It wasn't the acquisition of the luxurious robe, but the loss of value to the other possessions in contrast which, by the feeling of one's value connected to what they surround themselves with, will bring a sensation of one's own value being compromised. I've been homeless for a long time and due to the coronavirus and being put into a hotel I also experienced something similar. My thoughts on it were wow, all these small things, the feel of an actual mattress underneath my body, the warmth of an actual shower, the ability to watch a T.V., and have control over the temperature in the room instead of being out in the elements was excruciating to me. I remember looking at my garbage bag filled with my torn hoody, my socks with holes in them, my shoes splitting at the seams, and I remembered how adamantly I protected these broken things as if they were worth more than gold, yet at that moment I felt as important as a used toothpick. The only other time in my life I had all those comforts was when I was a kid before my mother died. There I was, decades of my life spent struggling for what, a garbage bag half-filled with broken things. So, I guess I understand how one piece of luxury can make a person feel sad.
Diderot also said: "Men will never be free until the last king is strangled with the guts of the last priest." I suggest that it is this Diderot effect which should guide our societal progress.
and he spoke the truth. kings are unrightfully in their place. we live in democratic societies and the royalty has no place in it. the same can be said about priests, who, according to Hitchens, make a living by lying to children. all that nonsense about god and the afterlife. and those priests could literally hang you with the power they had in the Diderot's time. so, yes, Diderot was right! baffled why you make such a statement as if it's a bad thing. kings killed and bared no guilt and so did the priests in the name of god and the good book.
What you suggest has a name. It’s called revolution and sounds like a simple, neat way to create a more just and better society where wealth is equally distributed, the supressed are freed etc. However, when you consider the outcome of such revolutions, we find that cynical and powerhungry people use the opportunity to seize the power and often become more violent than the ones they dethroned. That is, history teaches us, the result of a revolution. Far better is the slow, often paradoxical process of social evolution where power is distributed between parties, where change and improvement is sometime glazier-like, but at least noticeable from generation to generation. Most of the time. It’s called Democracy.
I think applies to political and social concepts as well. People resent change in society because things all fit together in what they're used to. A new concept disrupts the set.
OMG! I’ve experienced this in a big way lately after getting into Dark Academia and a few other aesthetics. I bought I new satchel (which I still love) which fit the aesthetic perfectly but with that came the desire to have everything fit into that specific look. Thanks for the video, very interesting to get an insight on this phenomenon.
This content almost seemed to belong in the School for Life channel 😊 Admire the Diderot mind that spotlighted such a small thing in a way that has intrigued so many who came after.
I've been doing this with Samsung products without knowing a word for it. All the products sync together and work in unison. I won't buy a rolex because I don't have the lifestyle to go along with it. I won't fly first class unless I'm staying in a 5 star hotel. I can stay in a 5 star hotel having flown economy, but I often opt for a reasonable 3 star hotel because I feel good about it being better value and working in unison.
I think the cruelest iteration of the Diderot effect is with children. I remember being a child and seeing the fun being had on commercials and wanting that toy, but when I finally had that toy, I was always very disappointed. Where was all the fun I imagined that would come with said toy?
Thanks for a very interesting, and educational, video. To me, it was like having a dynamic of one's culture suddenly revealed in a way that explained a strange behavior. More than a decade ago, my wife and I opted for a lifestyle of 'voluntary simplicity.' That just means we tried to reduce our spending as much as possible in order to be able to support projects aimed at helping people in desperate need as well as social justice work. As a consequence we have bought very, very few 'brand new' items over the years. I've never owned a cell phone, I-pad, or any of the other modern communications devices. I've seen a lot consumer behavior that I just didn't understand. This Diderot effect makes that behavior understandable, and I have a much better understanding of people afflicted by what I would now call 'Diderot's illness.' At first glance, the most obvious effect of this illness would seem to be to blind people to the glaring reality that millions of people are struggling in desperate circumstances just to live, and need your help much more than you need the newest electronic device...
Its like being an ordinary, minimum wage worker or something, living in a cheap rented flat in some dreary working class town and going out and buying a Rolex watch on finance, and an Audi on a PCP deal. If they dont match that persons lifestyle, those items will never make the person happy.
I never understood why people always buy new stuff, instead of buying at flea markets and second hand shops. I own two beautyful pices of furniture from my grandparents.
It wasn't the acquisition of the luxurious robe, but the loss of value to the other possessions in contrast which, by the feeling of one's value connected to what they surround themselves with, will bring a sensation of one's own value being compromised. I've been homeless for a long time and due to the coronavirus and being put into a hotel I also experienced something similar. My thoughts on it were wow, all these small things, the feel of an actual mattress underneath my body, the warmth of an actual shower, the ability to watch a T.V., and have control over the temperature in the room instead of being out in the elements was excruciating to me. I remember looking at my garbage bag filled with my torn hoody, my socks with holes in them, my shoes splitting at the seams, and I remembered how adamantly I protected these broken things as if they were worth more than gold, yet at that moment I felt as important as a used toothpick. The only other time in my life I had all those comforts was when I was a kid before my mother died. There I was, decades of my life spent struggling for what, a garbage bag half-filled with broken things. So, I guess I understand how one piece of luxury can make a person feel sad.
