I remember reading an article in the 80's about how Russian men were allowed to marry Finnish women and leave the Soviet Union and go to Finland, which, while not a bastion of capitalism, was more capitalistic that Russia. When they got there, they were simply unaccustomed to all the choices available to them. Going to a grocery store was a bewildering experience for them. Many ended up returning to Russia. cont...
@MaxxTheMerciless ...cont. My point is that socialism robs people of their own self-confidence and their ability to take care of themselves. They see a huge array of choices in products and services not as the advantage that they are, but as a burden that must be limited for peace of mind. In other words, they would gladly take the rotten options the govt. doles out to them so they don't have to wonder if they're making the right decision.
Bizzare is the only word that comes to mind. I'm somewhat stunned. I guess the choice to like or dislike the RSA video has caused paralysis. They should only give one option for that video, not sure.
Thank you for this critique. I was thinking exactly the same thing watching this RSA video, it's just plainly insane :). Long live choice ! (though, I am not saying capitalism is perfect)
I agree with the author's worldview, but he's not being fair in his critique. The RSA video didn't suggest a removal of choices - it merely analyzed some of the problems of having numerous options. It is true that it did not provide any alternative or any fix - that is the problem with most RSA videos - an interesting insight, but no advice or alternative vision. No course of action proposed. That doesn't mean that the ideas presented by RSA are false, it just makes them somewhat incomplete.
most of the people in this country can not tell you the name of the economic system where the government controls prices, and you are allowed to own stuff.
Some very good points made, too bad he goes over the top.
Though I feel this is the weakest video of RCA Animate, there are plenty very good ones. Furthermore, some of the points are of course valid. However, the key point that choice is bad is as ridiculous as stating freedom is bad. The whole point of the failure of democracy is that we tend to democratically elect dictators rather than vote on issues ourselves directly. Are we lazy to handle responsibility?
For example, you said capitalism benefits the average consumer through choice. However, she was talking about meaningful choices effecting social change. We seemingly benefit through choice, evident in the prevalent embracing of capitalist ideals throughout the world. However, do we really benefit, or are we lulled into thinking that materialism through choice is the best way to live? How is capitalism and more importantly, America, effecting REAL social change? It is actually a stumbling bloc
Your mind is closed to seeing the bigger picture. You are a classic American espousing American Capitalist values. Of course everything seems nonsensical to you. But have you taken yourself out of the picture and properly thought about the value of her criticism of capitalism? Your defence of capitalism is a blind ignorant one.
More choices are always better. I can't think of a situation where I was upset that I was faced with too many choices. I can think of several situations where I was upset because my choices were too limited.
The lecture is constructed to DISCUSS the problems society faces regarding choice. The discussion is not anti-capitalism... its not anti-choice... the lectures talk about finding ways for people to live in a world where our minds are overwhelmed with messages - and mostly messages of PERCEIVED CHOICE. In Marketing this is known as illusion of choice - which is employed to cause anxiety and dissatisfaction - to drive 'want' in consumers for capital gain
You've made me calm down a littile. Although she had a point about many things. And it's not about this, or that. It's a dialogue for a memetic evolution. For alternatives and stopping overuse of some stuff.
My favorite brands are all "generic" brand for food. However that's me, I just think they taste better and I'm happy with them. I'm glad more people don't like the food brands I do because that's why they're cheaper.
Emancipation, the act of valuing oneself and setting rational, measurable goals to will, can be manifested only through one's own volition. Doing this, one might, say, endeavor to start a business, follow a religion, become a father, or incite a cultural revolution. Whatever his goal, he can only will it by emancipating himself, and no socioeconomic system can constrain him.
This is a very satisfactory critique, Lee. Although I could empathize with her sociological analysis of capitalism, I do not think she realizes that socioeconomics has no substantive bearing on everyone's feelings. Regardless of whether capitalism existed, some people would always feel dread and loneliness. This is because emptiness and alienation are an intrinsic component of the human condition and can only be ameliorated through the emancipation of self.
this guys is ignorant. the point she makes is that you are a slave in communism and in capitalism. the point is that communistic governments work against the people when corrupt and so do corporations in capitalistic societies.
In my opinion this video is about understand other people negative experience, and enabling those who do not understand the rules to be considered. Not to make it bad for you but to allow more to participate in a game that only the educated, well informed, and privileged can play well.
These are the casualties of capitalism. You may say that that is not your problem, stupid people do stupid things and make their own bed. It would be great if everyone understood that its better to consume less to save for retirement or education, instead of buying a new pair of Air Jordans. But that is not the reality. Sure, the video could say more about the sucess stories of individuals who benefit, and did not get there by stepping on everyone in the process. You may be a perfect example.
There is a good chance that you are among peers of your social economic class. The RSA video is not about you. It is about the rest of us. The ones who are victimized by and manipulated by the psychology of marketing to the extent of poor financial choices and lifelong debt. The people that take the house with the hole in the wall that they can't afford, for the chance to be accepted into a higher social class, with greater opportunity, but fail to understand how money realy works.
I think you are missing the point, this is not about the people who have the capacity for capitalism. There are plenty of people who understand the game, and play it effortlessly. It is obvious, that you are sufficient in these areas. I can infer this because you have access to the internet, are sitting in front of a bookshelf full of books that you may have read. You have a roof over your head, and you may or may not be surrounded by similar people with similar belongings and capacity.
It's funny how Americans call everyone extremists yet fail to see the extremist mentalities and doctrines of their own. This guy is a classic example. Where does the animation say at any point that no choice is better. It's arguing too much choice isn't the best thing, of course capitalism doesn't want you to think that, it wants cutthroat competition, mindless consumers fuelling the broken system. Companies want to save money, they fire you, hire cheap (slave) labour abroad, its not the organi
and thats not ipod commercial on the end. Its an add for their app for ipods and in fact it is nothing harmles it is just a new way of telling happy american people over their device that the world that they live in isn't stupid as they are, maybe you'll figure it out someday.
that young men didn't have choice at his age and had to join the military. I had my awnser and knew how I could avoid making choices I would enlist and join the 10th crusade and fight the evil commies or terrrorists or whatever. I would run around and kill peoples and blow shits up and most importantly almost never make a choice again but I didnt really want to do the first 3 just last one so I joined the air force didn't even pick what job I wanted in it and man if you don't want to make...
Like many other posters I am disappointed. I came here expecting a reasoned critique and got something badly argued with minimal support. The few really strong arguments were after-thoughts. If choice is so bad, why do people move to countries that offer more choices? If choice is so bad why historically have suicides fallen as choices have increased? Yes, choice and freedom increase anxiety, that is clear, but what is the alternative?
your critique is really bad, but its understandable coming from an American that doesn't see beyond whats behind the marketing world that American corporations created for u, tu suck the life of you...
Its not about amount of choice, its about The Capitalistic system as whole, filling our lives with more & more negative & unhealthy choices. These R the things that SELL the MOST. When 1 goes into the supermarket, they R bombarded with a ridiculous amount of products loaded with MSG, Sugar, Salt & chemicals. These R the most addictive & thus produce the most profit, which is the number 1 priority in our current system. Of course WE have the most choice, BUT at what COST to the rest of the world?
wtf? This is unbelievably biased, and it sounds like you don't even know what the paradox of choice is....
If you do some research then you will find that the whole idea is very pro-capitalism. God you make me feel ashamed to be conservative.
