Is it bad that I agree with this?

[innerSpaceman]

Originally Posted by wendybeth

I'm pleased to see so many self-posessed and totally non-influenced people on these boards.

And that's the limiting factor in this discussion, isn't it? None of us are pathetic tools.

Otherwise, we wouldn't be here. Sure, we remember our childhoods, or can be reminded of them. Yes, we can hear about the unfortunates who are socialized zombies or SL's criminal clients. But we here (for the most part) have all developed our own personal styles, we are above-average in maturity and consciousness and awareness and willpower. We are swanky, for god's sake!


So we don't automatically go out and buy what's peddled to us on TV commercials, and we don't necessarily dress like the people we see in magazines. We may be aware of social norms like the proper facial expressions for listening to elevator muzak. But deeper down ... deeper than how we dress or groom ourselves or entertain ourselves ... how do we determine what we really want?

Here's where we maybe can empathize with social zombies who don't know how to dress themselves if they don't see it on TV. Because, as evolved and aware as we may be - - chances are we still determine what we want from what we see.




Just as an exercise ... take stock of the things you think you really want. And then determine if you want them because you have a unique, inner desire that stems from YOU - - or if you want them because it's something you've seen in the world (and if you hadn't seen it, you wouldn't have wanted it). You may be surprised at the results.


Humans covet. Even the swanky ones do.