consumer protection/consumer rights, consumerism, materialistic

Based on Jon Krakauer's nonfiction bestseller "Into the Wild" the film of the same name follows Chris as he donates all his money to charity and abandons his car, his possessions and even his identification in the middle of the journey. In one scene he burns his cash to escape what he considers a materialistic society. 「消費（者）主義」之尷尬

2006-07-30 09:32:16 | 人氣(139)

去年，朋友問我對於「中華民國品質發展史」的看法，我說漏掉太多重要的組織和人物，譬如說完全不提消費者文教基金會，簡直是匪夷所思……

譬如說，消費者文教基金會近日提出來的，市面賣的三十幾種保險套，根本都不依照規定接受檢查…….
我想這或許是他們過去千件績效之一…..換句話說，他們代表「消費者主義」（consumerism）思想的運作。

不過上面說的只是con•sum•er•ism 字典義的第一義，有許多人使用另外的第三義：

1. The movement seeking to protect and inform consumers by requiring such practices as honest packaging and advertising, product guarantees, and improved safety standards.

2. The theory that a progressively greater consumption of goods is economically beneficial.

3. Attachment to materialistic values or possessions: deplored the rampant consumerism of contemporary society.


譬如說，李家同先生最近寫的「消費主義氾濫，人格滅頂」：
「……我們也應該教育我們的下一代，他們踏入社會以後，根本不可能過高消費生活的，大學畢業生每一個月能賺多少錢呢？一開始三萬元就差不多了，不吃不喝， 一年的收入還不夠買一輛汽車。……. 最重要的，是要讓我們的孩子關心世界上的窮人，他們應該知道，世界上數以億計的孩子們根本沒有鞋穿。如果他們知道了這一點，他們會認為穿著Nike球鞋是 一件丟人的事。」





consumer protection noun [U]
the protection of buyers of goods and services against low quality or dangerous products and advertisements that deceive people

台灣是80年代的"消基會"" 中華民國消費者文教基金會"為代表

美國消費者權益發展史略
In 1906, Upton Sinclair published The Jungle, an exposé of the deplorable conditions in Chicago's meatpacking industry. Federal response was quick. Within months, Congress passed the Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act. This was the first time the federal government took action to protect citizens from unsafe food and medicines. Later, in 1914, the FTC was formed to keep a free and competitive marketplace. President John F. Kennedy introduced the Consumer Bill of Rights in 1962, and in 1966, Ralph Nader took another important step forward in consumerism when he came out with his book, Unsafe at Any Speed. Nader, who turns 74 today, has continued to lead the fight for consumer rights in America.

「消費（者）主義」之尷尬的地方還有很多啦
譬如說 環保運動之壓力已經讓大製鞋廠都改用”新膠水”來裝配鞋子
不過 這大大損及鞋子的底部等處的黏著力
所以很容易”分家”
好 這可能在市場反作用啦
鞋壞了
說不定還可以用”萬能膠”補救...

2006-07-30 15:19:02

materialism (MONEY) Show phonetics
noun [U]
the belief that having money and possessions is the most important thing in life:
So have we become a self-centred society, preoccupied with materialism?

materialist Show phonetics
noun [C]

materialistic Show phonetics
adjective