Apr 7
The stuff I think I like
Often times it is hard to tell whether I actually like it. Or did some algorithm make me like it.
It is interesting to consider the product and services we buy — and by we I am referring to those who are living in a relatively wealthy country who are targets of mass consumerism in the sense of being mindless consumers — And I mean this argument has been said so much that it is so cliche but we don’t NEED anything we WANT because — damm it feels good.
The thing is the things we do in life == most things are actually we because we feel good. After all everyone’s intrinsic goal in life is to be HAPPY and what is happiness? A feel-good emotion. This also means we can be “Archived” in life in those moments where we feel happiness.
But then why do we not just satisfy and stop in those moments? It is in my opinion two distinct factors:
- Things change — — because time flows and people change and the environment changes no matter how much we try to hold onto that “happiness” it is in some ways not MEANT to last long. It is going to change not because it is bad but just because it is. The good news is that new and exciting happiness comes into life. So when happy moments leave don’t think — there goes my luck — rather think “oh I must have another exciting moment left in my life”
- Second is MARKETING — I mean to be really honest I LOVE MARKETING — and I am sorry to say this but it is just absolutely fascinating to me that people are so easily convinced in wanting things, visioning new worlds, visiniong new futures — — and all of it is marketing + branding. One brand I recently came across was Ruby’s — a brand that makes sugar-free drinks from hibiscus. I recently went to their pop up and guess what they have built a whole empire of sugar-free drink universe — The Rubyverse — I mean after all it's a flavored water brand (though they do taste really good strongly recommend as a fanatic Selzer water drinker). But by creating these storylines and meticulously branding its company it has been able to become much more than that. Starting at flavored water — but expanding to designed goods, taro cards, t-shirts, etc. Heck. Their designs remind me so much of NFTs — probably will investigate that?
Anyways sorry about the little rant. All in all I myself being a bit of an overspender falls into the pit of it no matter how much I know I don’t intrinsically NEED anything. But then how do we figure out what we like?
The thing is Ruby’s pop-up was introduced to me by this TikTok. My algorithm leads me there. My algorithm which I strongly believe knows me better than any of my friends, family, lovers, heck myself. So I began thinking do I really have control over this ?
→ I mean in the olden days it might have been a small community of people affecting you. But now it is machine-learned devices, people all across the globe, people you are “friends” with but never met. And How do I know from all these influences what is real?
These thoughts just juggle me up sometimes — as a person who has a strong sense of individualism, it feels a bit uneasy thought to think that I may be under somebody’s control anyhow. Especially in nights like today where NYC’s bipolar weather is messing up my immune system — any advice to calm down the fever I’m having will be highly appreciated
by love,
Just jotting my thoughts.
