Are you materialistic?

Originally posted May 18 2007 on my Friendster blog.

Hey all, sorry for the long hiatus. I've been alternating between travel, flat-out-stress and depression these last few months. But I'm good. :)

I was filling out one of those random surveys the other day. You know, the kind you do when you are bored... Or procrastinating. This one rated how spoilt you are based on how you scored, and generally speaking points were awarded for material things owned and lifestyle. Doing that dumb quiz made me think about what I had and how I lived my life, not to mention what society-at-large thinks a good lifestyle should be.

Admittedly, I scored on the higher end of the spoilt-scale. I know I'm blessed, and I seriously thought about the matter for a bit. It seems to be the expected norm nowadays for people to buy and consume expensive stuff. In short, what used to be a luxury is now considered to be a necessity. Don't believe me?

Young kids wearing Ralph Lauren. Students toting Louis Vuitton and Gucci bags to lecture theaters. Sixteen year olds demanding diamond jewellery for their birthdays. Young twenty-somethings who will only wear Armani Exchange, Boss, Marc Jacobs or some other suitably expensive designer. Young adults forking over thousands for Prada sunglasses when they can ill-afford it. I can provide lots more examples but you know what I mean.

It's crazy! So what if you carry a Prada or Padini bag? So what if your polo tee is by Ralph Lauren or Giordano? If you are aged +/-25 or under, the chances are that even if you own genuine designer goods and wear them proudly, PEOPLE WILL THINK THE ITEMS ARE FAKES. Yup, that's the harsh truth. The tiny Dior handbag that girl took into the lecture hall? I think it's a fake. The sparkling diamond ring that other girl is wearing in the cafeteria? I'll bet she got it from a costume jewellery shop. And that guy flashing his latest model phone around with that loud, annoying ringtone? Well, the phone is real but he's a jackass.

I think the whole materialism thing has gone too far. All the subliminal messages in advertising and the media insist that if you own this, you're cool. If you buy that, you'll be hot and sexy. If you wear this, people will like you. Es-keeews me, but is this still kindergarten? I know I liked playing with my neighbours because they had the Optimus Prime figurine from Transformers (now THAT was pretty cool). But nowadays? NO! Lots of expensive, branded things does NOT equal cool. It just means that you are gullible. (In which case, email me because I'm selling this new cool thing that you absolutely MUST HAVE!!!)

I'm not against nice things though. I like nice stuff just as much as any other person. However, they are not the whole point of my life and neither do I obsess about owning them. The last time I went shopping was more than a month ago and only as a favour to help someone choose a present. I have perfumes, but I can only use one at a time. I have watches, but I can't wear them because of my medical condition (doctor's orders, massive ganglion on my left wrist). The only true designer item I own are my sunglasses which were a reward from Mum because I aced my high school finals. Besides, I got them 6 years ago, waaayyy before it was the cool thing to do.

*cat who found the cream smile*

Honestly, cliched as it may be, it is the character that counts. The friend who doesn't give up on you, the guy who gives up his seat to an old man, the salesgirl who can smile and say "Thank you" after serving a difficult customer, the man who can be loyal to his wife till the day they die. Now these people are cool, man. And I want be like them.