I need some help Afro Nation

[mlc0908]

The person who believes that the way I'm dressed indicates my self worth is the one who really feels this way about their own self. This issue goes beyond stereotyping. At first glance, it's already been determined what type of person I am and what group of people with whom I fit in best. Now, taking it a step further using the same information (my physical appearance), this person is going to decide how I feel about myself. As bass ackwards and unfair this is, unfortunately it's true in most cases.

There are so many different ways to answer the original question and I don't think there actually is one difinitive right or wrong answer. My views on this subject may not be shared by others, but my wardrobe is by no means an indication of my self worth. However, in most cases it does determine how much I'm worth to other people (who don't know me).

[umbrarchist]

I regard the entire concept of expensive clothing as a form of economic sabotage based on psychological manipulation.

The upper classes do not want the lower classes to accumulate wealth. This would reduce the power of the wealthy. So getting the lower classes to spend a lot of money on things which depreciate rapidly is getting the pawns to defeat themselves. So creating and maintaining a culture in which people essentially put social pressure on each other to fail is very useful. Think about it. How much are used clothes worth? Is a used $300 dress worth any more than a used $50 dress? But that is $250 more in depreciation. The objective is to keep the people at the bottom running on the treadmill making the upper classes richer.

And by a curious coincidence the economists don't talk about the depreciation on the consumer side of the equation.

The Economic Wargame is a continuation of the Military Wargame by other means.

All warfare is based on deception. - Sun Tzu

umbra

[DBlack]

Originally Posted by umbrarchist

I regard the entire concept of expensive clothing as a form of economic sabotage based on psychological manipulation.

The upper classes do not want the lower classes to accumulate wealth. This would reduce the power of the wealthy. So getting the lower classes to spend a lot of money on things which depreciate rapidly is getting the pawns to defeat themselves. So creating and maintaining a culture in which people essentially put social pressure on each other to fail is very useful. Think about it. How much are used clothes worth? Is a used $300 dress worth any more than a used $50 dress? But that is $250 more in depreciation. The objective is to keep the people at the bottom running on the treadmill making the upper classes richer.

And by a curious coincidence the economists don't talk about the depreciation on the consumer side of the equation.

The Economic Wargame is a continuation of the Military Wargame by other means.

All warfare is based on deception. - Sun Tzu

umbra

I agree with your assertion that spending money on expensive clothes is not economically feasible to the poor or even middle class.

But in a free market as ours, there's no evidence to show that people are being forced or coerced into buying these clothes. You don't have to go in that store and swipe your card. And you certainly can to to Target or Sears and get very nice clothing, to the point that many cannot tell where you got your clothes from. I've seen countless women dress amazingly well, but are saavy budget shoppers.

In a free market, we still have alot of personal freedom and choices when it comes to buying many goods. Clothing is especially one of them.

[Proudbrothaman]

Well maybe I should have read all these responses before I finished my paper, I got a 89% because it wasn't written in more of a third person (bulls###) anyway thanks everyone for your thoughts; even yours Dblack. And trust me I was just trying to get a feel for atmosphere of the topic so I didn't feel I needed an opinion for that.

[umbrarchist]

there's no evidence to show that people are being forced or coerced into buying these clothes.

It depends on what you mean by "forced or coerced". I said it is largely psychological. It is true that no one is putting a gun to people's heads making them spend. But how much will people do to "feel good about themselves"? Especially if they have been bombarded from childhood with reasons to feel bad about themselves.

I had a XEROX sales manager tell me point blank, "I like for my salesmen to be in debt, it makes them hustle." There was a time when IBM would not promote men who were not married. There is a book about IBM, the title is something like, The Watsons: History of IBM. It had cases of IBMers committing suicide.

The whole Free Market business is just propaganda. You aren't going to create a society telling people they are psychologically manipulated slaves even if it's true. The system works on hiding information. Does making accounting manditory in the schools violate any principle of CAPITALISM? Which did you learn in grammar school:

Net Worth = Assets - Liabilities

or

ANTIDISESTABLISHMENTARIANISM

???

Which is easier to remember? Which is more important?

Fifth graders can learn accounting as well as collegians

Double entry accounting is 700 years old. How hard can it be with today's computers.

What is the real point of what these palefaces claim is education?

When was the last time you heard an economist tell us the total of what we lose on depreciation of automobiles each year? Have you ever heard that? Look at the planes from World War II. 30 years BEFORE THE MOON LANDING engineers without computers could design machines that flew thru the air at 400+ mph. 38 years AFTER the moon landing, they have what were regarded as supercomputers in the 80's, on their desks, but they keep changing the design of cars that roll along the ground at less than 130 mph. There may be even more psychological nonsense in cars than in clothes. I have had a White man threaten me for almost accidentally bumping his car.

Free Market & Free Country my foot.