Choice is very stressful, most companies know how to simplify it for their customers, such as middle men who make the choice for the customer. IT'S NOT ABOUT GOVERNMENT OWNING MEANS OF PRODUCTION. It's about anxiety with consumers, A BUSINESS STRATEGY.
Yugoslavia had SOME communism (bottom-up democracy, federation, and direct worker control of production), but no other country today or in the past can be described as being communist. The definition of communism is quite clear and easy to understand.
RSA Animate is presenting skeptical attacks on all existing systems and modes of thought. That's called science--questioning everything. Personally, I think they're a bunch of marxists and anarchists. But that's not relevant to their arguments.
You're simply saying that somehow the "only alternative" in your mind, is a worse society from the past. She is just pointing what is wrong now, you don't need to go all defensive on capitalism, some people actually dare to dream for an even better society, she does not support 20th century communism.
watch?v=1bqMY82xzWo&feature=related I encourage people to watch it for themselves and decide whether this is actually 0:40 "an attack on choices", or something slightly more sophisticated.
Frankly all I have to say is that having worked in a number of customer service jobs, most noticeably in this case a Philly Cheesesteak shop, when confronted with even questions like "what kind of cheese do you want", those customers often found themselves in an anxiety prone situation. And with more broad ideas like revolution or buying a house, there is even more consternation. Often people then rely on things that limit choices IE: Budgets. The lecture just looks at choice through dialectics.
She is employing Ideas found in Lang's 1927 'Metropolis', that we are essentially enslaved to the ruling business elite, that is somewhat true. But that is also due to corporatism and nepotism of central banks and multinationals. I think we should have two social experiments, one with real libertarianism, and one with syndicalism, and see which one works best. But I do think that free association and community building is important, we should live in a community we like, not in filthy cities.
I take neither position. I think what she is essentially criticizing is the 'fake' element of choice in our corporate society. There are 72 types of a certain product but they are all governed by the same very few corporations. Commercialism is essentially spiritually bankrupt, and I think that is what she is talking about. If we had real choice and if the culture wasn't coarsened by MTV and television, we could have a libertarian society that does not worship Lady Gaga.
The problem with this video is that you don't understand or you forgot about two things:
People may not take the best decision. This happens most of the time. You going on an example of a house with a hole in the wall is ridiculous. I wish choices were that easy and linear.
You argue on the fact that it's bad if someone else limits your options. Guess what, as options aren't limitless, the conclusion is that there will always be someone limiting you, someone who controls your choices.
Obviously you have no idea what you're talking about there buddy, you also remove a lot of her discussion stating the same things that choice isn't what does this, but the social context around it. And how people towed the line of a particular belief just because they wanted to stay part of the collective. For instance people in the states who only believe in god to fit in. This cannot be understated. You sir, are a moron.
I was hoping for an enlightening critique...well, what do we have here? A total denial of sociology and psychology. To deny the powerful social forces upon our conscious or UNCONSCIOUS mind is so blindly ignorant. Renata Salecl doesn’t say we should return to communism or that we should have dictators making choices for us. The RSA video explains some social and psychological pressures and forces upon us as individuals in a capitalistic system.
@fbibarbie That's a great question- probably a question this video wants us to ask. I don't think there is one kind of "solution" to stop this. We haven't "figured this one out" yet. These forces are something we always have to live with. But it's important to be aware of, and to try and understand the consequences. We might try and ask "what kind of social forces can we foster to create a healthier world for everyone?" However, I think it's helpful to think of "solutions" in specific contexts.
@lilCsquared Thats a better awnser then I expected. I don't see how choice is a negitive issue though honestly I just wanted to see the awnser you would come up with. I really don't understand how choice is an issue its a positive thing if anything. Sure you might have to make a decision between products or services and hell you might make the "wrong choice" and regret it later. But I would rather make the "wrong choice" and regret it later than have no choice but the "wrong choice".
@fbibarbie Hmmm...maybe try and see that almost nothing falls into a strict category of "negative" or "positive"? Every system has consequences, both negative and positive, and I think it is helpful to understand both. Having so many choices can be empowering in some ways, and debilitating in others.
@lilCsquared Right I decicded to watch the original video just now. The 2 negitives he gave were 1. Stress from making choiceing and 2. Resposiblity for making your the choice. I understand what he i saying now because I have had history of avoiding choices because of these reasons. Infact coming out of highschool at least for me was a very stressful part of my life because of how much choice there is and I didn't know what I wanted to do. I asked a lot of people my parents and such what...
@lilCsquared I should do so I could avoid avoiding choice. Being good parents they of said it was my choice to do whatever I wanted. For a very long time (a month or maybe longer) I did nothing but try to decided of the almost infante things I could try and do or become most of my peers didn't know and still don't know what to do so they basically extended their time by going to community colledge. I talked to my grandfather about it because I found him to be a good councillor and he told me...
@lilCsquared that young men didn't have choice at his age and had to join the military. I had my awnser and knew how I could avoid making choices I would enlist and join the 10th crusade and fight the evil commies or terrrorists or whatever. I would run around and kill peoples and blow shits up and most importantly almost never make a choice again but I didnt really want to do the first 3 just last one so I joined the air force didn't even pick what job I wanted in it and man if you don't...
@fbibarbie want to make choices the miltitary is the way to go when you first start out you never get to make any choices since I was very unused to the oppoiste extreme when I joined it sucked a lot!!! I really missed my choices and regretted my choice to lose my choices a lot. It grew on me a little though I do appricate the stability and how unstressful everything is because all you have to do is what your told and once you learn to do that its easy. Sorry for long dragged out reply XD.
@lilCsquared His other crtiques on rsa videos are better, but really, to be honest, she is advocating for the elimination of those choices. What other purpose to making a video like this is there? And you surely know that Command Economys will never work.
@MikeJGallagherJr the purpose Renata Salecl's research as philosopher, sociologist and legal theorist, is the furthering of human knowledge. It is an exploration of potential psychological and sociological consequences of choice. Renata Salecl never takes an outright political stance in the RSA video- but offers information we may have previously overlooked- so that we can continue continue to improve systems within society- to innovate new systems and ways of thinking.
@lilCsquared You use these words like Psychological and Sociological consenquenses. And then you say Continue to Improve Systems within Societey, Innoovate. And I have personally never seen so many positive words with such negative consenquenses. The fact is, and "Progress" based of the information that she provided would involve taking our choices away. And we all know how command economys work, they dont. The fact is the only way to interpret the "Sociological" information is thus
@MikeJGallagherJr hmmm...I'm not sure I have the patience or dedication to find common ground with you right now...my advice is to try and open your mind to all types of knowledge- even when (or especially when) it may not easily fit into your world view. And of all those words I used, I would hope you think more about what "innovate" can mean...
@lilCsquared You did not even fucking listen to the video. DID YOU!? No you didn't, You just ignored the video because you know he's right but instead you just posted a comment with out even watching the video, and shit head liberals liked this? HMMM Why did they like this? BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T EVEN WATCH THE VIDEO THEMSELVES! So you want socialim, even though Socialism killed millions of it's own citizens and Capitalism didn't and put a man on the fucking moon.
@SlamageEntertainment Ur limiting the discourse entirely by saying the only alternative to capitalism is socialism, and ALSO assuming that EVERY socialist society kills its own citizens. Thats completely unfair, one should then be able to take any wrongdoing any capitalist society has done and apply it to tall capitalist societies.
