Comments on: Let Me Introduce You To Some of My Less Fortunate Selves http://www.gauravonomics.com/offconsumption/let-me-introduce-you-to-som-of-my-less-fortunate-selves/ My year-long book-as-a-blog experiment in why we choose to consume, or not Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:14:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Mutiny.in » Life in the ATM Mode http://www.gauravonomics.com/offconsumption/let-me-introduce-you-to-som-of-my-less-fortunate-selves/#comment-672 Mutiny.in » Life in the ATM Mode Fri, 01 Aug 2008 05:03:43 +0000 http://www.gauravonomics.com/offconsumption/?p=31#comment-672 [...] two nights. Basically, I spent the next six years spending as much money as I could, to make up for not having enough in the previous twenty one years. Then, one day, I realized that I had run that race (with myself) and it had left me tired. I had [...] […] two nights. Basically, I spent the next six years spending as much money as I could, to make up for not having enough in the previous twenty one years. Then, one day, I realized that I had run that race (with myself) and it had left me tired. I had […]

]]> By: Subscribe to My Book: The Marketer Who Went Off Consumption | Gauravonomics Blog http://www.gauravonomics.com/offconsumption/let-me-introduce-you-to-som-of-my-less-fortunate-selves/#comment-641 Subscribe to My Book: The Marketer Who Went Off Consumption | Gauravonomics Blog Fri, 25 Jul 2008 22:07:08 +0000 http://www.gauravonomics.com/offconsumption/?p=31#comment-641 [...] When I passed out of IIM Bangalore six years back, and had some money for the first time, buying and owning things were important to me, if only to prove to myself that I could afford to. So, I set up a full household, acquired costly tastes, ate out five nights a week, and played host the other two nights. Basically, I spent the next six years spending as much money as I could, to make up for not having enough in the previous twenty one years. [...] […] When I passed out of IIM Bangalore six years back, and had some money for the first time, buying and owning things were important to me, if only to prove to myself that I could afford to. So, I set up a full household, acquired costly tastes, ate out five nights a week, and played host the other two nights. Basically, I spent the next six years spending as much money as I could, to make up for not having enough in the previous twenty one years. […]

]]> By: I’m Giving Away Everything I Own, to Five People, Instead of One | The Marketer Who Went Off Consumption http://www.gauravonomics.com/offconsumption/let-me-introduce-you-to-som-of-my-less-fortunate-selves/#comment-635 I’m Giving Away Everything I Own, to Five People, Instead of One | The Marketer Who Went Off Consumption Fri, 25 Jul 2008 12:24:05 +0000 http://www.gauravonomics.com/offconsumption/?p=31#comment-635 [...] When I passed out of IIMB six years back, and had some money for the first time, buying and owningthings were important to me, if only to prove to myself that I could afford to. So, I set up a full household, acquired costly tastes, ate out five nights a week, and played host the other two nights. Basically, I spent the next six years spending as much money as I could, to make up for not having enough in the previous twenty one years. [...] […] When I passed out of IIMB six years back, and had some money for the first time, buying and owningthings were important to me, if only to prove to myself that I could afford to. So, I set up a full household, acquired costly tastes, ate out five nights a week, and played host the other two nights. Basically, I spent the next six years spending as much money as I could, to make up for not having enough in the previous twenty one years. […]

]]> By: curiouscat http://www.gauravonomics.com/offconsumption/let-me-introduce-you-to-som-of-my-less-fortunate-selves/#comment-577 curiouscat Fri, 11 Jul 2008 10:11:35 +0000 http://www.gauravonomics.com/offconsumption/?p=31#comment-577 Ok, I take back what I said earlier. I thought about your experiment again over brandy last night (Yes I am jobless), and I can now see its value. Ok, I take back what I said earlier. I thought about your experiment again over brandy last night (Yes I am jobless), and I can now see its value.

]]> By: curious cat http://www.gauravonomics.com/offconsumption/let-me-introduce-you-to-som-of-my-less-fortunate-selves/#comment-576 curious cat Thu, 10 Jul 2008 13:22:55 +0000 http://www.gauravonomics.com/offconsumption/?p=31#comment-576 Dear Gaurav, came here, post hopping from later posts. I am still trying to understand the value of your experiment. I believe that you might learn much as a marketer, but all this "individual's quest to escape the ennui of consumerism" and so on, still sounds like a load off bull*$#@ to me. On this post, is n't what you are describing about the standard thing that all of us went through when we were growing up? And was it really that bad when you had not tasted wealth? Do you not think you are coloring the memory darker shades of grey due to your present? PS: apology for long comment. Dear Gaurav, came here, post hopping from later posts. I am still trying to understand the value of your experiment. I believe that you might learn much as a marketer, but all this “individual’s quest to escape the ennui of consumerism” and so on, still sounds like a load off bull*$#@ to me.

On this post, is n’t what you are describing about the standard thing that all of us went through when we were growing up? And was it really that bad when you had not tasted wealth? Do you not think you are coloring the memory darker shades of grey due to your present?

PS: apology for long comment.

