Comments on: The Unconsumption Project http://boingboing.net/2011/10/21/the-unconsumption-project.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Wed, 22 May 2013 12:30:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: El Hombre Perdió http://boingboing.net/2011/10/21/the-unconsumption-project.html#comment-1249832 El Hombre Perdió Sat, 22 Oct 2011 01:21:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/2011/10/21/the-unconsumption-project.html#comment-1249832 This not-consuming thing has really taken off over the last few years, hasn't it? They must have tapped into something pretty deep. This not-consuming thing has really taken off over the last few years, hasn’t it? They must have tapped into something pretty deep.

]]> By: nosehat http://boingboing.net/2011/10/21/the-unconsumption-project.html#comment-1249737 nosehat Fri, 21 Oct 2011 22:31:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/2011/10/21/the-unconsumption-project.html#comment-1249737 Oops, I guess I didn't read the original post very carefully.  For some reason I'd got it in my head that they were reselling these.  :P Oops, I guess I didn’t read the original post very carefully.  For some reason I’d got it in my head that they were reselling these.  :P

]]> By: tylerkaraszewski http://boingboing.net/2011/10/21/the-unconsumption-project.html#comment-1249726 tylerkaraszewski Fri, 21 Oct 2011 22:26:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/2011/10/21/the-unconsumption-project.html#comment-1249726 I guess "attention" is not something these people are trying to "unconsume". I guess “attention” is not something these people are trying to “unconsume”.

]]> By: millie fink http://boingboing.net/2011/10/21/the-unconsumption-project.html#comment-1249639 millie fink Fri, 21 Oct 2011 21:00:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/2011/10/21/the-unconsumption-project.html#comment-1249639 Why not just buy used stuff from charitable organizations and/or destitute people's yard sales, and not give a crap what brand it is? Or, if the brand is such an irritant, yeah, scrape it off? In any case, why resell it again? Why not just buy used stuff from charitable organizations and/or destitute people’s yard sales, and not give a crap what brand it is? Or, if the brand is such an irritant, yeah, scrape it off? In any case, why resell it again?

]]> By: nosehat http://boingboing.net/2011/10/21/the-unconsumption-project.html#comment-1249487 nosehat Fri, 21 Oct 2011 19:22:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/2011/10/21/the-unconsumption-project.html#comment-1249487  Rebranding already branded things in the name of consuming less?  Sure, why not.  But does it seem a little tacky?  Like a video screen cap from a news program that's already watermarked with the local station, then re-water marked with the national news program's logo, then posted on a website that slaps its own logo on, and reposted on a different site that slaps a different logo on...  You end up with an accumulated cruft of branding that obscures the original image, diminishing its usefulness. In the case of these plates, they've rebranded them directly on the eating surface, where the new logo is likely to chip off or leak toxins into your food.  Again, the excessive re-branding diminishes the object's usefulness.  Why not un-brand things instead, in the name of unconsumption?  Sandblast off all the brand cruft and resell?  Rebranding already branded things in the name of consuming less?  Sure, why not. 

But does it seem a little tacky?  Like a video screen cap from a news program that’s already watermarked with the local station, then re-water marked with the national news program’s logo, then posted on a website that slaps its own logo on, and reposted on a different site that slaps a different logo on…  You end up with an accumulated cruft of branding that obscures the original image, diminishing its usefulness.

In the case of these plates, they’ve rebranded them directly on the eating surface, where the new logo is likely to chip off or leak toxins into your food.  Again, the excessive re-branding diminishes the object’s usefulness. 

Why not un-brand things instead, in the name of unconsumption?  Sandblast off all the brand cruft and resell?

]]> By: yeastbeast http://boingboing.net/2011/10/21/the-unconsumption-project.html#comment-1249431 yeastbeast Fri, 21 Oct 2011 18:51:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/2011/10/21/the-unconsumption-project.html#comment-1249431 "Unconsumption" is not non-consumption. Instead of consuming cheap new crockery, you are consuming expensive new art supplies. “Unconsumption” is not non-consumption. Instead of consuming cheap new crockery, you are consuming expensive new art supplies.

]]> By: Matthew Petty http://boingboing.net/2011/10/21/the-unconsumption-project.html#comment-1249366 Matthew Petty Fri, 21 Oct 2011 18:15:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/2011/10/21/the-unconsumption-project.html#comment-1249366 Cory recently mentioned something about collecting a set of mismatched charity shop cutlery, and getting the handles powder-coated in a matching colour. Nice idea. Cory recently mentioned something about collecting a set of mismatched charity shop cutlery, and getting the handles powder-coated in a matching colour. Nice idea.

]]> By: Lobster http://boingboing.net/2011/10/21/the-unconsumption-project.html#comment-1249359 Lobster Fri, 21 Oct 2011 18:08:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/2011/10/21/the-unconsumption-project.html#comment-1249359 Or a "generic stylized pile of indiscreet detritus." Or a “generic stylized pile of indiscreet detritus.”

]]> By: jere7my http://boingboing.net/2011/10/21/the-unconsumption-project.html#comment-1249337 jere7my Fri, 21 Oct 2011 17:57:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/2011/10/21/the-unconsumption-project.html#comment-1249337 <i>Well, maybe, but the cart would still be empty.</i> It's not empty. It's got, like, a watermelon or a Roomba or something in it. Well, maybe, but the cart would still be empty.

It’s not empty. It’s got, like, a watermelon or a Roomba or something in it.

]]> By: royaltrux http://boingboing.net/2011/10/21/the-unconsumption-project.html#comment-1249326 royaltrux Fri, 21 Oct 2011 17:50:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/2011/10/21/the-unconsumption-project.html#comment-1249326 Well, maybe, but the cart would still be empty. Did remind me of this old coffee commercial overdub that made me chortle recently - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8CskkYABk0&feature=related Not particularly safe for work audio. Well, maybe, but the cart would still be empty.

Did remind me of this old coffee commercial overdub that made me chortle recently -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8CskkYABk0&feature=related

Not particularly safe for work audio.

]]> By: Lobster http://boingboing.net/2011/10/21/the-unconsumption-project.html#comment-1249306 Lobster Fri, 21 Oct 2011 17:41:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/2011/10/21/the-unconsumption-project.html#comment-1249306 Cute logo, but look at those plates.  If you saw one of those, without knowing the significance of the logo, wouldn't you assume the cart was supposed to be right-side up? Cute logo, but look at those plates.  If you saw one of those, without knowing the significance of the logo, wouldn’t you assume the cart was supposed to be right-side up?

]]>