@Hogy58 And do you even know why the economy crashed!? THE GOVERNMENT PICKED WINNERS AND LOSERS! THEY GAVE SUBSIDIES TO THIS COMPANY AND TO THAT COMPANY, NOT THIS COMPANY, THIS COMPANY!! The Economy crashed because of Socialist tactics. So your alternative is to bring in a terrible economic system that'll spell the end for the U.S, with principles that were the reason why the Economy crippled. Thus making it worse. Yeeeeeah, Sure.
@SlamageEntertainment Once again you are limiting the options entirely, there are a number of things questionable in your response. First of all, what caused the crash was banks and their wreckless betting, second of all even if it was "socialist" tactics that caused it, that still doesnt mean that all socialism is bad. Since capitalism has caused millions to go hungry, and has polluted our planet, you could say that we should have absolutely no capitalism on the planet.
@Hogy58 People are hungry because A. They don't go looking for Jobs B. Never went to college C. Got a College degree in something that will never support them or put dinner on the table. And you talk about Capitalism causing pollution? Do you fucking realize that we're contributing 0.03 to Pollution? Greenland was named Greenland because it was Green, now It's covered in Ice, Iceland was called Iceland because it was covered in Ice, now it's green.
@Hogy58 And we should have ABSOLUTELY NO CAPITALISM!? Dude, you know what Capitalism did? DO YOU!? It fucking put a man on the Moon, It created the Twin Towers, Better fucking health, If it weren't for capitalism There are plenty of diets easily accessible and gyms with top of the range equipment, unparalleled in other countries, FREEDOM, One of the greatest things about capitalism is that it works perfectly with democracy: everyone gets 1 vote, and thus equal power politically... Continued,
@Hogy58 Oh and Capitalism believes in equality, something Socialism doesn't, Socialism believes that if you have a lot of money, you should be treated differently than everybody else. How would you fucking like it if you were Rich and people are screaming for your money and the Government comes over and takes it from you. You wouldn't like that at all!! Listen, watch this video /watch?v=KGPa5Ob-5Ps And shut the fuck up.
@SlamageEntertainment The attitudes of the people within the structure can be entirely different no matter what the structure is, we are without a doubt WITHIN a capitalist society now, yet people are mad at the rich BECAUSE of the income inequality caused by capitalism.
@Hogy58 So you don't blame corrupt Government, you just blame capitalism, even though Corrupt government got us here in the first place. So you're Idea is to just scrap the economic system and replace it with Socialism (Which by the way can't happen) So you're idea is not getting an actually good President in the White House to fix everything, your decision is to just scrap it replacing it with an Economic decision that will only make everything much worse.
@SlamageEntertainment My gripes from capitalism dont stem from the current economic meltdown, capitalism has inherent inequality, something I think as humans we should be trying to remedy. Not necessarily with some kind of complete socialist makeover, but presidents have done little to nothing to fix the biggest problem are world is facing.
@Hogy58 Listen. You talk about me limiting my options, but you're doing this even more so. You blacked out everything said in that video and still blames this Economy on Capitalism instead of corrupt fuckfaces in the White House. You disgust me. Any fucking message you send me will be removed without being read. You want to make this country something It was created not to be.
@SlamageEntertainment I did not black out everything said in the video it was full of mislead statements. They said "it rewards those who are productive", yet many who work work extremely hard nearly everyday (miners for example) receive next to nothing while a heir to the business who does next to nothing receives millions from the stock market. Also, our country is set in neither capitalist or socialist practices, it can evolve, like it has.
@Hogy58 Yeah, do you know WHY!? They're earning low ammounts of money? BECAUSE THERE ARE SHIT LOADS OF MINERS AND FACTORY WORKERS! THAT'S WHY WE NEED JOBS! NOT SOCIALISM YOU IDIOT!
@Hogy58 Would you shut the fuck up about Starvation!? First of all, There are HUNDREDS AND MILLIONS OF PEOPLE STARVING IN AFRICA! THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE TRASH CAN'S TO FIND SOMETHING TO EAT OUT OF THERE! AND SOCIALISM TAKES MONEY THAT PEOPLE HAVE EARNED AND TAKES IT AWAY AND GIVES IT TO PEOPLE WHO DON'T WORK!! LIKE WELFARE!! God fucking Damnit.
Ok, I admit there are social forces that influence my decisions. So, removing the various choices I have fixes the problem of social forces influencing my decisions.... how again?
@elzoog we have not, and will probably never, arrive at some perfect form of existence. There are always positive and negative consequences to everything. I find freedom in being aware of BOTH positive and negative consequences.
@elzoog Having so many choices has positive and negative consequences. Having very few choices has positive and negative consequences. You make yourself aware of the consequences through questioning and learning.
@elzoog In this case, "things" are cultural paradigms, not physical objects. But, yes, I appreciate that I can intellectually compare different cultural paradigms. I also appreciate I have choices about products I consume, and appreciate understanding what types of consequences having so many choices can have. Embrace the complexity.
So I dont get how removing choices in cultural paradigms or physical products solves the problem. If it is the same as far as positive vs. negative consequences, why not just leave the choices there?
@HowTheWorldWorks. Couple points. If someone presents a logical argument based on reason, rationality and research concerning the inherent flaws within Capitalism any response such as yours can only be interpreted as reactionary. Salecl suggests that choice in the 21st century is a unique experience and is heavily infringed upon (preventing social change) by the Capitalist ideology; the history of this infringement repeatedly shows it to benefit profiteering by manufacturing opinion and consent.
Clearly an example of where the choice to read more, think critically and develop arguments should have been taken, but wasn't! I particularly liked the notion that people are not exploited as slaves because they have air conditioning in their offices!! Sure the same argument occurred on plantations when shoes were introduced - simplistic arguments that appear more shallow in relation to the excellent productions on RSA
Was für ein Opfer. Er hat das Originalvideo nicht verstanden, meiner Meinung nach.
Im Originalvideo werden keine Wertungen vorgenommen. Es wird das Phänomen "choices" an sich durchleuchtet.
Short translation: you just don't get it. Besides: next time you make a video telling your opinion (which is perfectly fine) try not to look and talk like an arrogant smartass. That makes it hard to accept your opinion.
I'm Sorry but this guy didn't understand a single word, I have a question for you mister smarty pants , have you ever been outside of the US????, the problem is not the choices!!, and that's not the point she is trying to make also,her point is more how capitalism (which I want to say is not perfect but is the best option we have so far) took over all those countries, just in a very opportunistic way!!!!!, the problem is not the choices the problem is the education and the culture, this world i
While I do agree in that the piece you covered was full of absurdities, it is incorrect to state (or imply) that the RSA animate videos only contain anti-capitalist messages.
As for whether your critique was over the top or not, her pronouncement of the reaction that "most people" feel when they walk into a supermarket only shows me that her thought processes are foreign to my perspective (and all people I am familiar with in a daily life), and not valid in my world.
Also, the guy is evidently not relaxed, he’s nervous and even agree at times (his facial expressions clearly shows it). It must be because of all that choices he is faced with :)
The guy is filtering things from the original "Choices" video. Choices per se are not bad, but overwhelming abundance of choices and pressure/imperative to make perfect one causes anxiety and similar types of disorders in people living in predominantly neo-liberal type of capitalism. There is empiric evidence of that. Also, this guy propagates so-called democracy of truth, or plain amateur-participation via web. Experience and scientific expertise are of no value for him.
