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Freeganism

metaphours

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Freeganism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Freeganism is an anti-consumerist lifestyle whereby people employ alternative living strategies based on "limited participation in the conventional economy and minimal consumption of resources". Freegans "embrace community, generosity, social concern, freedom, cooperation, and sharing in opposition to a society based on materialism, moral apathy, competition, conformity, and greed."[1] The lifestyle involves salvaging discarded, unspoiled food from supermarket dumpsters, known as dumpster diving.

I like the idea. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't try dumpster diving unless I was really pushed to the limits, considering the food is most likely old and/or expired; but I like the notion of community sharing and anti-consumerism that Freeganism embraces. The article mentions the Freegan-based idea of having an "urban garden" where people can grow their own produce for others to pick sounds fantastic, imo, because it promotes self-sufficiency in a world that advocates superfluous reliance on consumerism.
 

paperoceans

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Eh, sure why not.

I watched an episode of 'Wife Swap' where the family was like the above. They lived in a little hippie community and did some freaky/disgusting shit with their trash. Something about never actually getting rid of it. Fucked up way to live I say. The world is about greed, get with the times homie.
 

metaphours

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I watched an episode of 'Wife Swap' where the family was like the above. They lived in a little hippie community and did some freaky/disgusting shit with their trash. Something about never actually getting rid of it. Fucked up way to live I say. The world is about greed, get with the times homie.
OK, but I'm not advocating a hippie-lifestyle nor am I advocating dumpster-diving. I'm only advocating the idea that people could share just a little maybe, as opposed to being materialistic consuming assholes.
 

Haphazard

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OK, but I'm not advocating a hippie-lifestyle nor am I advocating dumpster-diving. I'm only advocating the idea that people could share just a little maybe, as opposed to being materialistic consuming assholes.

Yes, because that's what everyone always is.
 

metaphours

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Yes, because that's what everyone always is.
Well, sorry, let me clarify. I didn't mean everyone else was a materialistic, over-consuming asshole, I mean that a vast majority of people rely on consumerism too much. I apologize.
 

ajblaise

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I think it's a cool idea. There's a good number of people doing it, and they seem happy, so it's successful.

People need to know that there are alternative lifestyles out there. So many aren't cut out for the rat race and are miserable, and would be happier doing something like this, but never do.
 

Haphazard

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Well, sorry, let me clarify. I didn't mean everyone else was a materialistic, over-consuming asshole, I mean that a vast majority of people rely on consumerism too much. I apologize.

Define "consumerism," "too much," and why this is a bad thing, instead of just a reactionary thing.
 

metaphours

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Define "consumerism," "too much," and why this is a bad thing, instead of just a reactionary thing.
What I'm saying is, some people aren't self-sufficient for whatever reason and rely on other people and things for the products that they consume. Maybe using the "consumerism" was a bad way to describe it.
 

Little Linguist

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I definitely read the title wrong! :D HAH!

Nah. Bad idea. BAAAAAD idea.
 

Haphazard

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What I'm saying is, some people aren't self-sufficient for whatever reason and rely on other people and things for the products that they consume. Maybe using the "consumerism" was a bad way to describe it.

I thought that was called living in a society that didn't require subsistence farming to live? :huh:
 

Little Linguist

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In any society where competition does not drive humanity to become better, the standard of living decreases dramatically. History has taught us that this kind of thinking is better as a CONCEPT but in reality, competition is what drives us, makes us have ideas, and gives us the impetus to change.

Most people do not want change and development on their own accord. You have to PUSH them. Without the PUSH, there is no success. Often this push is the fear of loss, and that's too bad, but it is the truth.
 

ajblaise

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In any society where competition does not drive humanity to become better, the standard of living decreases dramatically.

I don't know, US society is much more competitive than in Northern Europe, which is more egalitarian, and they have the higher standards of living.
 

Haphazard

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I don't know, US society is much more competitive than in Northern Europe, which is more egalitarian, and they have the higher standards of living.

I'm pretty sure this has to do with factors that won't be solved by any amount of dumpster diving.
 

Litvyak

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I'm pretty sure this has to do with factors that won't be solved by any amount of dumpster diving.

+1

It's useless surface treatment once again, without grasping the bigger picture. It has no significant impact on society, and I'm pretty sure that won't change.
 

ajblaise

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I'm pretty sure this has to do with factors that won't be solved by any amount of dumpster diving.

Yeah I'm talking more about basic egalitarianism, which seems to raise quality of life in countries that base a certain amount of policy off of it. Scavenging wouldn't work on a large scale, someone has to do the producing.
 

Haphazard

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Yeah I'm talking more about basic egalitarianism, which seems to raise quality of life in countries that base a certain amount of policy off of it. Scavenging wouldn't work on a large scale, someone has to do the producing.

If everyone was freegan, no one would eat.

This isn't sustainable or community-building or anything, it's just parasitic.
 

ajblaise

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If everyone was freegan, no one would eat.

This isn't sustainable or community-building or anything, it's just parasitic.

Which is why eco-communalism would be a better alternative on a large scale. They're self-sufficient. A similar idea.
 

Biaxident

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Hmmmph....I think every kid in North America over age 16, should be given $100, and barred from returning home for 6 months.

You would find out who the parasites are.

And they would find out TANSTAAFL.
 
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