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Response: Kyle Chayka, “The Empty Promises”
The author focuses on minimalism tendency; the practice of contentment with fewer essential items that spark joy rather than an impulse to accumulate more things with no use. Minimalism involves getting rid of cluttered items in the house and also doing away with considered extravagant behaviors in one’s life.
At first, the author seems to praise the change in lifestyle as it allows an individual to focus on inner fulfillment and pursuit of their dreams. The total lifestyle change questions them to identify the worth of each item in their life vis-à-vis their use, functionality, and possible duplication. Suggestions are made on optional commodities to serve the same purpose by making a purchase, which is less costly but efficient. The cutting down on budget satisfies as it allows some to get out of debts and increase on their savings, for instance.
But later on, disagrees with earlier thought, which he reveals has a false effect on the long term fulfillment, especially in matters finance. Despite individuals’ consciousness of their expenditures, they end up with a lot at hand, which again pushes them to make purchases on even many expensive items to replace the former deemed cheaper. Also though crusaders of this shift get a significant following on social platforms, they fail to use their influence to admit and explain to their followers that it is indeed extravagance when they slip back again to making costly purchases on more straightforward items.
The disguise Apple operates on by trading the most straightforward and sophisticated items yet costly is an example of the emptiness in the promise of choosing to live like minimalists. Therefore, an ideal minimalist should consistently check on what habits have replaced their former luxurious lifestyle concerning what informed their earlier decisions.
Substantive discussion questions
- How does the acquisition of expensive items and indulgence in thrifty behaviors after getting rid of useless things and behavior reflect minimalism?
- Simplicity is an appealing pitch in marketing but costs buyers a lot of money. Explain this paradox.
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