.

Consumerism has been a hot-button issue for decades, and many people are going against it. One group is the Anticonsumption subreddit, which has nearly 800,000 members as of this posting. 

We’ve collected a handful of posts that express disapproval against all forms of materialism. See which ones you’re able to relate to the most. 

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    #2

    Absolutamente

    Absolutamente

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    Enuya
    Community Member
    5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Move to an European country. I have many problems with my country but public transit and walkable cities AREN'T one of them.

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    In a similar piece, Bored Panda spoke with UK-based clinical psychologist and The Thomas Connection founder Michaela Thomas. She discussed a potential link between overspending and mental disorders.

    “If overspending is due to lack of financial planning, or wanting the dopamine kick of how good it feels to purchase something, that can be linked to ADHD, depression, mania, psychosis, or other dopamine-related issues.”

    #5

    Over Production Of The Wrong Stuff?

    Over Production Of The Wrong Stuff?

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    Guess Undheit
    Community Member
    5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Bicycles and aparment buildings are the most efficient forms of transport and housing. And yet car companies and drivers encourage and use violence against cyclists, and the construction industry wants to make EVERYTHING illegal to build except single detached homes that sell for $1 million each.

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    Then there is the question of, “What drives a person to purchase a product or service?” Survey Sparrow gave several factors, perception being one of them. It is the manner in which a consumer interprets information about what they intend to buy. 

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    “A consumer who has had a positive experience with a particular brand may have a more favorable perception of that brand than a consumer who has not had any experience with the brand.”

    #6

    Based

    Based

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    #7

    This Is Annoying

    This Is Annoying

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    Undercover
    Community Member
    5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I bet putting kids in foster homes is waaaay cheaper than simply paying the debts of struggling parents /s

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    #8

    🌲 ❤️

    🌲 ❤️

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    LaserBrain
    Community Member
    5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yeah. In accounting class many years ago, they called living forests "wasting resources."

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    #9

    Lawn Hating Post Beware

    Lawn Hating Post Beware

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    Mimi La Souris
    Community Member
    5 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    better for the eyes and safety, a vehicle that exits the road will be braked more gently in vegetation and tall grass than on flat ground

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    #10

    Simple Math

    Simple Math

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    Our beliefs likewise influence purchasing decisions, which can be influenced by cultural values, personal experience, and social influence. 

    “For example, consumers who believe organic products are healthier may be more likely to purchase organic foods.”

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    #11

    Do We The People See This For How Truly Messed Up It Is?

    Do We The People See This For How Truly Messed Up It Is?

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    Samuel Pelatan
    Community Member
    5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And remember : the people who discovered how to make insuline gave their patent away for 1$ to help people. But compagnies managed to patent the production process in itself, and that's how we T1 diabetics get killed in the name of profit.

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    #13

    I Am Not Sure If This Is A "Hot Take" But There Is Literally No Reason Why Anyone *needs* A Private Plane Or Yacht That Cause Literal Tons Of Environmental Damage Unless They Are An Important Essential Official, We Should Legally Ban Them All

    I Am Not Sure If This Is A "Hot Take" But There Is Literally No Reason Why Anyone *needs* A Private Plane Or Yacht That Cause Literal Tons Of Environmental Damage Unless They Are An Important Essential Official, We Should Legally Ban Them All

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    The discussion took a slightly darker turn when talking about materialism. Here’s an analysis by Knox College psychology professor Dr. Tim Kasser

    “We know from research that materialism tends to be associated with treating others in more competitive, manipulative, and selfish ways, as well as with being less empathetic.”

    #14

    True

    True

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    axle f
    Community Member
    5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    ...sleeping on his private jet, heading off to a private island for a long weekend..