How you are better now.
Hope you’re doing alright, friend.
Diderot also said: "Men will never be free until the last king is strangled with the guts of the last priest." I suggest that it is this Diderot effect which should guide our societal progress.
and he spoke the truth. kings are unrightfully in their place. we live in democratic societies and the royalty has no place in it. the same can be said about priests, who, according to Hitchens, make a living by lying to children. all that nonsense about god and the afterlife. and those priests could literally hang you with the power they had in the Diderot's time. so, yes, Diderot was right! baffled why you make such a statement as if it's a bad thing. kings killed and bared no guilt and so did the priests in the name of god and the good book.
What you suggest has a name. It’s called revolution and sounds like a simple, neat way to create a more just and better society where wealth is equally distributed, the supressed are freed etc. However, when you consider the outcome of such revolutions, we find that cynical and powerhungry people use the opportunity to seize the power and often become more violent than the ones they dethroned. That is, history teaches us, the result of a revolution. Far better is the slow, often paradoxical process of social evolution where power is distributed between parties, where change and improvement is sometime glazier-like, but at least noticeable from generation to generation. Most of the time. It’s called Democracy.
I think applies to political and social concepts as well. People resent change in society because things all fit together in what they're used to. A new concept disrupts the set.
Definitely food for thought.
OMG! I’ve experienced this in a big way lately after getting into Dark Academia and a few other aesthetics. I bought I new satchel (which I still love) which fit the aesthetic perfectly but with that came the desire to have everything fit into that specific look. Thanks for the video, very interesting to get an insight on this phenomenon.
I would venture to say that plenty of new parents suffer from this. Buyers regret.
Good content from the BBC for once
Thank you! (From the filmmaker)
This content almost seemed to belong in the School for Life channel 😊
Admire the Diderot mind that spotlighted such a small thing in a way that has intrigued so many who came after.
Now I know that there is a name for my obsession for matching everything
I've been doing this with Samsung products without knowing a word for it. All the products sync together and work in unison.
I won't buy a rolex because I don't have the lifestyle to go along with it.
I won't fly first class unless I'm staying in a 5 star hotel. I can stay in a 5 star hotel having flown economy, but I often opt for a reasonable 3 star hotel because I feel good about it being better value and working in unison.
If you are looking for happiness in material things, you're looking in the wrong place, and are going to be disappointed.
I think the cruelest iteration of the Diderot effect is with children. I remember being a child and seeing the fun being had on commercials and wanting that toy, but when I finally had that toy, I was always very disappointed. Where was all the fun I imagined that would come with said toy?
Good concept
Thanks for a very interesting, and educational, video. To me, it was like having a dynamic of one's culture suddenly revealed in a way that explained a strange behavior. More than a decade ago, my wife and I opted for a lifestyle of 'voluntary simplicity.' That just means we tried to reduce our spending as much as possible in order to be able to support projects aimed at helping people in desperate need as well as social justice work.
As a consequence we have bought very, very few 'brand new' items over the years. I've never owned a cell phone, I-pad, or any of the other modern communications devices. I've seen a lot consumer behavior that I just didn't understand. This Diderot effect makes that behavior understandable, and I have a much better understanding of people afflicted by what I would now call 'Diderot's illness.' At first glance, the most obvious effect of this illness would seem to be to blind people to the glaring reality that millions of people are struggling in desperate circumstances just to live, and need your help much more than you need the newest electronic device...
I wish there was a like very much button, or love button, (😏 tee hee), because this was excellent. Very well said, new sub. Thanks
Appreciate this comment a lot !
i’m so attacked
I don't get why they put captions on videos when TH-cam has captions if you need to use them.
The self-generated captions are inaccurate at best.
More complicated with tech like Apple since products within a single “ecosystem” actually work much better with each other, not just aesthetically.
Stop the compulsory captions FFS!
Nice
...I`m suddenly in a need of a new Iphone,again.
A question of style, right?
is that room the Vermeer's atelier?
I've seen this video on BBC ideas
BBC Ideas frequently publish content from around the BBC, as do we :) Thanks for watching.
He just wanted an excuse to get new stuff. We all have different priorities due to our / need/ greed.
I've never surcum to this effect. Thankfully.
Its like being an ordinary, minimum wage worker or something, living in a cheap rented flat in some dreary working class town and going out and buying a Rolex watch on finance, and an Audi on a PCP deal. If they dont match that persons lifestyle, those items will never make the person happy.
I never understood why people always buy new stuff, instead of buying at flea markets and second hand shops. I own two beautyful pices of furniture from my grandparents.
for me i'm just buying what most needed and usefull, cuz i don't have identity
Upgrade to the Skeptic gaming chair?!?! I think you were meant to put the PewDiePie Edition Gaming chair, only $399.99
well concept. but it is always to the side of conservative and change when when....when
Over spend American? Right that's me.
Can't relate at all.
Yer me either
I would have never thought of that
Take it as an opportunity to learn - if not about yourself, then the world around you.