Barry - in order to understand you have to live in different system/society to understand ups & downs of any. Choices that you are talking are so limited - that you do not have a clue what you are choosing - which kind of system is that that can sell you GM products without telling you?
wow... way to take wat is said to the extreme... and ure generalising everything she says more or less or putting it into highly specific situations if there's a recession they would sack the most invaluable staff so yes they would see it as them not being good enough because if they were then they wouldnt have been fired.
Este es un tipo liberla de mierca cuyo cerebro alcanza a entender de su vista a la pantalla del ordenador. Es uno de eso fundamentalistas velados por la idea de que la 'elección' es un triunfo de las libertades del modelo occidental. Sin darse cuenta que en quienes recae todo el problema, en sí, es en los trabajadores comunes que esperan acceder al estilo de vida de ensueño. ahí reside el sacrificio, en tener que aceptar lo poco que puede obtener. muy visceral
Renata Salecl (with Slavoj Zizek) is part of the new left that is becoming ever more pro-liberty. I'd support them over the big gov't, debt and war republicans any time. People should wake up and realise that republicans aren't free market and pro-liberty and that they never were.
What she (Renata Salecl) was trying to point out that we don't live in a free (market) society. Anyone who would argue otherwise is an idiot. Western governments are more opressive than socialist could have ever dreamed of being. And, yes, republicans since Regan spin the myth of liberty to push their collectivist agenda
So I have several children, and I am in the supermarket, and I have this choice: I can either buy expensive organic food, or I can save more money for my children's education, and buy non-organic food. I can either
A: Choose non-organic food, educate my children, but risk that they may get
cancer or have poorer health.
B:Choose organic food, risk that I may not have enough money to send them to college.
I cannot make this choice with the information I have, so I am filled with anxiety.
@brunchable Risk of cancer or poor health is greater than risk of no college, so confidently choose healthy expensive food. If you are unsure, then buy some organic and some regular.
Being alive and healthy is more important than going to college. If you can't be bothered to get more information, then this isn't an important choice anyway.
So, first of all, you are incorrect in seeing this video as an attack on capitalism. It is instead an exploration of the psychological problems that come with capitalism.
The anxiety-inducing point about the endless choices in capitalism is that they have you making choices that you could not even the most brutal dictatorship could force you to make.
An example: we choose to take antidepressants, get cosmetic surgery, not in a free landscape, but to get a better job, or keep the one we have.
This guy is an idiot. It is extemely obvious that he has lived a very cozy and easy life. In reality there is right and wrong throughout nature so I'll say it, ' keep your opinions too yourself you pampered baby you make up 5% of the population so have no right too argue.
She is just displaying a type of ethnocentrism, the same way you are (guy who made video). Generally people who don't come from countries were there is a lot of choice (like Russia) see choice as overwhelming. On top of that they see choice in a different light than Americans do, for example if you set 15 different brands of soda in front of me I see 15 choices. However, a Russian will probably see only one choice, soda. Plus just in general she doesn't understand American psychology.
Is it me, or was there an implication given by that Russian bitch that if it wasn't for Capitalism, Socialism would still be ruling Russia...and that's a bad thing because choices caused people to question their government...
if anything it is not an effort to entice governments to act on the behalf of people to remove choice but to notify people not to get overwhelmed by choices or to fear loss excessively. Anyway i can see how a video like this would seem abstruse and difficult to understand to anyone who hasn't spent more that 2hrs looking for the "perfect" wall paper or to anyone who like me doesn't truly believe in but its possibility yet retains church membership for the sake of culture and family unity etc
To; How the world Works Critique-er. I understand your argument but this video did not advocate the removal of all choice, or the removal of any choice. It was simply an examination of a psychological phenomena which perplexes many sociologists and psychologist. Namely, that choice can be overwhelming at times and that when confronted with the deision of changing something for the better (societally speaking) that people will, nowadays tend to eir on the side of caution and consumerism...
Do people actually watch the RSA videos and take them seriously? The one thing that makes a person free are choices. I have never seen an Animate RSA until this video. I almost thought it was a parody, because of how ridiculous the topic was. Wow, Coke or Pepsi I'm so full of anxiety I'm going to quit eating GOD I wish someone would make that choice for me. Thank goodness Communism is here to save the day.
post modern political society, everything is symbolic... sadly we are past the days of Kant and now every idiot with an ip address can pretend they have formulated "critique". How the world works. Lemme guess a game theory toting econ student?
This entire video just made me laugh from the strategically placed books behind you to try and seem like an intellect to your pure ignorance of thinking you know 'HowTheWorldWorks', you should become a comedian, you would do better in that field.
The comments about that RSA video are not objective and therefor they are very superficial. It's not problem about choices, already about a lots of meaningless ones we take so serious so they affect are lives in wrong way. Don't tell me that everythnig you buy it's not under suggestion of someone else and when, e.g. we buy some clothing we don't think a bit how others will see us.
I agree that he is missing some of the points about choices that she makes that are good. Problems like choices that people might feel pressured by others and the idols they look up to, to make a specific choice that they would agree with or the pressure of making sure the choice you made was ideal like choosing a product that got a lot of good reviews but a couple bad ones. Will the choice you make be like the bad review or the good ones?
He oversimplifies and seems to misinterpret what she says. She agrees choice is good but too much choice can cause issues. She's not making a claim to support communism which I believe this guy thinks she is doing.
I personally agree to a certain extent, but there are some points that sound like an oversimplification to me. For example, when we settle down for an ideal choice, it is not as easy as choosing between a house with holes on its walls and a house without holes on its walls. The choices involved sometimes seem to provide the same amount but different kinds of advantages. It is not always that obvious...
The problem she has today? Seems to me she could go live in one of the communist countries around the world, may not be able to leave but oh well at least she has the choice.
“Liberty not only means that the individual has both the opportunity and the burden of choice; it also means that he must bear the consequences of his actions.... Liberty and responsibility are inseparable.”
-Hayek
The only alternative is to let others that are part of the same species decide for you.
Capitalism wins every time. The point about the "Guilt" felt from professional life is the fact that you feel because you were laid off that you have less value than the next person who was not laid off. Its an opportunity to better yourself. I am not going to say that it does not suck, because it does.
@SalamiWurscht Actually, that was the point. I was making the assertion that her communist background made it impossible for her to understand true freedom. Whether Russia or anyother communist country, my point is made.
Anyone who used to live in the Eastern bloc will remember that feeling of walking into a western supermarket for the first time. And it certainly wasn't anxiety and fear. It was awe, it was the feeling of freedom. For the first time in my life, I felt I had real choice. It was beautiful and I will never forget it.
No surprises here. Liberals always try to limit choices and information, on the basis that "the populous" are too weak-minded or easily influenced to process information. That's why NPR, Consumer Reports, etc., were so against prescription drug advertising.
I just came back from a supermarket. Dear God. I don't know how I'm going to manage the horror of those things when I'm thirty. Forty different kinds of bread to choose from! All of them just ot make me feel like a master of my own destiny!
I am all for choice and competition, but in America, we have the illusion of choice, at least when it comes to politics. Democrats and Republicans are basically the same, as evidenced by Obama's administration. Ron Paul 2012!
Which South Park episode is he referring to?
BrandonCRC 3 days ago
If you like a place without choices, go to Venezuela!!!
victorsalomonz 4 days ago
I remember reading an article in the 80's about how Russian men were allowed to marry Finnish women and leave the Soviet Union and go to Finland, which, while not a bastion of capitalism, was more capitalistic that Russia. When they got there, they were simply unaccustomed to all the choices available to them. Going to a grocery store was a bewildering experience for them. Many ended up returning to Russia. cont...
