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If you've seen a giant, 10-foot carrot being hauled around the City recently, don't worry, you're not hallucinating. It's the folks behind Carrotmob Chicago, happening at Fox & Obel this Sunday, August 9. What is Carrotmob? Well, we'll let them explain.
Carrotmob is a bunch of consumers who buy stuff to support businesses that make socially responsible decisions. It rewards good businesses instead of punishing bad ones. It offers green for green.Put your money where your mouth is. Join a reverse boycott - or “buycott” - of a locally owned business that has committed to greening itself up. When you join Carrotmob Chicago Sunday, August 9, in giving Fox & Obel the business, a portion of the ka-chings will go toward making the store more energy efficient. And energy efficiency means less use of precious natural resources and a healthier environment for everyone.
It’s about offering a carrot, instead of wielding a stick -- for the good of the planet.
Those participating will also have the chance to buy goods and then donate them to the Chicago Food Depository.
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The sentiment's in the right place here, and I like the idea, but I can't help but see the irony of expressing your support for sustainable lifestyle choices through conspicuous consumption.
how exactly is any of this an example of conspicuous consumption? do you even know what that term means?
This is consumption designed to be noticed ... thus, the consumption is conspicuous. I don't see what's hard about that.
wrong. try again.
"Conspicuous consumption is a term used to describe the lavish spending on goods and services acquired mainly for the purpose of displaying income or wealth. "
these people are not walking around displaying how rich and fabulous they are. they're walking around to support businesses with green practices.
No, you're wrong and don't know what the term means. Half an intellectual is more dangerous than a whole idiot.
It comes from the sociologist Thorstein Veblen in his book "The Theory of the Leisure Class". It was meant to apply to the "new rich" of the era but conspicuous consumption is now broadly applied to individuals and households with expendable incomes whose consumption patterns are prompted by the utility of goods to show their status rather than any intrinsic utility of such goods.
Supporting local businesses and sustainable agriculture/economic models is an intrinsic good beyond simply buying couture to impress the neighbors.
I think you're over-complicating simple words for the sake of some catch phrase you picked up somewhere and thus are missing the point.
conspicuous: (adj), 1: obvious to the eye or mind (conspicuous changes) 2: attracting attention : striking (a conspicuous success) 3: marked by a noticeable violation of good taste.
This event, built around consumption, is designed to attract attention. Therefore, the event built around consumption is conspicuous. Therefore, it is conspicuous consumption.
nope.
the sociological term and concept of "conspicuous consumption" does not simply mean consuming for the sake of being noticed like you seem to think; it is consumption for the sake of displaying wealth (i.e. pulling up to the vallet at a night club in your Ferrari wearing a $10k fur coat so everyone in line can see how fabulous and rich you are -- think rap video, paris hilton, etc).
The display is the means; creating an impression of wealth is the end.
Perhaps you should read more on the subject instead of just putting the two words together and assuming a limited understanding of a long-standing sociological concept and terminology.
Okay, then, lets assume that the English language no longer allows you to put two words together and have them mean something, that you do, in fact, have to assemble a vast list of catch phrases. Let's examine the definition of the combination of the words "conspicuous" and "consumption" from dictionary.com:
conspicuous consumption: lavish or wasteful spending thought to enhance social prestige.
Now, the question is whether the people spending at Fox and Obel are buying things they would have bought otherwise and are using no more energy to get there than they otherwise would use, or whether they're going out of their way and buying additional things to make their point. If the latter is true, which will be the case for many, then that spending is wasteful. And much of the point of this is designed to enhance social prestige.
Or, how about instead we use the term "apparent appropriation" or "perceptible purchasing"? Would that make you feel better?
Of course, you do know a red herring actually can be a herring that is red.
I believe herring are silver, not red.
Unless you paint them.
Drat, I've been bested!
you quite obviously have no idea what the concept of "conspicuous consumption" actually meant before you used the term and you're just being defensive at this point. this is not a semantics debate, by the way -- the terminology in question has a specific meaning that has been in use for at least a century. Face it -- you are incorrect.
your notion that people will be eating at Fox and Obel during this "buycott" event in order to display just how prestigious and wealthy they are is quite a stretch. I'd say a vast majority of those involved with Carrot Mob and those that will intentionally attend Fox and Obel on the 9th will be quite clear in their goal: to support green practices in Chicago businesses and raise money/food for the Chicago Food Depository.
This is, in fact, nothing more than a semantic debate based more on your discomfort with having the motives or consequences of the green movement questioned than with anything that means anything. I understand the sociological concept, just as I understand that there is more to "social prestige" than financial wealth. "Social prestige" can come from nothing more than looking good in the eyes of others. For instance, if one makes it a point to shop at an organization rightfully recognized for environmentally sound practices and to call attention to this shopping, then that person is going to look superior in the eyes of like-minded peers. Thus, the person's social prestige will increase. Many of the people involved in this will participate solely for that reason.
oy, people! all of these words and linguistic one-uppery... for what?
who cares what it's called. who cares, even, that people are doing it for "enhancing social prestige." i personally am going to buy a few things i would've otherwise bought. i'm going to also buy some extra stuff for the food bank. i'm going to tell friends all about it because it's cool, and maybe it will make me look cool by association. i guess that makes me a shameless social narcissist, awesome.
sustainable lifestyle choices include purchasing choices. some may argue consumption in general is not sustainable; but for most of the rest of us, we're going to have to keep on buying stuff. but we can use our money more wisely, and if it's for a cause like this, that benefits multiple entities, i don't see anything amiss. if your'e concerned about the fact that it's an upscale store benefiting from the sales, check out the website as the organizers have already explained the rationale behind it.
pedantry only goes so far. you are what you do, not what you say.
even if you're attending to be cool, that is still not "conspicuous consumption."
attending an anti-war demonstration and buying a whole bunch of anti-war buttons because that might get you laid at the co-op is not conspicuous consumption. buying a Gucci purse and making sure everyone knows that it's Gucci and how expensive the purse is is conspicuous consumption.
Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra.
You really can't do anything anymore without people looking for some ulterior/disingenuous motive. I hear The Baffler is hiring. Personally, I'm all for voting with your dollars and supporting those businesses that are being socially or environmentally conscious. Nice job, Carrot Top.
Why is Fox & Obel being rewarded? What kind of improvements are they going to make?
What: A national grassroots movement of environmentally conscious consumers patronizes a business on a specific day to raise money to make that business more socially responsible.
Where: Fox & Obel 401 E. Illinois St.
When: Sunday, August 9 noon-6 p.m.
Why: Your shopping directly helps us become greener. The Greater Chicago Food Depository will also be accepting donations in our Market, so you can help feed the hungry, too.
How: A portion of sales during the designated hours will be alloted for making environmentally friendly improvments to the Market. The more you shop, the more you help us save the earth.
hi, Navin. Great question. Here's the writeup about "Why Fox & Obel": http://chicago.carrotmob.org/blog/why-fox-obel/
The more you shop, the more you help us save the earth
hmmm....
I think Carrotmob is a great idea and I'm glad there's an upcoming event in Chicago. This is an approach that rewards businesses for positive efforts rather than punishing businesses for failing to make positive efforts. "It’s about offering a carrot, instead of wielding a stick -- for the good of the planet." I'm looking forward to the event on Sunday, August 9 and will be at Fox & Obel's with carrots on!