r/Capitalism • u/Internal-Ad-5038 • 5d ago
Capitalism
So recently I have started to view things differently, realising that capitalism is evrywhere, even in things that I have thought only promoted good values.
I am a big fan of hello Kitty and sanrio characters, but I have started to think that the creation of the character and the feeling it brings me is only a strategy to push me buy their stuff . And it's the case for everything, why do I need to buy ? To fulfill the satisfaction to own merch ?
What are your thoughts ?
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u/Beddingtonsquire 5d ago
Capitalism is good and moral - it is based on people keeping stuff they make and being able to use it on what they want in the way they want so long as that doesn't violate anyone else's rights.
I have started to think that the creation of the character and the feeling it brings me is only a strategy to push me buy their stuff .
How would you convince people to make something for you if they don't benefit? Do you think they make these toys because they are worried about how you feel if you don't have them? If the world worked that way you would end up waiting a very, very long time before you actually got and Hello Kitty characters to take home.
And it's the case for everything, why do I need to buy ?
You don't need to buy, why would you need to buy? Will you die without it? You buy it because you want it. They sell it to you because they want your money so they can buy other things that other people make, like houses and food.
To fulfill the satisfaction to own merch ?
Why you value it is really only one person's concern - yours. Consider that under non-capitalist systems, you wouldn't be allowed to buy it and it would be illegal for it to be made.
What are your thoughts ?
You have grown up in a fantasy that people make stuff for you without wanting anything in return.
Your response is actually an overreaction assuming they have no interest in what you want, this isn't true because if you didn't want it you would t buy it and then they wouldn't get your money.
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u/BlueHeron0_0 5d ago
Yep, capitalism is everywhere because it is free and natural relationship between people and goods. Things cost money and if you can make a thing good enough for others to buy it everyone benefit from it: you get a good thing and a seller gets money
You don't "need" to buy but of you want to, there's nothing wrong with that
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u/Ed_Radley 5d ago
Sounds like you're talking about the consumer lifestyle cultural norms. People buy stuff because it does something for them. Fulfillment, function, status, etc.
This is why you should always ask yourself why you want something in the first place. Will it save you time? Will it make it so you don't need to make a bigger purchase or lots of little purchases that add up over time? Will it be a distraction or an escape from your home life (for better or worse depending on your values)? Or would you be better off getting something else?
I think too many people let opportunistic ads that come across their screens control their spending rather than living their lives intentionally and deciding what they actually want to spend their money on.
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u/the_1st_inductionist 5d ago
Except the creator of Hello Kitty could be at in any business and try to sell any sort of aesthetic. Why did she pick Hello Kitty?
Do you want the her to make stuff that you don’t value enough to buy instead? Do you want her not to try to make money for herself?
What’s a good value? And, as long as the Hello Kitty merch is valuable you enough to you to buy, does it really matter that much about why they are selling it? Why they are selling it doesn’t change the merch itself.
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u/MightyMoosePoop 5d ago edited 5d ago
I think you have become more aware and can become a more rational actor in the market system.
I think your prior irrational flaw was, “I have thought (capitalism) only promoted good values”.
News flash. Capitalism is only an economic system and thus only reflects the people who embrace it as an economic system. Capitalism by itself gives no fucks about good or bad. You can be morally good in a society that embraces capitalism. Possible examples of this are increased shares of electric vehicles and solar panels. This reflects people investing in a mindset and morality of trying to make choices to be more eco-conscience.
But, you can be on the same side and talk the extreme to make a point have human trafficking. Clearly, that is not a moral good. I can make an argument that the free markets helped end slavery but the history is pretty matter-of-fact clear that slavery ended because of liberal ethos laws for humanitarian rights.
If you have read this far, then what you should be getting is capitalism is about independent parties coming together for their self-interests and each profiting for their self-interests. It’s about the market. You have shifted your perception of the market a bit of what you value. Those companies that sell merchandise are still offering goods and services. It is a business model and many don’t succeed. Some artists agree with your new view.
r/calvinandhobbes The artist never allowed any merchandising of his works.