MaxxTheMerciless 4 days ago
@MaxxTheMerciless ...cont. My point is that socialism robs people of their own self-confidence and their ability to take care of themselves. They see a huge array of choices in products and services not as the advantage that they are, but as a burden that must be limited for peace of mind. In other words, they would gladly take the rotten options the govt. doles out to them so they don't have to wonder if they're making the right decision.
MaxxTheMerciless 4 days ago
Bizzare is the only word that comes to mind. I'm somewhat stunned. I guess the choice to like or dislike the RSA video has caused paralysis. They should only give one option for that video, not sure.
necrom666 1 week ago
Thank you for this critique. I was thinking exactly the same thing watching this RSA video, it's just plainly insane :). Long live choice ! (though, I am not saying capitalism is perfect)
Elvyne963 2 weeks ago
I agree with the author's worldview, but he's not being fair in his critique. The RSA video didn't suggest a removal of choices - it merely analyzed some of the problems of having numerous options. It is true that it did not provide any alternative or any fix - that is the problem with most RSA videos - an interesting insight, but no advice or alternative vision. No course of action proposed. That doesn't mean that the ideas presented by RSA are false, it just makes them somewhat incomplete.
MPecena 2 weeks ago 2
most of the people in this country can not tell you the name of the economic system where the government controls prices, and you are allowed to own stuff.
halloranedward 3 weeks ago
Some very good points made, too bad he goes over the top.
Though I feel this is the weakest video of RCA Animate, there are plenty very good ones. Furthermore, some of the points are of course valid. However, the key point that choice is bad is as ridiculous as stating freedom is bad. The whole point of the failure of democracy is that we tend to democratically elect dictators rather than vote on issues ourselves directly. Are we lazy to handle responsibility?
SurfenSpace 4 weeks ago
I think the fear for supermarkets should be considered a fobia... do ppl know about it, does it has a name?
AkaiTsukiShimitsu 1 month ago
For example, you said capitalism benefits the average consumer through choice. However, she was talking about meaningful choices effecting social change. We seemingly benefit through choice, evident in the prevalent embracing of capitalist ideals throughout the world. However, do we really benefit, or are we lulled into thinking that materialism through choice is the best way to live? How is capitalism and more importantly, America, effecting REAL social change? It is actually a stumbling bloc
nickachiu 1 month ago
Your mind is closed to seeing the bigger picture. You are a classic American espousing American Capitalist values. Of course everything seems nonsensical to you. But have you taken yourself out of the picture and properly thought about the value of her criticism of capitalism? Your defence of capitalism is a blind ignorant one.
nickachiu 1 month ago
@nickachiu I'm not an American and I think he's speaking sense to a crazy brainwashed socialist.
quantumG 4 weeks ago in playlist HowTheWorldWorks Critiques
@quantumG That's essentially The predicament the whole country is in. Free education, you get what you pay for.
halloranedward 3 weeks ago
More choices are always better. I can't think of a situation where I was upset that I was faced with too many choices. I can think of several situations where I was upset because my choices were too limited.
llcoolray3000 1 month ago
Wow, you're so angry! Where's the threat?
The lecture is constructed to DISCUSS the problems society faces regarding choice. The discussion is not anti-capitalism... its not anti-choice... the lectures talk about finding ways for people to live in a world where our minds are overwhelmed with messages - and mostly messages of PERCEIVED CHOICE. In Marketing this is known as illusion of choice - which is employed to cause anxiety and dissatisfaction - to drive 'want' in consumers for capital gain
asanten2 1 month ago
You've made me calm down a littile. Although she had a point about many things. And it's not about this, or that. It's a dialogue for a memetic evolution. For alternatives and stopping overuse of some stuff.
IBMua 1 month ago
this guys stupid
Paogrin 1 month ago
My favorite brands are all "generic" brand for food. However that's me, I just think they taste better and I'm happy with them. I'm glad more people don't like the food brands I do because that's why they're cheaper.
KittenKoder 1 month ago
Emancipation, the act of valuing oneself and setting rational, measurable goals to will, can be manifested only through one's own volition. Doing this, one might, say, endeavor to start a business, follow a religion, become a father, or incite a cultural revolution. Whatever his goal, he can only will it by emancipating himself, and no socioeconomic system can constrain him.
CrackedBiscuit 1 month ago
This is a very satisfactory critique, Lee. Although I could empathize with her sociological analysis of capitalism, I do not think she realizes that socioeconomics has no substantive bearing on everyone's feelings. Regardless of whether capitalism existed, some people would always feel dread and loneliness. This is because emptiness and alienation are an intrinsic component of the human condition and can only be ameliorated through the emancipation of self.
CrackedBiscuit 1 month ago
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UnderTheTunk 1 month ago
this guys is ignorant. the point she makes is that you are a slave in communism and in capitalism. the point is that communistic governments work against the people when corrupt and so do corporations in capitalistic societies.
lalaboheme1 1 month ago
you didnt understand capitalism: you do not choose, you is a illusion: your video is awful. Good luck with your capitALISM
gduri 2 months ago
In my opinion this video is about understand other people negative experience, and enabling those who do not understand the rules to be considered. Not to make it bad for you but to allow more to participate in a game that only the educated, well informed, and privileged can play well.
greagandev 2 months ago
These are the casualties of capitalism. You may say that that is not your problem, stupid people do stupid things and make their own bed. It would be great if everyone understood that its better to consume less to save for retirement or education, instead of buying a new pair of Air Jordans. But that is not the reality. Sure, the video could say more about the sucess stories of individuals who benefit, and did not get there by stepping on everyone in the process. You may be a perfect example.
greagandev 2 months ago
There is a good chance that you are among peers of your social economic class. The RSA video is not about you. It is about the rest of us. The ones who are victimized by and manipulated by the psychology of marketing to the extent of poor financial choices and lifelong debt. The people that take the house with the hole in the wall that they can't afford, for the chance to be accepted into a higher social class, with greater opportunity, but fail to understand how money realy works.
greagandev 2 months ago
I think you are missing the point, this is not about the people who have the capacity for capitalism. There are plenty of people who understand the game, and play it effortlessly. It is obvious, that you are sufficient in these areas. I can infer this because you have access to the internet, are sitting in front of a bookshelf full of books that you may have read. You have a roof over your head, and you may or may not be surrounded by similar people with similar belongings and capacity.
greagandev 2 months ago
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SexDrugsFinance 2 months ago
It's funny how Americans call everyone extremists yet fail to see the extremist mentalities and doctrines of their own. This guy is a classic example. Where does the animation say at any point that no choice is better. It's arguing too much choice isn't the best thing, of course capitalism doesn't want you to think that, it wants cutthroat competition, mindless consumers fuelling the broken system. Companies want to save money, they fire you, hire cheap (slave) labour abroad, its not the organi
SalSal87 2 months ago
This is what happens when stupid people don't realize that they're stupid.
