{∅, {∅}, {∅, {∅}}} : Rage Against the Meat Grinder

 Wow, did that thread get side-tracked or what? 

I have heard similar squabbles caused grief during the Beat and Natural Power Movements of the sixties and seventies.  Today, I see myself sitting on the sidelines so as not to get accused of "man splainin'" ... Anyway, I am going to go through this thread again.  Maybe it needs to be split into two different topics.

For starters, I will steer the thread into its origins with a song and the seed post.

An Introduction to the Thread

This topic was inspired by a flash of insight I experienced when Crazy Squirrel immediately understood my indifferent attitude concerning propaganda about some arbitrary Jersey Shore town "shaping up."   This validation of my gut level feelings triggered a moment of clarity for me.  I'll try to do some thinking about it while I am coherent.

First, back up a little.

Like this message board itself, this subject/topic is a tangent off of Number Six's "Boycott Amazon" post.  I know the people shudder at the thought of boycotting Amazon.com since, well, they can get a printer cartridge for a fraction of what they would pay in the stores or directly from the retailer.  Principles, principles, principles ... ethics, ethic, ethics ... solidarity ... what's solidarity?

OK.  The subject is RESISTANCE in a consumerist society.


Under the video about working conditions at Amazon (and other such warehouses behind the scenes) there is one comment that hits the nail on the head: “Middle-class people who defend such labor practices are the Uncle Toms of the 21 century.”

That’s why, with Ignatius Reilly, I say, “Down with the middle class! The middle class must go!”

It’s just such a relief to cop such an attitude since the middle class is supposed to be the salt of the earth. Or … building up the reputation of a town by building high-priced luxury apartments for young urban professionals (yuppies) … Then people talking about how the town is really “shaping up.”

Crazy Squirrels two cents:  "Ugh…when people speak of a neighborhood ‘shaping up’, I sigh heavily and roll my eyes. ‘Shaping up’ = ****ing boring, after all. Blech!"

It is amazing to me that you totally understood what I was getting at. Yes, “shaping up” = “boring” – I think that must be it.

“Shaping up” implies “you have to spend money in yuppie establishments in order to be ‘having fun’” – even though it is all make-believe fun!

“Shaping up” means “those freaks who have conversations by the trees in the park next to the library will be harassed by the hired guns of the corporate state”.

“Shaping up” = those of you who are unemployed will eventually be arrested on some trumped up “disorderly conduct” charge then coerced into an “outpatient treatment program” where brains will be bombarded with “positive thinking therapy groups” which will make you want to drink yourself to death. Heeheehee. Shaping up …

"Clean up your act …. shave the beard off, get the rotten teeth pulled, and wear dentures … Maybe blend in …"

 UGH!

Here's a rhetorical question:  Isn't the point moot if one boycotts with no money to spend in the first place?