General Music Chat

Think long and hard about this, then think again. After some very deep thought, a light went off in my head. I'm curious what conclusions others would come to.

Then discuss.

The word is:

"Consumer"

Don't forget the alternative word, customer. Very few things are consumed that aren't bought. As musicians we're always trying to guess what our customers want, which is OK as long as it doesn't dominate your thinking process.

I should elaborate a little-

I was thinking in societal terms.

Needs, wants, and desires for a product or service. Sorry, a pretty textbook definition but we all need consumers. They make the world go around.

Think long and hard about this, then think again. After some very deep thought, a light went off in my head. I'm curious what conclusions others would come to.

Then discuss.

The word is:

"Consumer"

We used to think of ourselves as citizens "self-ruled" by our government, of, by, and for, the people.

By the 1980's, the idea was being promoted that, our government should be structured and run like a big private corporation. Since that time, the concept of "citizen" has given away to that of "consumer". Except for those few who are wealthy enough to be considered "Shareholders".

Do you consider consumers good or bad? I consider consumers good, especially when they buy stuff from me.

Do you consider consumers good or bad? I consider consumers good, especially when they buy stuff from me.

I would not consider it to be so much a "good or bad" type of question.

There should be a better balance between consumers and producers here in the USA ... right now the consumers so far out number the producers within our borders, so US consumers buy most of their goods from producers in China ... that's messed up!

When a consumer in the US buys a product made by fisherman bob ... that is good!

every living thing is a consumer
every consumer is a producer.

this thread really doesn't have a useful context

My sentiments exactly, Captain.

Here's an interesting documentary about the banking industry done in Great Britian.

Financial Terrorism (4:51) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... DuMvz-2UzQ

97% Owned (Long, 2 hours) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... ojQ3eBaN7w

Chaeya

LOL I accidentally logged in as my other account (Cygnus Tribute) .. a side rush project we're working on.. my bad, that was me who posted that long diatribe FYI

...Kramer... nice long diatribe...I rather like them. I think we are viewed more as livestock than consumers but I see your point and do agree that we are also consumers. Good topic/thread. Ta

LOL I accidentally logged in as my other account (Cygnus Tribute) .. a side rush project we're working on.. my bad, that was me who posted that long diatribe FYI

Oops, and maybe I need to stop using the Hooked on Phonex version of knowing people by their avatars. Anyway, I agree with you then.

Chaeya

Consumer=
Wall Street cash cow
Corporation financial slave
Banker prey
Insurance Industry victim
Politician pawn
Pharmaceutical Industry hostage
Advertiser relentless target
Demagogue tool
War monger justification

I didn't even really get to 'diatribe' on how bad they invade our daily lives and privacy.

Everything we do, everything- is tracked. Every call you make, every word you speak on that call. Every text you send. Every item you buy at the supermarket, and forget that you think you are off the radar because you don't use one of those supermarket cards.. they still attach the shopping details to your atm/debit profile- it all ends up in the same place.
Every click on the internet.
Every time you fill up your tank.
Every bill you pay, gas, electric, even your world of warcraft account.. and chat system within.. tracked right back to you.

It was initially all justified to give companies the ability to tailor their marketing directly to you.. and they do; but now it's public knowledge that companies like AT&T, google, and thousands of others also provide all that data to the government.. and the guv even made it illegal to sue AT&T (or anyone else, really) for privacy violations.

We are so close to actual fascism that it astounds me there's little to no public outrage. Propaganda has played it's part in keeping the sheep in order, but I believe the bigger part of it is one simple concept: fear.

People are afraid to lose their 50" flat screen; afraid to lose their 9mpg gigantic SUV, their poorly built McMansions.. they have no idea that they are going to lose it and so much more when things get worse, and the way we've been going since the bailouts, I don't see how they could get better... it's accelerating worse and worse, and people just stick their heads in the sand.

I can't even have this discussion with friends / family.. nobody wants to hear it. Sad that we're going to go down like this.