Comments on: Shopping for Sex: wasteful consumerism and Darwin’s theory of sexual selection

By: Business casual at the White House | Dangerous Intersection

Business casual at the White House | Dangerous Intersection — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 02:11:05 +0000

[...] look enhances a lawyer’s effectiveness in many situations–conspicuous consumption functions as a Darwinian display–but old impulses die [...]

By: Erich Vieth

Erich Vieth — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 17:42:49 +0000

Eve: The theme I’m switching to is Solostream’s WP-Vybe, an outrageously reasonably priced WordPress template ($99). I am compelled to add (because it is utterly true–I’m saying this merely as a satisfied customer), the WP-Vybe support is extraordinary. I’ll post more on this theme in a separate post, once I finish installing all the bells and whistles (i.e., plugins). http://www.solostream.com/2008/08/01/wordpress-theme-wp-vybe-10/

By: Eve

Eve — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 14:25:14 +0000

Interesting Article - keep up the good work

Also, what is the theme have you installed at the moment? I want to know if it’s a free one.

By: Pascal Boyer continues his search for natural sources of religious belief | Dangerous Intersection

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 07:03:20 +0000

[...] human coalitional capacity” on which we base our religious beliefs. As argued by Amotz Zahavi, humans “emit and detect costly, hard-to-fake signals of commitment.” While proclaiming [...]

By: Nate Hagens

Nate Hagens — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 15:23:25 +0000

Thank you.
The problem with competing for information, as I mentioned, is what do we DO with the information once it’s acquired. To date, information leads to power leads to money leads to resource consumption, etc. To compete just for the information we would all have to take a step towards zen-buddhist land, which wouldn’t be a bad thing - just seemingly implausible as I look out my window….;-)

By: Erich Vieth

Erich Vieth — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 04:48:42 +0000

Nate: Thanks for checking in with us. I read your Oil Drum post. Lots of good information there. I’m especially intrigued by this:

The planet is finite: there is only so much land, oil, water, dolphins and gold. No matter how efficiently we use our resources, if there are more users competing for more stuff, we will eventually run out of goods. However, information is limitless. We can explore, research, study, and learn as much as we wish. With the caveat that 8 hours of reading be balanced by hearty physical exercise, information is one thing we can compete for that uses few resources. Look at theoildrum.com as one example. Vernadskii dreamt of a system he called “noosphere” – a biosphere driven by human intellect, spirituality, knowledge, and understanding.

I do like your coupling with the limitless need to seek status through squandoring resources with the fact that information is limitless. That would seem to be a much safer battleground (at least for those who are proficient absorbers and processors of information!). Good luck with your project. When you are finished, let us know the link.

By: Nate Hagens

Nate Hagens — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 01:01:45 +0000

Erich,
I’ve attempted laying out the foundations for why we consume in this piece:

http://www.theoildrum.com/node/3386

I will attempt to turn it into an academic paper, which is how I found your interesting post - by googling.. Nice work

By: Erich Vieth

Erich Vieth — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 05:03:53 +0000

To David Koerner: I think that Miller is suggestion that in this realm of runaway consumer spending (and in most other fields of human behavior), the first best step for making changes is to understand why we behave in this way in the first place.

Knowing that we are prone to displaying for reasons rooted in ancient desires related to access to partners for procreation just might make us think twice about whether we really “need” that expensive new sports car. That same underlying explanation might also suggest to us alternative ways of displaying that serve that same deep need (e.g., volunteering for a worthy cause can also a powerful display of fitness).

I look forward to reading Miller’s new book on consumerism. He is a terrific writer and thinker.

By: David Koerner

David Koerner — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 01:50:59 +0000

I have a question about this:
“Miller argues that this resistance exacerbates conspicuous consumption. When we deny that sexual selection drives conspicuous consumption, this leaves us no systematic understanding of our own behavior. Without any comprehensive understanding of our wasteful impulses, we helplessly play right into the hands of advertisers.”

…How? How would you play into the hands of advertisers by turning your back on needless consumerism? Wouldn’t the purchase decision be one based on utility and personal satisfaction, rather than an advertised ’suggested’ value of enhanced sexual fitness?

By: cj

cj — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 19:15:13 +0000

I LOVE the flowbee! I cut my own hair too. Last time I did, it looked so much better than most hair parlor cuts. I’ve been cutting my own for about 3 years now, the first couple times were pretty choppy but perseverance and practice!