YoungNoble480 2 months ago
You are retarded
nbaprophet100 2 months ago
This is an AWFUL "critique".
mickeymousewilliams 2 months ago
142 communists watching.
agnhd 2 months ago in playlist HowTheWorldWorks Critiques
and thats not ipod commercial on the end. Its an add for their app for ipods and in fact it is nothing harmles it is just a new way of telling happy american people over their device that the world that they live in isn't stupid as they are, maybe you'll figure it out someday.
keksi15 2 months ago
to many of "So what's" and "I don't knows" in the video to be true.
but nice work, Happy American Guy.
keksi15 2 months ago
that young men didn't have choice at his age and had to join the military. I had my awnser and knew how I could avoid making choices I would enlist and join the 10th crusade and fight the evil commies or terrrorists or whatever. I would run around and kill peoples and blow shits up and most importantly almost never make a choice again but I didnt really want to do the first 3 just last one so I joined the air force didn't even pick what job I wanted in it and man if you don't want to make...
fbibarbie 2 months ago
@flyburek lol so you want no choice ok then wow XD
fbibarbie 2 months ago in playlist HowTheWorldWorks Critiques
Like many other posters I am disappointed. I came here expecting a reasoned critique and got something badly argued with minimal support. The few really strong arguments were after-thoughts. If choice is so bad, why do people move to countries that offer more choices? If choice is so bad why historically have suicides fallen as choices have increased? Yes, choice and freedom increase anxiety, that is clear, but what is the alternative?
MarkTAllenby 3 months ago
Stop screaming.
simonnewtboy 3 months ago
you fuck american fag
sictorb 3 months ago
your critique is really bad, but its understandable coming from an American that doesn't see beyond whats behind the marketing world that American corporations created for u, tu suck the life of you...
ViktorBastidas 3 months ago
Its not about amount of choice, its about The Capitalistic system as whole, filling our lives with more & more negative & unhealthy choices. These R the things that SELL the MOST. When 1 goes into the supermarket, they R bombarded with a ridiculous amount of products loaded with MSG, Sugar, Salt & chemicals. These R the most addictive & thus produce the most profit, which is the number 1 priority in our current system. Of course WE have the most choice, BUT at what COST to the rest of the world?
Warren2TheG 3 months ago
wtf? This is unbelievably biased, and it sounds like you don't even know what the paradox of choice is....
If you do some research then you will find that the whole idea is very pro-capitalism. God you make me feel ashamed to be conservative.
Choice is very stressful, most companies know how to simplify it for their customers, such as middle men who make the choice for the customer. IT'S NOT ABOUT GOVERNMENT OWNING MEANS OF PRODUCTION. It's about anxiety with consumers, A BUSINESS STRATEGY.
Madpolis7 3 months ago
Have you ever had the anxiety of choosing between 2 things you like? I'm quite sure you have.
entrepblog 3 months ago
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Gaetano1899 3 months ago
This is completely wrong. Whose legs are you pulling?
Gaetano1899 3 months ago
Your video is great. If people were rational beings.
They're not, so your video sucks!
uelbek3 3 months ago
o my god! RSA total brainwash! she didnt even find herself an American voice to read her shit, She just screams "im red"!
da hell!
islamconstitution 3 months ago
Yugoslavia had SOME communism (bottom-up democracy, federation, and direct worker control of production), but no other country today or in the past can be described as being communist. The definition of communism is quite clear and easy to understand.
RSA Animate is presenting skeptical attacks on all existing systems and modes of thought. That's called science--questioning everything. Personally, I think they're a bunch of marxists and anarchists. But that's not relevant to their arguments.
TheForwardGaze 4 months ago
You're simply saying that somehow the "only alternative" in your mind, is a worse society from the past. She is just pointing what is wrong now, you don't need to go all defensive on capitalism, some people actually dare to dream for an even better society, she does not support 20th century communism.
vkvladman 4 months ago
Here's the video this guy is referring to:
watch?v=1bqMY82xzWo&feature=related I encourage people to watch it for themselves and decide whether this is actually 0:40 "an attack on choices", or something slightly more sophisticated.
kokopelli314 4 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
you are a troll
big1gangsta2clink 5 months ago
Frankly all I have to say is that having worked in a number of customer service jobs, most noticeably in this case a Philly Cheesesteak shop, when confronted with even questions like "what kind of cheese do you want", those customers often found themselves in an anxiety prone situation. And with more broad ideas like revolution or buying a house, there is even more consternation. Often people then rely on things that limit choices IE: Budgets. The lecture just looks at choice through dialectics.
garrettwat 5 months ago
Worrying about making the ideal choice seems like a first-world problem/complaint...
collinliau 5 months ago
She is employing Ideas found in Lang's 1927 'Metropolis', that we are essentially enslaved to the ruling business elite, that is somewhat true. But that is also due to corporatism and nepotism of central banks and multinationals. I think we should have two social experiments, one with real libertarianism, and one with syndicalism, and see which one works best. But I do think that free association and community building is important, we should live in a community we like, not in filthy cities.
Otzmatron 5 months ago in playlist More videos from HowTheWorldWorks
I take neither position. I think what she is essentially criticizing is the 'fake' element of choice in our corporate society. There are 72 types of a certain product but they are all governed by the same very few corporations. Commercialism is essentially spiritually bankrupt, and I think that is what she is talking about. If we had real choice and if the culture wasn't coarsened by MTV and television, we could have a libertarian society that does not worship Lady Gaga.
Otzmatron 5 months ago in playlist More videos from HowTheWorldWorks
The problem with this video is that you don't understand or you forgot about two things:
People may not take the best decision. This happens most of the time. You going on an example of a house with a hole in the wall is ridiculous. I wish choices were that easy and linear.
You argue on the fact that it's bad if someone else limits your options. Guess what, as options aren't limitless, the conclusion is that there will always be someone limiting you, someone who controls your choices.
UnIosingRanger 5 months ago
Obviously you have no idea what you're talking about there buddy, you also remove a lot of her discussion stating the same things that choice isn't what does this, but the social context around it. And how people towed the line of a particular belief just because they wanted to stay part of the collective. For instance people in the states who only believe in god to fit in. This cannot be understated. You sir, are a moron.
niceiceskating 5 months ago
I was hoping for an enlightening critique...well, what do we have here? A total denial of sociology and psychology. To deny the powerful social forces upon our conscious or UNCONSCIOUS mind is so blindly ignorant. Renata Salecl doesn’t say we should return to communism or that we should have dictators making choices for us. The RSA video explains some social and psychological pressures and forces upon us as individuals in a capitalistic system.
lilCsquared 5 months ago 14
@lilCsquared So what is the solition to stop this "social and psychological pressures and forces"?
fbibarbie 2 months ago in playlist HowTheWorldWorks Critiques
@fbibarbie That's a great question- probably a question this video wants us to ask. I don't think there is one kind of "solution" to stop this. We haven't "figured this one out" yet. These forces are something we always have to live with. But it's important to be aware of, and to try and understand the consequences. We might try and ask "what kind of social forces can we foster to create a healthier world for everyone?" However, I think it's helpful to think of "solutions" in specific contexts.
lilCsquared 2 months ago
@lilCsquared Thats a better awnser then I expected. I don't see how choice is a negitive issue though honestly I just wanted to see the awnser you would come up with. I really don't understand how choice is an issue its a positive thing if anything. Sure you might have to make a decision between products or services and hell you might make the "wrong choice" and regret it later. But I would rather make the "wrong choice" and regret it later than have no choice but the "wrong choice".
fbibarbie 2 months ago
@fbibarbie Hmmm...maybe try and see that almost nothing falls into a strict category of "negative" or "positive"? Every system has consequences, both negative and positive, and I think it is helpful to understand both. Having so many choices can be empowering in some ways, and debilitating in others.
