To be in the USA is to want to buy stuff
I don’t know if it is that there are fewer commercials in Switzerland, or if I just did not understand their Frenchness, but it is clear that we, in the USA, are bombarded/inundated with subtle, and not so subtle, pressures to buy stuff. TV commercials*, road signs (I do not remember seeing ad billboards in Europe), internet pop-ups–the pressure is everywhere.
From my perspective, that it is hard for me, living in the US, not to think about what I want to buy next. I remember walking through Migros (roughly equivalent to a Super Target) and thinking, “Why would I ever want this thing?” Quite the contrary now, “Ooh! Wouldn’t that be great to buy?” And it is the same stuff!
Enhancing this effect is the difference in price. Folks, things are a whole lot cheaper here in the US than in Europe!
Having lived for 2 years in Switzerland without wanting/needing to buy stuff, I can tell that I am different in the US. I think I like the non-consumer-cenetric me better.
*It is interesting to note that one-hour TV shows from my childhood (1960s) were 48 minutes of programming, and today these shows are barely 40 minutes.
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