What is the credit card debt in this country? The credit card companies call people deadbeats if they pay the cards off every month.

umbra

[mlc0908]

Originally Posted by Proudbrothaman

Well maybe I should have read all these responses before I finished my paper, I got a 89% because it wasn't written in more of a third person (bulls###) anyway thanks everyone for your thoughts

Well your welcome and I'm sure you can get the help you need from us anytime but... why would you ask for our help and not use it? Now I mean no harm, but you just killed me when you said you should have read all of the posts before you wrote your paper. Maybe in the future you could tell us when your paper is due or give us a cut off date so we know when the call for help has been satisfied. Make no mistake, you brought a very interesting topic to the board and I'm sure the thread will continue for a while, so thanks for that.

And what do you mean you should have written more in 3rd person? Was that requirement implied or specified ? See, now I'm sounding like a mom going to bat for her baby. I guess that's just my nature to have somebodys' back. Anyway, next time you have to write a paper, please be sure to share with us. Have a good day sweetie. Peace and blessings to you and yours!

[umbrarchist]

I got a 89% because it wasn't written in more of a third person (bulls###)

An 89% should get you a B. LOL

I only got B's in English. I like math and science better because they are much more objective. The teacher can hate your guts but he can't say much if you get A's on the tests.

um

[RBG3]

This topic can go both ways, its purely opinion-based, that's why it's a problem :).

One on hand, you can say that a man who dresses in baggy jeans, and tees and has a bandanna on is just a gangster. But at the same time, you can say he's a product of his environment, not being a gangster, but dressing that way. It's a culture he was raised in, he could actually be a very intelligent individual; I know many "thugs" that are very brilliant and not just in certain aspects, but many. Just like "business men", they all dress in their suits, but does that mean they're rich or intelligent? No, they're products of their environments, they need to dress that way (in a sense), it's not really something they choose.

But now on the other hand, you could say a female who is dressed in a way that 90% of her body is being shown, the top of the breats and the bottom of the butt cheeks is showing what she thinks of herself, and what she wants others to think of her...In that reference, I think that clearly shows how she feels of herself, if she had self-respect she would respect herself and not be so revealing (and asking to be raped by a psycho..).

So it goes both ways, but since you already handed in, good job :) 89% is 90% and that's not bad at all.

Bless.

And I'm not trying to come off as sexist so I apologize if a offended any women on this site, it was just examples, mixed with my opinion.

[MadameX]

Originally Posted by DBlack

But in a free market as ours, there's no evidence to show that people are being forced or coerced into buying these clothes.

In a free market, we still have alot of personal freedom and choices when it comes to buying many goods. Clothing is especially one of them.

Besides, our people create and influence the trends in society. Case Closed.

[DBlack]

Originally Posted by umbrarchist

It depends on what you mean by "forced or coerced". I said it is largely psychological. It is true that no one is putting a gun to people's heads making them spend. But how much will people do to "feel good about themselves"? Especially if they have been bombarded from childhood with reasons to feel bad about themselves.

I had a XEROX sales manager tell me point blank, "I like for my salesmen to be in debt, it makes them hustle." There was a time when IBM would not promote men who were not married. There is a book about IBM, the title is something like, The Watsons: History of IBM. It had cases of IBMers committing suicide.

The whole Free Market business is just propaganda. You aren't going to create a society telling people they are psychologically manipulated slaves even if it's true. The system works on hiding information. Does making accounting manditory in the schools violate any principle of CAPITALISM? Which did you learn in grammar school:

Net Worth = Assets - Liabilities

or

ANTIDISESTABLISHMENTARIANISM

???

Which is easier to remember? Which is more important?

Fifth graders can learn accounting as well as collegians

Double entry accounting is 700 years old. How hard can it be with today's computers.

What is the real point of what these palefaces claim is education?

When was the last time you heard an economist tell us the total of what we lose on depreciation of automobiles each year? Have you ever heard that? Look at the planes from World War II. 30 years BEFORE THE MOON LANDING engineers without computers could design machines that flew thru the air at 400+ mph. 38 years AFTER the moon landing, they have what were regarded as supercomputers in the 80's, on their desks, but they keep changing the design of cars that roll along the ground at less than 130 mph. There may be even more psychological nonsense in cars than in clothes. I have had a White man threaten me for almost accidentally bumping his car.

Free Market & Free Country my foot.

What is the credit card debt in this country? The credit card companies call people deadbeats if they pay the cards off every month.

umbra

You are all over the place with your argument here. I think you lack the fundamental understanding of captilism and the role that free market plays in it. Bottom line, American companies don't make or sell what consumers won't buy. Yes there are tactics used to influence consumer behavior, but blacks live and operate under the same econmic system as whites. The cash register doesn't spit your money out because you are black. What we have to do is learn how to be more disciplined with our hard-earned money. That comes through self-education.

We, AMericans, black, red, brown or white, exist in a consumer driven economy. That's why products change. Music, cltothes, shoes, cars, tvs, electronics, entertainment venues, etc....all CHANGE. That's what keeps us interested in buying goods and services.

If you can't make smart buying decision with your money, that is not the fault of anyone else but self.