lilCsquared 2 months ago
@lilCsquared Right I decicded to watch the original video just now. The 2 negitives he gave were 1. Stress from making choiceing and 2. Resposiblity for making your the choice. I understand what he i saying now because I have had history of avoiding choices because of these reasons. Infact coming out of highschool at least for me was a very stressful part of my life because of how much choice there is and I didn't know what I wanted to do. I asked a lot of people my parents and such what...
fbibarbie 2 months ago
@lilCsquared I should do so I could avoid avoiding choice. Being good parents they of said it was my choice to do whatever I wanted. For a very long time (a month or maybe longer) I did nothing but try to decided of the almost infante things I could try and do or become most of my peers didn't know and still don't know what to do so they basically extended their time by going to community colledge. I talked to my grandfather about it because I found him to be a good councillor and he told me...
fbibarbie 2 months ago
@lilCsquared that young men didn't have choice at his age and had to join the military. I had my awnser and knew how I could avoid making choices I would enlist and join the 10th crusade and fight the evil commies or terrrorists or whatever. I would run around and kill peoples and blow shits up and most importantly almost never make a choice again but I didnt really want to do the first 3 just last one so I joined the air force didn't even pick what job I wanted in it and man if you don't...
fbibarbie 2 months ago
@fbibarbie want to make choices the miltitary is the way to go when you first start out you never get to make any choices since I was very unused to the oppoiste extreme when I joined it sucked a lot!!! I really missed my choices and regretted my choice to lose my choices a lot. It grew on me a little though I do appricate the stability and how unstressful everything is because all you have to do is what your told and once you learn to do that its easy. Sorry for long dragged out reply XD.
fbibarbie 2 months ago
@lilCsquared fuck I got this entire thing confused with the "pardox of choice video forget everything I said lol =P
fbibarbie 2 months ago
@lilCsquared His other crtiques on rsa videos are better, but really, to be honest, she is advocating for the elimination of those choices. What other purpose to making a video like this is there? And you surely know that Command Economys will never work.
MikeJGallagherJr 1 month ago
@MikeJGallagherJr the purpose Renata Salecl's research as philosopher, sociologist and legal theorist, is the furthering of human knowledge. It is an exploration of potential psychological and sociological consequences of choice. Renata Salecl never takes an outright political stance in the RSA video- but offers information we may have previously overlooked- so that we can continue continue to improve systems within society- to innovate new systems and ways of thinking.
lilCsquared 1 month ago
@lilCsquared You use these words like Psychological and Sociological consenquenses. And then you say Continue to Improve Systems within Societey, Innoovate. And I have personally never seen so many positive words with such negative consenquenses. The fact is, and "Progress" based of the information that she provided would involve taking our choices away. And we all know how command economys work, they dont. The fact is the only way to interpret the "Sociological" information is thus
MikeJGallagherJr 1 month ago
@MikeJGallagherJr hmmm...I'm not sure I have the patience or dedication to find common ground with you right now...my advice is to try and open your mind to all types of knowledge- even when (or especially when) it may not easily fit into your world view. And of all those words I used, I would hope you think more about what "innovate" can mean...
lilCsquared 1 month ago
@lilCsquared
He cut through to the point - that choices are significantly better than none at all.
All that other bullshit is irrelevant. Suck on it.
JosiahSCooper 3 weeks ago
@lilCsquared You did not even fucking listen to the video. DID YOU!? No you didn't, You just ignored the video because you know he's right but instead you just posted a comment with out even watching the video, and shit head liberals liked this? HMMM Why did they like this? BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T EVEN WATCH THE VIDEO THEMSELVES! So you want socialim, even though Socialism killed millions of it's own citizens and Capitalism didn't and put a man on the fucking moon.
SlamageEntertainment 2 weeks ago
@SlamageEntertainment Ur limiting the discourse entirely by saying the only alternative to capitalism is socialism, and ALSO assuming that EVERY socialist society kills its own citizens. Thats completely unfair, one should then be able to take any wrongdoing any capitalist society has done and apply it to tall capitalist societies.
Hogy58 3 days ago
@Hogy58 And do you even know why the economy crashed!? THE GOVERNMENT PICKED WINNERS AND LOSERS! THEY GAVE SUBSIDIES TO THIS COMPANY AND TO THAT COMPANY, NOT THIS COMPANY, THIS COMPANY!! The Economy crashed because of Socialist tactics. So your alternative is to bring in a terrible economic system that'll spell the end for the U.S, with principles that were the reason why the Economy crippled. Thus making it worse. Yeeeeeah, Sure.
SlamageEntertainment 3 days ago
@SlamageEntertainment Once again you are limiting the options entirely, there are a number of things questionable in your response. First of all, what caused the crash was banks and their wreckless betting, second of all even if it was "socialist" tactics that caused it, that still doesnt mean that all socialism is bad. Since capitalism has caused millions to go hungry, and has polluted our planet, you could say that we should have absolutely no capitalism on the planet.
Hogy58 2 days ago
@Hogy58 People are hungry because A. They don't go looking for Jobs B. Never went to college C. Got a College degree in something that will never support them or put dinner on the table. And you talk about Capitalism causing pollution? Do you fucking realize that we're contributing 0.03 to Pollution? Greenland was named Greenland because it was Green, now It's covered in Ice, Iceland was called Iceland because it was covered in Ice, now it's green.
SlamageEntertainment 2 days ago
@Hogy58 And we should have ABSOLUTELY NO CAPITALISM!? Dude, you know what Capitalism did? DO YOU!? It fucking put a man on the Moon, It created the Twin Towers, Better fucking health, If it weren't for capitalism There are plenty of diets easily accessible and gyms with top of the range equipment, unparalleled in other countries, FREEDOM, One of the greatest things about capitalism is that it works perfectly with democracy: everyone gets 1 vote, and thus equal power politically... Continued,
SlamageEntertainment 2 days ago
@Hogy58 Oh and Capitalism believes in equality, something Socialism doesn't, Socialism believes that if you have a lot of money, you should be treated differently than everybody else. How would you fucking like it if you were Rich and people are screaming for your money and the Government comes over and takes it from you. You wouldn't like that at all!! Listen, watch this video /watch?v=KGPa5Ob-5Ps And shut the fuck up.
SlamageEntertainment 2 days ago
@SlamageEntertainment The attitudes of the people within the structure can be entirely different no matter what the structure is, we are without a doubt WITHIN a capitalist society now, yet people are mad at the rich BECAUSE of the income inequality caused by capitalism.
Hogy58 2 days ago
@Hogy58 So you don't blame corrupt Government, you just blame capitalism, even though Corrupt government got us here in the first place. So you're Idea is to just scrap the economic system and replace it with Socialism (Which by the way can't happen) So you're idea is not getting an actually good President in the White House to fix everything, your decision is to just scrap it replacing it with an Economic decision that will only make everything much worse.
SlamageEntertainment 2 days ago
@SlamageEntertainment My gripes from capitalism dont stem from the current economic meltdown, capitalism has inherent inequality, something I think as humans we should be trying to remedy. Not necessarily with some kind of complete socialist makeover, but presidents have done little to nothing to fix the biggest problem are world is facing.
Hogy58 2 days ago
@Hogy58 Listen. You talk about me limiting my options, but you're doing this even more so. You blacked out everything said in that video and still blames this Economy on Capitalism instead of corrupt fuckfaces in the White House. You disgust me. Any fucking message you send me will be removed without being read. You want to make this country something It was created not to be.