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u/Sir_This_Is_Wendies 5d ago
You buy things you want so that they’ll raise your utility (Econ jargon for satisfaction or happiness) this isn’t much to do with capitalism and more so to do with just how markets function. You want to buy those things because having them makes you happier and the owners of the products are happy to sell them to you because they probably value to money you’d offer them more than the product just like how you may value the product more than saving the money.
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u/TheMikeyMac13 5d ago
Capitalism does represent food values, and you only need to buy something if you desire it.
Don’t overthink life.
Boris Yeltsin realized communism was a total failure when he visited a Texas grocery store, and saw the products available to regular people. He told someone with him that if the people back in the USSR saw what he had seen, he and other leaders would be killed.
It is a good thing that you have products you can buy if you want to, the money to use, and the choice to buy it or not.
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u/Czeslaw_Meyer 5d ago
What most call capitalism is just direct democracy (as long as the government dosen't interfere).
You buy stuff that's worth your money or to reward ethical behaviour.
The profit motive keeps you safe and companies accountable.
This is about responsible spending and nothing else.
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u/Johnhaven 5d ago
Well, capitalism is heavily regulated but yes, it's everywhere. This is called consumerism and could be a very long economics discussion but I'll just say that before you buy something, think if you need or want that. If it's not a need, consider how much use you will get out of your purchase. If it's looking at Hello Kitty stuff makes you happy, that's cool - a company is meeting a demand you didn't even know you had. But, people like to buy things and many like to collect things so they don't just buy one thing, they try to buy everything. We celebrate this in American culture. Think about this the next time you see a news story about someone for example who owns every G.I. Joe doll/figure ever made. That's a lot of time and money spent on that.
Also, cut up your credit cards, don't buy things on credit unless you need it and in that case, go to the bank and take out a personal loan. If you get a credit card, like buying more and more Hello Kitty stuff, you get more and more used to buying things you didn't know you wanted with money you haven't earned yet. This is bad for America and our credit rating system is one of the worst class war issues there are.
In many cases you're buying stuff out of depression or even a bipolar disorder and it makes you feel better for a moment but it often passes as you think about what else you could have done with that money. If you think you might have these issues, see a doctor for a diagnosis.
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u/Glittering_Gene_1734 4d ago
The fact that society bombards you with 5,000 ads a day and ties your self-worth to consumption isn’t the problem—you’re just weak.
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u/nacnud_uk 4d ago
Capitalism is the only thing in life. It colours everything you have ever done, and will ever do. From falling in love, to eating. From working to cleaning your hut. It is everything. It is everywhere. You can't escape it. It is what us humans are doing just now.
You don't even have to decided if you "like" the idea or not, as every other human wants it this way, so you're only along for the ride.
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u/anarchyusa 3d ago edited 2d ago
Capitalism is morally good but marketing sometimes isn’t insofar as it often intentionally leverage[s] psychological devices to reduce the free-will [of those] involved in an exchange…. So your intuition isn’t entirely incorrect.
EDIT: []
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u/stubrocks 2d ago
Don't mistakenly conflate capitalism (a system of rights and economic possibilities) with a system of ethics, morality, or justice. Capitalism is no more moral or immoral as the rules of chess. It is simply what we call a system whereby individuals own themselves and their justly acquired property. That's it. How an individual chooses to utilize that system in relationship to the others around him may be judged as moral or not, but the rules of the game do not dictate those moral choices.
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u/LevelAshamed8082 15h ago
Everything in moderation. I have lived in countries that were more wealthy than the US per citizen. Countries that were less capitalistic. They spent more money into making the country great. They invested in their children, infrastructure, and so on. They had a focus on making the country and products good. They were rich because the main focus on society was not to accumulate wealth.
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u/onepercentbatman 5d ago
Capitalism is good values
You don’t have to buy. Nothing can make you buy something you don’t need. If you have regret buying stuff you don’t need, that is a psychological issue in yourself, nothing to do with hello kitty. That is like fat people blaming fast food companies. And I say that as a fat person. I take personal responsibility. Popeyes never made me buy fried chicken. I wanted it. My choice.
You may want to read some books or take some courses on self discipline and self control. They are out there, all the best ones, all because of capitalism.