tbh i don't see consumerism as a moral failing, but i really do feel icky when i spend money on things i know i can do without, even when it's purchased as "ethically" as possible. the only solution i've found is only buying things when i need them. i fail a lot with food tho because of last minute grocery shopping and the "treat yourself" mentality lol.

plus even if you can shoplift all your groceries, you shouldn't if you don't literally need to because the corporation won't care, but it does get the workers punished and if they're forced to enforce it, hurt people who DO need to shoplift to survive. it isn't advocacy it's being a dick

hence why I fucking hate the tumblrcore mentality of bragging about shoplifting crafting supplies or whatever because no. you are not helping

@d60010 yeah makes sense. i don't purchase a lot of things either. but yeah it's easy to overindulge in food consumption because it's not like you can go cold turkey on food itself

@draggianuniverse i'm not sure if employees get punished for it because i heard some conflicting things about that. i even heard they're not supposed to intervene otherwise they get in trouble. so i guess it depends. but there's also the question of "if the corporation sets aside money and doesn't care that much" then is it really fighting the system

also I would argue that you individually living off grid doesn't do squat to change the system either because it's just showing off that you have the privilege to do it. that simply isn't viable for most people and it's not like you doing that helps anyone else. like, I read a page here once that claimed "just don't pay your power bill you don't need A/C" and uh in summer in hot climates you do.

it's just individual posturing and intellectual masturbation. consumerism is not a moral failing if you have no other choice so rather than bragging about how off grid you are, take the L and do other forms of advocacy etc. they'll be more helpful than any individual lifestyle choices