Are you as appalled as I am?

[roadie gal]

I agree with kjay.

I mean this constructively, but this is prejudice. You have no idea what the owners of those cars do or give in support of those in need. (Yes, I own a Lexus and a Mercedes, so you've made it personal to me and you don't know me).

I was in no way speaking about the people who can buy the cars. Get one if you can afford it. Mazel Tov! My last bike cost more than some cars... I'm appalled about the inappropriate nature of an ad that suggests you should give a car, especially a very expensive one, as a gift during this time that is so difficult for so many. Volvo and some of the other car makers have toned down their ads this year to highlight their sales rather than to suggest the car should be a gift. I have no problem with that.

[Mr. Bloom]

Volvo and some of the other car makers have toned down their ads this year to highlight their sales rather than to suggest the car should be a gift. I have no problem with that.

We're in agreement then.

For the record: My Lexus is old and worth less than my Madone(I buy quality used and drive until the wheels fall off). The Mercedes is vintage and an investment that is appreciating 10%/year...not bad these days. New cars stink as an investment...that's why they have to advertise so much

I'm personally not into conspicuous consumption either...but to each their own. I'm not better for driving new vs. used or high end vs. low end - but I am better off by buying quality for less.

I teach our kids exactly what kjay says - unless your name is Bill Gates or "Sultan of Brunei", then someone will have more than you... It's amazing how unpretentious they are even though we live in an area that is considered affluent.

Thanks for the stimulating topic

[BikeDutchess]

Here is what is really appalling to me: Wal-Mart worker dies after shoppers knock him down.

... shortly after the store's 5 a.m. opening time, shoppers "physically broke down the doors, knocking (the worker) to the ground."
... before the store was closed, eager shoppers streamed past emergency crews as they worked furiously to save the worker's life.

[Pax]

I dislike those commercials as well.

More than that I am troubled by the "I've got mine, so screw you" mentality that is becoming more visible in our society. Where compassion is viewed as weakness, where offering a helping hand is confused as "enabling" by a pop psychology drenched population. I'm striving diligently to continue being weak and enabling.

[Blueberry]

Here is what is really appalling to me: Wal-Mart worker dies after shoppers knock him down.

I think this might be the one thing we can *all* agree on.

And no, I just ignore the commercials, as I do all commercials. I buy what I need and what I really want, and pay no attention to what advertisers tell me I should buy. If my DH needed a new car, and I could get him one for a holiday present, I would. I drive an 8 year old VW most of the time (we have a newer element for road trips) and his car (which is now driven less than 2k a year because of biking) is a 10 year old volvo. My VW was a present (graduation) and is the only one in the fleet that was purchased new.

CA

[Tri Girl]

My DH gets irritated by the jewelry commercials that imply that the only way to say "I love you" is with diamonds. Every kiss begins with K...
I laugh at the commercials and tell him that real love is shown by doing the laundry, mopping the floor, or cleaning the toilet- heck I'd love it far more than a diamond. He can save some money on diamonds because diamonds don't help with the chores.




And the Wal-Mart story is so incredibly sad. People can be so stupid and selfish, and for what? a good deal on a tv or game. Tragic.

From the article:
"Shoppers stepped over the man on the ground and streamed into the store. When told to leave, they complained that they had been in line since Thursday morning."

BFD so you've been in line since Thursday morning. A man died for crying out loud. Go somewhere else for your Christmas shopping. We (as a society) have really become so insensitive to life, haven't we?
Sorry- I'm stepping down off my soap box before I say too much about this incident and cause problems.

[Biciclista]

commercials? Just don't turn on your television.

My two best buddies just sent me the nicest presents ever.
A little tiny button featuring the president elect
two shopping bags (ORANGE) that fold up into a peach sized little holder..
and my best bday present of all?
A letter from a cousin who lives far far far away..

Cars don't buy you love.

[Grog]

One may think that "if you've earned your money than you can spend it however you like." I won't condemn my fellow humans for consuming goods, because I don't believe can throw the first stone; I certainly can't. (Having just ordered lots of luxurious wool clothing items from TE!) On the other hand, I definitely see that consumption is not a private matter at all. It has repercussions for everyone, but generally it's the poor that pay the price in terms of working conditions, environmental degradation, etc.

Air travel for example is something only few people on this planet can afford, yet everyone pays the environmental costs of it (huge amounts of pollution). The same is true for cars, although they are more widely distributed than air travel. To create most of the "stuff" that rich societies consume (electronics, cheap furniture, clothing, and the rest), it takes quite a bit of work performed by poor people in extremely toxic and often repressive environments in developing countries (so that we can pay low prices for them, as exemplified by the Wal-Mart trample). And that's not counting what happens to all that "stuff" when it becomes garbage in developed countries.

I don't have solutions or even suggestions at the moment, I just thought I'd share what's on my mind. Pretty depressing, uh?

[shootingstar]

I guess it does get down to making choices..of what goods/from where such goods originate, that we buy or if not, if we really wanted to be more ethical..do our own gardening, sewing (latter, I did lots for many years, but got lazy after cycling passion), etc. At least I don't support the auto industry, by not having any car.

And even when we rent one, like we did, last Sunday, my partner is fuming away because he is fighting his sleep disorder in order to stay awake behind the steering wheel.

[lauraelmore1033]

I'm not going to get into the argument, but anyone who thinks that the people producing cheap goods for america are "better off" should check out this film: http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...94596195828118

[Aggie_Ama]

I have for years found the ads stupid but funny. I can't afford to buy a car for anyone, never got a drool worthy car as a gift either. The only one I got as a gift was a 1986 Cutlass on my 16th Birthday in 1997. Most people made fun of it but had no miles and got me around. So yeah, for a lower middle class child I find those commercials the stupidest thing on the planet because in my world cars aren't and will never be gifts. At least not the type they advertise.

I absolutely hate the diamond commercials. For years it was enough to set off a huge rant in my house. My parents were married 27 years before my mom got a diamond. Even then it was "tiny" by these ads standards. I don't think my dad loves her less than my husband loves me just because my husband gave me a diamond engagement ring. My husband's mom had one and his parents got divorced, so I find those ads laughable at best.

Flur- Good point, in my area the economy is still relatively stable. We aren't seeing nearly as much, just tightening the purse strings because it makes sense.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Poor people feel the painful effects of a recession first. They are not millionaires who can shrug over losing a few hundred thousand here and there. They lose their jobs and their homes. Then it begins to trickle up.
Many people who aren't worried now will be directly effected as the economic situation worsens, and just about all the expects agree that it is going to continue to worsen before it starts to get better.

Buying a car 'better' than volunteering in a soup kitchen? I find that logic to be debatable, but yes both acts can help our world in their own ways. Unfortunately not all people can afford to buy new cars anymore...or even used cars for that matter.