"Most of the luxuries, and many of the so-called comforts of life, are ... positive hindrances to the elevation of mankind," Thoreau advised.
Henry David Thoreau, more than a century before Home Depot or Lowe's, built his own 10-by-15 foot cabin at Walden Pond for $28 in materials. His furniture consisted of a table, a chair and a bed. For a short time he kept three ornamental pieces of limestone on the table, but decided these were superfluous, throwing them out when he found he had to dust them constantly (Holt A 12).
- from The Record
Have we accumulated too much? Have we recently thrown something out?
7 comments:
In no way would it be terrible if people had to buy less. Most people today usually end up buying way too much and just throwing it away over time. If people had to buy less,the would appreciate the things they can buy a lot more. It would give the people a new way to spend their money and invest it more wisely.
I agree with Nick. People are buying a lot of junk that they probably won't even look at. Buying this useless junk is just helping the economy break down. We have to stop buying things that are useless and start just buying the necessities.
-Nicky Collova
Attention, Bloggers...
Nick makes a valid point, but, go one step further, as an experiment: throw something out! and, what would that "thing" be? Throw it out! Me? All the junk in the corner of my workroom - junked lawnmower parts, an old tractor chassis - why? Because I don't need or use this stuff! serves no useful purpose...we really don't need stuff if it doesn't "elevate" us, according to Thoreau.
Mr. F
I agree with what's being said because I think a lot of people buy unnecessary items. In the article Henry David Thoreau threw out ornaments because they served no purpose. What I'm saying is not to go throw everything out you don't use but buy things that serve a purpose.
Scott Mogerley
I agree with Nick. Buying less would be a good thing. So many people buy useless things they don't need or use. If everyone cut down to the esentials, then we could all save alot of money and live better.
Patrick Zabawa
OK. Let's say, Bloggers, that you had to throw stuff out from YOUR collection of stuff - what can you really get rid of from YOUR stuff? Be specific...we agree there is too much stuff, but, what do we throw in the dumpster as useless? I say...cell phones? Why? We've created the NEED for them...emergencies were once handled by actually - using a phone! Think about it...how much time do you spend actually using cell phones for constructive, really beneficial reasons? And, do you really enjoy paying those monthly fees? an average plan costs, let's say, $30...X 12 = $360 per year... when you add that up, do you really get value for your hard-earned ca$h? and, wait until you start paying those bills yourself! How about a "Go-Phone"? Really cheap and limits you to a budget, for "necessary" calls...anyway, what can we throw out?
Mr. F
I think this is true because consumerism has taken over us. We tend to buy more and more without apreciating it. As soon as we buy a car, we look to upgrade it or buy another one. We don't appreciate what we have and a downfall in our econamy is neccesary because now instead of buying more things, now we can appreciate what we have because we can't afford the newer thing that we want to buy.
-Ryan Schindo
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