]]> By: Gaurav Mishra http://www.gauravonomics.com/offconsumption/let-me-introduce-you-to-som-of-my-less-fortunate-selves/#comment-518 Gaurav Mishra Mon, 30 Jun 2008 09:59:15 +0000 http://www.gauravonomics.com/offconsumption/?p=31#comment-518 @Ace: Thanks. @X: Well, fortune is a relative thing. I'm sure $60 a month is enough for a lot of people. I'm also sure that $10,000 a month is not enough for a lot of people. So, I don't know if I am making a big deal out of nothing. @Ace: Thanks.

@X: Well, fortune is a relative thing. I’m sure $60 a month is enough for a lot of people. I’m also sure that $10,000 a month is not enough for a lot of people. So, I don’t know if I am making a big deal out of nothing.

]]> By: X http://www.gauravonomics.com/offconsumption/let-me-introduce-you-to-som-of-my-less-fortunate-selves/#comment-505 X Wed, 25 Jun 2008 23:06:08 +0000 http://www.gauravonomics.com/offconsumption/?p=31#comment-505 <i>I survived three years of graduation in Delhi on Rs. 3000 per month ($60 then) and that included rent, food, travel, clothes, books, and long distance telephone calls to my girlfriend. </i> This is not bad at all. Having to wear your Dad's shirt probably is. Having to wait until 17 before holding a girl, doesn't sound too late. You are making a big deal of nothing. When you are a student you have less money. When u start earning u have more. You were middle class before and now upper middle/ upper class now. Whats the big deal. I survived three years of graduation in Delhi on Rs. 3000 per month ($60 then) and that included rent, food, travel, clothes, books, and long distance telephone calls to my girlfriend.

This is not bad at all. Having to wear your Dad’s shirt probably is. Having to wait until 17 before holding a girl, doesn’t sound too late. You are making a big deal of nothing. When you are a student you have less money. When u start earning u have more. You were middle class before and now upper middle/ upper class now. Whats the big deal.

]]> By: A Life That Fits Into a Backpack | The Marketer Who Went Off Consumption http://www.gauravonomics.com/offconsumption/let-me-introduce-you-to-som-of-my-less-fortunate-selves/#comment-478 A Life That Fits Into a Backpack | The Marketer Who Went Off Consumption Sun, 22 Jun 2008 13:22:35 +0000 http://www.gauravonomics.com/offconsumption/?p=31#comment-478 [...] It would have been easy for me to look at the house and feel as if I had arrived, especially given my background. [...] […] It would have been easy for me to look at the house and feel as if I had arrived, especially given my background. […]

]]> By: Ace http://www.gauravonomics.com/offconsumption/let-me-introduce-you-to-som-of-my-less-fortunate-selves/#comment-274 Ace Sun, 27 Apr 2008 05:29:30 +0000 http://www.gauravonomics.com/offconsumption/?p=31#comment-274 I'm surprised you even bothered to respond to that post. Sounded like a lot of sour grapes to me. I enjoyed reading your response though =) I’m surprised you even bothered to respond to that post. Sounded like a lot of sour grapes to me.

I enjoyed reading your response though =)

]]> By: Gaurav Mishra http://www.gauravonomics.com/offconsumption/let-me-introduce-you-to-som-of-my-less-fortunate-selves/#comment-213 Gaurav Mishra Mon, 14 Apr 2008 17:54:10 +0000 http://www.gauravonomics.com/offconsumption/?p=31#comment-213 @Suchi: I'm glad you liked the post. As I have <a href="http://www.gauravonomics.com/offconsumption/a-long-distance-hug-to-the-girl-with-the-seven-pretty-blue-salwars/" rel="nofollow">said before</a>, there’s no virtue in ‘not having’ something in the first place; the only virtue is in ‘giving up’ something you already have. So, yes, I know that most Indians are still coming to terms with consumption, but that's not the point. The point is that I see an emerging sub-culture -- primarily in Europe, but also in North America -- in which well-to-do people are saying that they are 'tired of' consumption. I hope you see that not being able to consume is different from being tired of consuming. This sub-culture hasn't become visible in India yet, but it will, in less than 10 years. That is the trend that I'm trying to explore with my experiment. Yes, the theme has also evoked extreme reactions, as the rest of the blog. Some like the extreme simplicity, some don't. I do see that it is difficult to navigate, and I intend to do a little tweaking very soon. :-) @Riddhi: Thanks for the kind words and <a href="http://www.gauravonomics.com/offconsumption/the-marketer-who-went-off-consumption-gets-its-first-interview-in-indian-daily-hindustan-times/" rel="nofollow">the great article</a>. @Anonymity: :-) @Suchi: I’m glad you liked the post.

As I have said before, there’s no virtue in ‘not having’ something in the first place; the only virtue is in ‘giving up’ something you already have.

So, yes, I know that most Indians are still coming to terms with consumption, but that’s not the point. The point is that I see an emerging sub-culture — primarily in Europe, but also in North America — in which well-to-do people are saying that they are ‘tired of’ consumption. I hope you see that not being able to consume is different from being tired of consuming. This sub-culture hasn’t become visible in India yet, but it will, in less than 10 years. That is the trend that I’m trying to explore with my experiment.

Yes, the theme has also evoked extreme reactions, as the rest of the blog. Some like the extreme simplicity, some don’t. I do see that it is difficult to navigate, and I intend to do a little tweaking very soon. :-)

@Riddhi: Thanks for the kind words and the great article.

@Anonymity: :-)

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