Peak Stuff and Affluenza

The Guardian UK (my morning read for news that gives a little perspective to USA items) had an article yesterday about how people, at least in Europe, are getting tired of “stuff”. Yes, they’re buying less, shopping less maniacally, and tend to be less swept up in trendy buying.

Affluenza seems to be dying, if not dead.

It wasn’t a scientific article backed up with serious analysis, although there was plenty of data that supported the claim.  People really seem to be buying less, hanging on to what they have, and avoiding shops.

What the writers didn’t say is that this desire to have less is in all probability not a zen approach to life, but could most likely be a response to tightening wages — and a certain lack of faith in materialism that is closer to depression than to minimalism. We could even say that in certain sectors they may well be giving up hope.

Me? I’d like to know whether they buy more alcohol than before, and how their entertainment choices have changed. Do they stay home watching Netflix/Soccer and drink and smoke themselves into a stupor?

Is it merely the mask of a massive sense of depression? Recessions will do that to a population….