I'm One of a Kind!
Dr. Pepper is running a commercial showing hordes of people taking off their outer shirts to reveal they are wearing identical t-shirts bearing slogans such as "I'm one of a kind!"
Ah, capitalism is so individualistic.
Ah, capitalism is so individualistic.
Wait a minute, you're telling me that there is a crowd of people, all wearing the same shirt, and on each of those shirts it states, "I'm one of a kind"?
ReplyDeleteI think that collectivism is far more the culprit than capitalism. Capitalism is merely private ownership over capital, whereas what you're describing is a false notion of individualism used to convey a message of collectivism. Granted, the commercial was indeed produced by a privately-owned entity, but that is the great benefit of such a thing as private ownership: any dickweed who has the means can say whatever silliness he wants to. This freedom does not have any implication against capitalism, per se.
This reminds me of a South Park episode whereby the Goth crowd at school (i.e. the outsiders) is swarmed by trendy Goth-like people due to the new interest in the 'Twilight' movie. So much so that Goth becomes trendy, but those who are now a part of it aren't Goth at all.
Ah, Joe, I'm not anti-capitalism, you know. I'm anti-capitalism worship.
DeleteThe shirts had a variety of slogans, but they were generally of that type.
Of course I know that you aren't anti-capitalist, but it seemed to me that you were attributing this to capitalism. Obviously, I'm an individualist who supports the capitalistic system, though I don't "worship" it. I merely accept that it is the best system available, and probably will remain so for the foreseeable future. However, like Mises, I also understand the interconnection of individuals and that we are each and all dependent upon and depended upon in order to make such a system work. That is why I've usually preferred Hazlitt's term of "cooperatism" over that of Marx's "capitalism".
Delete"I'm not anti-capitalism...I'm anti-capitalism worship."
DeleteWhat exactly is that supposed to mean, and how does that even relate to the commercial?
Eric, why is the meaning of this mysterious? If I said, "I'm not against Obama, but I am against these people who worship him," would that puzzle you as well? I really don't understand what you are puzzled about.
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQqq3e03EBQ
ReplyDeleteGood one, Mike.
DeleteSo their shirts aren't actually identical, and this really isn't about capitalism.
ReplyDeleteThe shirts are identical except for the slogan, as I thought I made clear in the original post by saying "such as."
DeleteAnd yes, it certainly is about capitalism.
The identical style and color is surely significant? “The smart way to keep people passive and obedient is to strictly limit the spectrum of acceptable shirt colors, but allow very lively phrases within that spectrum.”
DeleteCan you watch this video and not conclude that what Dr Pepper is advocating anything *but* conformity? Does conformity == capitalism, or something entirely else?
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02vku-6fZWQ
They almost mock the woman who has a white shirt with red lettering. As if she's making some kind of courageous departure from the status quo and so doing makes the point of all the other dubious "individuality" remarks on the red-shirted folks.
That's why I posted the Monty Python clip above (you are all individuals/you are all different/(I'm not)). I truly felt the point Gene was making was self-evident. But I'm new here :)
Mike
The self-evident can be difficult to communicate to those who wish to ignore it, Mike.
Delete