What recession?

[bill_gj]

I accompanied wifey into London yesterday - she had a medical appointment.

After, we went to Oxford Street (involuntarily on my part) and the place was heaving. A wet Tuesday and the place was crowded with people and carrier bags.
There's obviously still plenty of spare in some parts of 'the economy'.

 

[Arsonista]

My wife told me about a piece on the news. It said people were buying expensive things on the drip to 'cheer themselves up'. Madness. Isn't that partly how we got into this mess?.

 

[brightspark]

My wife told me about a piece on the news. It said people were buying expensive things on the drip to 'cheer themselves up'. Madness. Isn't that partly how we got into this mess?.

yea and the- banks and credit companys are 2 blame

 

[the snooper]

yea and the- banks and credit companys are 2 blame

yea thats right and now they are taking peoples cash via interest on things they can no longer buy outright

so the banks cause it then sit back and rake it in

 

[NTwoO]

My wife told me about a piece on the news. It said people were buying expensive things on the drip to 'cheer themselves up'. Madness. Isn't that partly how we got into this mess?.

It is known that people spend money to feel rich. So you spend money to feel rich, but to be poor.

 

[tigler]

This is instant gratification at work and it's insidious. Generally, people today struggle to find fulfillment in anything but the acquisition of meaningless stuff, 2 or 3 generations have been afflicted with a poor education so simply do not know how to enrich their lives in any other way. They have no culture in their lives.
The problem with instant gratification that it's transient, so it needs to be constantly repeated, which at best means it is an expensive, ultimately unrewarding habit and at worst a debt spiral and misery.
UK society is sick and getting sicker.

 

[bill_gj]

Tigler - my own sentiments entirely.

 

[lexi]

It's an interesting post Tigler. Do many also not have the actual intelligence to figure it out? So therefore ignorance is bliss to them?

Bombarded constantly with worring news and advertising and swallowing it whole.

They are all needing a good dose of welding and making things

Haven't "The Masses" always lived in ignorance anyway..............of one kind or another? When was it ever ideal? For a short time in a memory misled by Nostalgia?

Just chewing the fat guys................not questioning peeps opinions.

 

[tigler]

I'm inclined to think ignorance is debt to them and bliss to the banks

 

[NTwoO]

The difference with 40-50 years ago and now is the TV (and other media) We have so many ideas pumped into our heads about what we "need" that most of the time the masses don't even know why they are buying something. My four year old gets the phrase "don't let yourself become victim of advertising" almost daily.

 

[breezer]

I'm an awful lot happier when I've MADE something than when I've just bought it.

Even if it cost more / took longer / doesn't look quite as good

My response to anyone who points out any of the above "Yeah, but I made it"

 

[NTwoO]

Even if it cost more / took longer / doesn't look quite as good

My statement usually goes "because I actually did something, gives you the opportunity to criticize". Usually who also build things say: "looks good, interesting construction, etc". People who don't say: "Doesn't look neat" Not thinking that they often compare it to things machine welded and built with ridiculously expensive jigged arrangements and special tooling.

 

[tigler]

The difference with 40-50 years ago and now is the TV (and other media) We have so many ideas pumped into our heads about what we "need" that most of the time the masses don't even know why they are buying something. My four year old gets the phrase "don't let yourself become victim of advertising" almost daily.

The marketing and advertising industry know their job and aggressively target the upto 35 age group as they are more receptive and susceptible to their ploys and have the income / credit access to indulge themselves. Basically it's mental conditioning to predispose the victim into submission.
Personally I reckon that females are exploited the most with fashion and cosmetics. Have you seen how many shoes the average girl has ??!!

 

[Sparkey]

Hum....no comment....

Have you seen how many shoes the average girl has ??!!

 

[Arsonista]

I was in WH Smith yesterday buying a mag and as it's coming up to 'that time' of year, calenders are on sale. I had a quick glance as my boy bought his mum a meerkat one last year and she was thrilled with it. Anyway, I was horrified to see one on ...............SHOES. FFS.

 

[Sparkey]

I was in WH Smith yesterday buying a mag and as it's coming up to 'that time' of year, calenders are on sale. I had a quick glance as my boy bought his mum a meerkat one last year and she was thrilled with it. Anyway, I was horrified to see one on ...............SHOES. FFS.

Hehe! i wonder....maybe Weldequip could make a calender with welders on it??? now that would be nice!

 

[MrFluffy]

I do this he says quietly. When Im feeling down a small spot of retail therapy takes place to try and cheer me up.
Of course my "retail therapy" involves tools and equipment, or something for the landy etc that Ive wanted for a bit but never got. Mostly it works, I use the tool later on and think "so thats why I bother to go to work" and other things.
I do however, never ever ever buy anything on credit. Not houses/cars or anything. If it arrives here, its bought and paid for already...

 

[boydy1989]

i made my grandfather a calender on clocks last year.

used a lot of printer ink up

 

[Robotstar5]

I get at least one letter a week telling me I can have a loan of some sort, usually £5-£20K, I may need to take one of them up on their offers soon......... to buy a bigger shredder!

 

[Welderpaul]

Have you seen the adverts on the telly for loans? 2450% interest or similar stupid amount.
Aye, i'll sign up to that!