The Compassion Experiment (Day 58)

The Compassion Experiment: Words Put Into Action.

Today's Parallel's 'Of Wisdom':
"The mighty engine of marketing helped turn people's attention away from what they did and toward what they owned as the basic mechanism of self-definition. Over time personal pride became more associated with the status value of one's possessions than from one's work or contribution to society." Taken from NOWTOPIA.

Some people stand for change, others just stand in line for the newest iPhone.

B and I are watching the news, and they are doing an interview:
"In order to truly experience the World Cup, you have to have one of these high definition TV's. Everything is shot in HD these day, and you just can't watch on one of those old, round screen TV's, you can't live without one of these..."
Oh really?
Because what the world needs is more TV's in the landfill, right?
When I'm watching TV, I don't need to see the spinach in someone's teeth, to truly appreciate what is going on.
B and I, don't feel the need to own the latest gadgets, the biggest TV, or the newest Blueberry, Blacktooth, or what-have-you. We are too smart to get sucked into buying these things, and can't help but watch perplexed as people we know, and love, scramble out to do exactly that. It's actually really, really sad, that people feel the need to own these huge TV's, these big homes, the iPad, the iPhone, the iDon'tgivea@#$%.
I guess the question is, why? Why do people feel the need to own these things? Why are they compelled to walk into the store like brain-dead zombies (actually, that does a disservice to zombies everywhere), and buy what they are told?
I hate this about society, but, sadly, it's not like this is a new trend.
We live in Oakville, for god's sake, and are surrounded by this way of thinking on a daily basis, and often feel like we're the only normal people left on this planet. The only people not brainwashed by the media, and by TV itself.
Are we alone here?

And it's not just possessions that define us.

At the @#$x meeting, people are asked to introduce themselves, this is what they say:
R: "I run @#$ville.com, I have 15,000 subscribers."
T:"My Twitter account has 2.8 million followers."
C:"My youtube movies have 37 million hits."
Me: "I run a vegan blog, and am working on a documentary on CARE, it's a wonderful charity. I volunteer at the Humane Society..."

See a difference there?
People want to be remembered as someone who has 2 million Twitter hits, instead of being remembered as someone who stands for something, anything, someone with an actual purpose in life, someone looking to make change, or changes.
What compels people to want to be defined this way?

I don't know.

A slight digression:

The nice thing about the FIFA World Cup, is that it is showcasing Africa as a great place to be, and not just a place ravaged by AIDS, racism, and orphans, as it is often portrayed in the media.
The last thing in the world I am, is a futbol fan, (sadly, B and I are, gasp!, Raptors fans), but I can't help but enjoy the way it brings the world together, and showcases all the amazing things that a country like Africa has going for itself. And for a while, war, and famine can be kept out of the spotlight. And though they need not be forgotten, like a crazy uncle (see: me), or a weekend bender, it's just nice to see Africa as a country, as people, and as citizens of this world gone mad, and not just defined by their shortcomings.

Do we think we are better than other people, smarter than other people?
No.
Just most of them.
Just kidding!

Tune in Tomorrow for an amazing couscous recipe! YUM!


Animals saved today: 6
Animals saved to date: 179

Note: we realize these numbers are not a true representation, but in our minds, this helps to visualize the damage we are causing when we eat animal by-products.

The Compassion Experiment T-Shirts
Order One Today!
Or two, or three or one hundred.