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    #15

    Food Is Free

    Food Is Free

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    Boootifull Unicorn
    Community Member
    5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yk living in a hippie commune doesn't sound so bad anymore. I can deal with Pete's weed breath and Rivershines crystals if I get like, food and nice conversation

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    #16

    Profitable War Is One Thing

    Profitable War Is One Thing

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    setsuriseikou
    Community Member
    5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Russian politicians will be like "we are the greatest country in the world, the rotting West is no match for us, we have noone to be afraid of", then proceed to expand the military in the name of peace.

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    #17

    Data Pollution

    Data Pollution

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    Ricardo Ferreira
    Community Member
    5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The Dead Internet theory is looking each passing day more like a fact.

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    #18

    Good Point

    Good Point

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    Queeqec
    Community Member
    5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And with popping more and more children in to this world. Downvote me, if it makes you feel better,but I said what I said.

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    According to Dr. Kasser, people who tend to be materialistic also experience problems outside of their mental health. 

    “They reported physical health problems, such as stomachaches and headaches, and the less they experienced pleasant emotions and felt satisfied with their lives.”

    #19

    My Vinyl Office Chair Has Been Peeling For Years. Decided To Get It Reupholstered Instead Of Replacing It

    My Vinyl Office Chair Has Been Peeling For Years. Decided To Get It Reupholstered Instead Of Replacing It

    analogsimulacrum Report

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    OnlyMe
    Community Member
    5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Hmm, wonder why it was "peeling"? I can see two possible reasons right there. I have the same.

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    #20

    Couldn’t Have Said It Better Myself

    Couldn’t Have Said It Better Myself

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    Norm Gilmore
    Community Member
    5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    All my books and music used to be money. I am very happy with the exchange rate..

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    #21

    On A Beach Vacation, I Walked Out On A Pier To Watch The Sunset When This Hideous Electronic Billboard Cruised By Scrolling Ads In The Middle Of The Ocean. It Felt So Dystopian. Nowhere Is Free From Advertising!

    On A Beach Vacation, I Walked Out On A Pier To Watch The Sunset When This Hideous Electronic Billboard Cruised By Scrolling Ads In The Middle Of The Ocean. It Felt So Dystopian. Nowhere Is Free From Advertising!

    Nica-sauce-rex Report

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    Thenatural
    Community Member
    5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I think this kind of advertising has a negative effect on the consumer...if an advert annoys me in any way I will not but that product..irrespective of how good it is.

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    #23

    Just Discovered The Most Pointless Item I’ve Seen In Awhile

    Just Discovered The Most Pointless Item I’ve Seen In Awhile

    Lava_girllll Report

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    Dr. Kasser also pointed out that people who turn to materialism are likely dealing with personal insecurities. 

    “People are more materialistic when they feel insecure or threatened, whether because of rejection, economic fears or thoughts of their own death."

    #24

    How Do People Not See Thr Addiction Aspect Of Shopping?

    How Do People Not See Thr Addiction Aspect Of Shopping?

    battyaf Report

    #25

    Ever Hopeful I Might Be Able To Change Some Minds

    Ever Hopeful I Might Be Able To Change Some Minds

    Lets_Not_Date Report

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    Mjskywalk
    Community Member
    5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I always thought that Temu was a scam website designed to steal my credit card number

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    #26

    Save And Repair

    Save And Repair

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    Lord of the laserprinter.
    Community Member
    5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Great, and here is me struggling to pay the rent for a one room pokey hole under the roof Bedsit. Roll on the utopia.

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    Signs of materialism are believed to manifest at a young age. According to Professor Mònica Casabayó of Spain’s Esade University, family income determines whether a child will grow up to be a consumerist. 

    “Children in lower-income families were significantly more materialistic than children growing up in higher-income families,” she said in an article for the University website.

    #28

    Black Friday My Ass

    Black Friday My Ass

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    #29

    Most Items In This Store Will Be In A Landfill Within A Decade. In Two Decades, Effectively Everything In This Store Will Have Been Buried In The Earth, Burned, Washed Out To Sea, Or Shipped To And Dumped In An Impoverished Country

    Most Items In This Store Will Be In A Landfill Within A Decade. In Two Decades, Effectively Everything In This Store Will Have Been Buried In The Earth, Burned, Washed Out To Sea, Or Shipped To And Dumped In An Impoverished Country

    sentientmassofenergy Report

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    LaserBrain
    Community Member
    5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    A friend of mine who ran a country gas station once told me, "Everything I sell here ends up in the air or on the ground."

