The News channels were bragging this week about how many millions of dollars people spent in just a few days after the Lockdown. Hundreds of millions of dollars for haircuts, beer, who knows what else. That made me think.
Happy consumer day!
At least it feels like that. That people are out of Lockdown, and now they can fully be what they are supposed to be, consumers. Now, at last, you can shop again. What a fantastic freedom day. People lining up everything, waiting in loooonnnnggg queues and lines to what? To get a pan? To buy a broom after three months, they couldn’t wait any longer. To get some new socks?
Let’s celebrate,
Let’s start the shopping party,
We are free!
How ridiculous is that?! The first thing we do and everyone talks about, and everyone wishes for is to go and spend money on things we don’t need wasting time and resources we could use better. Yes, I know we need to support the local economy. But the reality is the local economy needs to change to support us and not the other way around. If we change our consumer behaviour, the economy will change its behaviour. It’s as simple as that! If our values and priorities change, the economy will change too, and everyone will be fine again.
Did we learn anything from the time we could not go shopping?
Did we learn anything from staying at home in Lockdown other than discovering our need to horde stuff and distract ourselves from the meaninglessness of existence by mindless roaming around malls and Ailes? Really? Is that the answer? We can get back now and continue to distract ourselves from the fascinating matters with shopping, buying, spending, sitting in bars, and drinking alcohol with others who need to distract themselves too?
Let me ask:
- Why don’t we queue up in nature?
- Why don’t we report about long lines of people cleaning the streets of rubbish?
- Why don´t we line up at work?
- Why don’t we see everyone bending down in community gardens planting organic food rather than bending down in shopping malls buying useless stuff they don´t really need?
- Why don’t we form some lines in front and around hospitals helping those who still struggle? Soon they will queue up too, just in front of the hospital for triage.
- Why don’t we …? You get the point, and you could complete the list
Of course, I am happy that the Lockdown is over in NSW. And I am looking forward to the day this will happen in Victoria, which will be soon. But the reporting of this “Freedom” day seems to me so ridiculous. We are now free to leave our homes and what do we do? We go shopping and consuming. Because that’s what lives seems to be about. That’s what we are, customers, shoppers, and clients to our corporate master. We are free to be shopping mall slaves.
A new perspective
I would hope, and I would think that this time in Lockdown gave us some new perspectives. Some new insight into what our lives are about, why it matters that we are here and what we could be back in our societies.
Maybe its not about consumption but connection?
But maybe I am wrong. Maybe all that, all the consumption after Lockdown is just an expression of our desire to connect with others. To meet up and do something together outside of our houses, out there in the unknown with unknown people. We are humans, and humans belong. Perhaps we feel that the battle is won and that now is the time to get back together with our comrades and celebrate the victory over this miserable virus.
Perhaps it’s not about consumption, but connection and connection happen especially through consumption? Is that a fair thought? Is that seeking light in the darkness? Maybe we did miss the friendly faces behind the counter? Perhaps we just missed the chat with our hairdresser? Perhaps we just longed for a conversation with a waiter about the latest News rather than just gulping down our food. Maybe? But maybe not! At least, I hope so.
Peter Demuth 