I have for some time noticed it, but didn’t know what to call it until today. Affluenza: the disease of epidemic proportions that causes Americans to sacrifice their health, communities, and families, all for the senseless pursuit of owning stuff, or simply “wealth” to buy stuff. Apparently, there’s a TV show on it, a book, and seminars to help combat it (the friend who introduced me to Affluenza noted that perhaps to buy the book was to demonstrate that you have Affluenza). I love this quote from the Amazon.com book review:
“To live, we buy..all the while squelching our intrinsic curiosity, self-motivation, and creativity.”
Apparently this book won’t teach you anything you don’t already know, but it’s exciting to witness our society finally waking up.
Do I have affluenza? I score 15 points on the Affluenza Diagnosis Test, which puts me just below having mild Affluenza. Well, nobody is perfect, and it’s not like all posessions are bad. Some of the things that may or may not make me guilty of Affluenza:
- I have a TV…and cable, even though I only watch one or two channels, an average of 1 hour a week.
- My computer is always on.
- I’m using my Air Conditioner today (we have over 100 degree heat index today!)
- My car is a V6, and I drive to work about 4 miles every day at a speed of 30mph.
My personal belief is that if you truly have an intrinsic passion for something, owning a few things that help you exercise that passion is okay. That’s why I won’t count my two guitars, my CD’s, and my book collection. Perhaps I shouldn’t count my computer being on all of the time, because it enables me to exercise my passion for design and for the internet (I believe there is virtue, if used for certain things, in the information classification and transfer that the internet makes possible). Also, working alot of hours has been cited as a symptom of Affluenza, but I do that because I like what I do (not that I never work a few more hours than I’d actually like to).
Of course, the “passion” argument sucks, because someone could say “I have a passion for driving an obnoxious tank that gets 6 miles a gallon half an hour to and from work down the main arterial road of my city,” and that’s not cool. I guess if you’re concerned about it, ask me, and I will tell you whether you should make your purchase or not. I’ll get this all sorted out some day into a solid argument, but until then, just be careful.
A truly fascinating art project related to this from right here in Nebraska: Obsessive Consumption.
Sidethought: I wonder if our economy would just collapse if everyone were magically cured of Affluenza.
Tom Nemitz said,
August 3, 2004 @ 11:29 am
I have a passion for self-help books, because I’m a stupid american that needs to buy common sense in a neatly bound typeset package. Does that count? Just wondering.
Incidentally, my score is 19.
Anonymous said,
August 4, 2004 @ 12:39 am
I have a passion for both kadavy.net and polyfro.com. I know it doesn’t cost anything to view these site’s (except for the $35 cox internet bill) but they fill my life with wicked cool tree’s and Ron Burgundy. Keep Truckin’ I don’t have affluenza, I have Blogffluenza.
Renee said,
August 4, 2004 @ 8:05 am
I read that book last year and it made me think about a lot of things. I’m on a big sociology book kick now. A little introspection is cathartic.
but... said,
August 5, 2004 @ 7:47 pm
11! Though I prefer not to listen to my money scream, and - shouldn’t I get points for driving a hybrid? It’s green AND saves on gas money.
kadavy said,
August 6, 2004 @ 7:34 am
I’ve seen your hybrid butt…. I mean butt…, I’ve seen your hybrid car. It is not green. It is a goldish-silver color.
Kim Davis said,
October 11, 2005 @ 1:12 pm
I know some people who work 2 or even 3 jobs to maintain a lavish lifestyle or drive a certain car. One person who even sells blood in addition to working 2 jobs; she says she is having financial problems. But every time we go out she suggests the most expensive restaurants in town and insists we couldn’t go downscale, like a “chain” restaurant. She wants to go to these chi-chi sushi places where an appetizer is thirty bucks and an entree is fifty dollars. If she stayed at home and cooked a grilled cheese sandwich for dinner, she wouldn’t have to be selling blood at the blood banks!!!!
Sam said,
December 14, 2005 @ 9:33 am
For question 14 on the quiz, walking wasn’t even an option on the list (to get to work - which I do). Found you via lifehacker a few hours ago.
kadavy said,
December 14, 2005 @ 9:35 am
Ha, I hadn’t noticed that, Sam. Shows you how car-centric the US can be sometimes.
jen said,
December 14, 2005 @ 10:40 am
jen’s affluenza test score was 14, which is one point less than mr kadavy’s…how is this possible?
Ron said,
December 15, 2005 @ 11:27 am
A score of 10! Hoo ha!
someone said,
December 15, 2005 @ 12:36 pm
Sometimes it pays in the long run to get the car with the V6. I bought a new V6 several years ago, the highest trim line of that make and model. The higher quality of some key parts has kept it running and in great shape. The lower trim lines were 4 cyl and some came to develop expensive engine problems.