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    #30

    Happy People Don't Buy Much

    Happy People Don't Buy Much

    l19ar Report

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    Upstaged75
    Community Member
    5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My cell phone is about 8 years old. It still works fine. Why should I bother to get a new one because certain apps won't function on it? I just won't use those apps. And it has an amazing camera - that's why I picked it.

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    #33

    Consumer Kills

    Consumer Kills

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    Miki
    Community Member
    5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    What is capitalism? - Exploitation of man by man. And what is communism? - the other way around.

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    #34

    Went Hiking And Came Across The Aftermath Of A Gender Reveal

    Went Hiking And Came Across The Aftermath Of A Gender Reveal

    Immediate_Leg3304 Report

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    OnlyMe
    Community Member
    5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    FFS Yesterday I complained to the boss of a construction site after I saw 100s of snapped off cable ties littering the road. Today they were gone.

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    #35

    When I Say My Jaw Dropped…

    When I Say My Jaw Dropped…

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    Queeqec
    Community Member
    5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Wow, I own 2. One for swimming in the lake and a dry one.for afterwards.

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    #36

    Be Honest

    Be Honest

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    Hawkmoon
    Community Member
    5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If that was Nestlé's only problem. This company is one of the most evil there is. Just search “Controversies of Nestlé” on Google.

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    #37

    Some Of The Scenes After Creamfields North Festival This Year. All Tents And Camping Gear Were Abandoned + Left In The Fields, Alongside An Inconceivable Amount Of General Trash

    Some Of The Scenes After Creamfields North Festival This Year. All Tents And Camping Gear Were Abandoned + Left In The Fields, Alongside An Inconceivable Amount Of General Trash

    Lemon_nukes Report

    #38

    Seeing People Paying Hundreds For A Overpriced Clothing With A Giant Logo Triggers Me

    Seeing People Paying Hundreds For A Overpriced Clothing With A Giant Logo Triggers Me

    antek_g_animations Report

    #39

    Black Friday Idiocy

    Black Friday Idiocy

    No-Understanding4968 Report

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    Francisco Scaramanga
    Community Member
    5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    For some time now, there has been a law in the EU that requires the lowest price from the last month before the promotion to be placed next to the promotional price.

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    #40

    My Friend Found This At The Airport. Makes Me So Mad

    My Friend Found This At The Airport. Makes Me So Mad

    imgettingthere_ Report

    Professor Casabayó and her colleagues also found that a child’s education plays a role.  

    “Our data show that children in religious schools were less materialistic than children in secular schools. Religious schools may influence children by putting over a world view where spiritual ends are more important than possessions."

    #42

    How Much Plastic Junk Is Needed?

    How Much Plastic Junk Is Needed?

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    #43

    Highwaymen Lobbyist

    Highwaymen Lobbyist

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    #45

    Why Is That A Bad Thing ?

    Why Is That A Bad Thing ?

    Adam-Many82 Report

    #46

    Kardashian Calling Someone Cute For Having To Work 20 Hrs To Afford Their Jeans

    Kardashian Calling Someone Cute For Having To Work 20 Hrs To Afford Their Jeans

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    #49

    Saw This As A Meme On Instagram Today! Instantly Thought Of Anticonsumption

    Saw This As A Meme On Instagram Today! Instantly Thought Of Anticonsumption

    toofacedsugar17 Report

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    HF
    Community Member
    5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    so first you had dinosaurs, and now you are one, with a brief teenage phase of being a marker

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    #50

    You Love To See It

    You Love To See It

    PilgrimJohn Report

    Note: this post originally had 92 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.

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