SlamageEntertainment 2 days ago
@SlamageEntertainment I did not black out everything said in the video it was full of mislead statements. They said "it rewards those who are productive", yet many who work work extremely hard nearly everyday (miners for example) receive next to nothing while a heir to the business who does next to nothing receives millions from the stock market. Also, our country is set in neither capitalist or socialist practices, it can evolve, like it has.
Hogy58 2 days ago
@Hogy58 Yeah, do you know WHY!? They're earning low ammounts of money? BECAUSE THERE ARE SHIT LOADS OF MINERS AND FACTORY WORKERS! THAT'S WHY WE NEED JOBS! NOT SOCIALISM YOU IDIOT!
SlamageEntertainment 2 days ago
@SlamageEntertainment socialism has jobs, and it ensures that noone is left to starve
Hogy58 2 days ago
@Hogy58 Would you shut the fuck up about Starvation!? First of all, There are HUNDREDS AND MILLIONS OF PEOPLE STARVING IN AFRICA! THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE TRASH CAN'S TO FIND SOMETHING TO EAT OUT OF THERE! AND SOCIALISM TAKES MONEY THAT PEOPLE HAVE EARNED AND TAKES IT AWAY AND GIVES IT TO PEOPLE WHO DON'T WORK!! LIKE WELFARE!! God fucking Damnit.
SlamageEntertainment 2 days ago
@lilCsquared
Ok, I admit there are social forces that influence my decisions. So, removing the various choices I have fixes the problem of social forces influencing my decisions.... how again?
elzoog 6 days ago
@elzoog we have not, and will probably never, arrive at some perfect form of existence. There are always positive and negative consequences to everything. I find freedom in being aware of BOTH positive and negative consequences.
lilCsquared 3 days ago
@lilCsquared
So, not having choices makes you aware of BOTH the positive and negative consequences, how exactly?
elzoog 3 days ago
@elzoog Having so many choices has positive and negative consequences. Having very few choices has positive and negative consequences. You make yourself aware of the consequences through questioning and learning.
lilCsquared 3 days ago
@lilCsquared
Questioning and learning among various THINGS eh? (notice THINGS is plural)
elzoog 3 days ago
@elzoog In this case, "things" are cultural paradigms, not physical objects. But, yes, I appreciate that I can intellectually compare different cultural paradigms. I also appreciate I have choices about products I consume, and appreciate understanding what types of consequences having so many choices can have. Embrace the complexity.
lilCsquared 3 days ago
@lilCsquared
So I dont get how removing choices in cultural paradigms or physical products solves the problem. If it is the same as far as positive vs. negative consequences, why not just leave the choices there?
elzoog 3 days ago
@lilCsquared Lol taking Sociology and Psychology as serious. Hahahahahahaha,
monkeywolf 4 days ago
I embarrassed for this guy. He should read Lacan, then maybe he might understand understand.
sak8870 5 months ago
I guess this twat watched the first twenty seconds of the lecture and then critiqued the whole thing without thinking about it
floundericiousWA 5 months ago
talking faster than the one you criticise doesnt mean that your words have more meaning than the criticised ;)
dergrinch69 5 months ago
@HowTheWorldWorks. Couple points. If someone presents a logical argument based on reason, rationality and research concerning the inherent flaws within Capitalism any response such as yours can only be interpreted as reactionary. Salecl suggests that choice in the 21st century is a unique experience and is heavily infringed upon (preventing social change) by the Capitalist ideology; the history of this infringement repeatedly shows it to benefit profiteering by manufacturing opinion and consent.
closedmindopenedeyes 6 months ago
Clearly an example of where the choice to read more, think critically and develop arguments should have been taken, but wasn't! I particularly liked the notion that people are not exploited as slaves because they have air conditioning in their offices!! Sure the same argument occurred on plantations when shoes were introduced - simplistic arguments that appear more shallow in relation to the excellent productions on RSA
shukiesweb 6 months ago
Was für ein Opfer. Er hat das Originalvideo nicht verstanden, meiner Meinung nach.
Im Originalvideo werden keine Wertungen vorgenommen. Es wird das Phänomen "choices" an sich durchleuchtet.
Short translation: you just don't get it. Besides: next time you make a video telling your opinion (which is perfectly fine) try not to look and talk like an arrogant smartass. That makes it hard to accept your opinion.
cuinhellcat 6 months ago 3
@cuinhellcat
If you can't accept honesty and facts, then that's your fault.
Fuck you.
JosiahSCooper 3 weeks ago
I'm Sorry but this guy didn't understand a single word, I have a question for you mister smarty pants , have you ever been outside of the US????, the problem is not the choices!!, and that's not the point she is trying to make also,her point is more how capitalism (which I want to say is not perfect but is the best option we have so far) took over all those countries, just in a very opportunistic way!!!!!, the problem is not the choices the problem is the education and the culture, this world i
MARLONCASTROM 6 months ago
While I do agree in that the piece you covered was full of absurdities, it is incorrect to state (or imply) that the RSA animate videos only contain anti-capitalist messages.
As for whether your critique was over the top or not, her pronouncement of the reaction that "most people" feel when they walk into a supermarket only shows me that her thought processes are foreign to my perspective (and all people I am familiar with in a daily life), and not valid in my world.
fuzdaduck1 6 months ago
Nonsense, the first RSA video is about the philospohy of choice
soundmigration 6 months ago 2
Also, the guy is evidently not relaxed, he’s nervous and even agree at times (his facial expressions clearly shows it). It must be because of all that choices he is faced with :)
KanchoKomancho 6 months ago
The guy is filtering things from the original "Choices" video. Choices per se are not bad, but overwhelming abundance of choices and pressure/imperative to make perfect one causes anxiety and similar types of disorders in people living in predominantly neo-liberal type of capitalism. There is empiric evidence of that. Also, this guy propagates so-called democracy of truth, or plain amateur-participation via web. Experience and scientific expertise are of no value for him.
KanchoKomancho 6 months ago 2
Wow this guy missed the point of the original video...
Richardscjj 6 months ago
Barry - in order to understand you have to live in different system/society to understand ups & downs of any. Choices that you are talking are so limited - that you do not have a clue what you are choosing - which kind of system is that that can sell you GM products without telling you?
dradak1 6 months ago
A real critique would include more rebuttal than just "so what?", "that's ridiculous", and "she's wrong"....
LipanConuring 6 months ago 2
wow... way to take wat is said to the extreme... and ure generalising everything she says more or less or putting it into highly specific situations if there's a recession they would sack the most invaluable staff so yes they would see it as them not being good enough because if they were then they wouldnt have been fired.
johnygimo 6 months ago
Trust a rich american to have these kinds of opinions.
Arkeling88 6 months ago
Este es un tipo liberla de mierca cuyo cerebro alcanza a entender de su vista a la pantalla del ordenador. Es uno de eso fundamentalistas velados por la idea de que la 'elección' es un triunfo de las libertades del modelo occidental. Sin darse cuenta que en quienes recae todo el problema, en sí, es en los trabajadores comunes que esperan acceder al estilo de vida de ensueño. ahí reside el sacrificio, en tener que aceptar lo poco que puede obtener. muy visceral
jorgecida 6 months ago
Renata Salecl (with Slavoj Zizek) is part of the new left that is becoming ever more pro-liberty. I'd support them over the big gov't, debt and war republicans any time. People should wake up and realise that republicans aren't free market and pro-liberty and that they never were.
AtheistRightWing 6 months ago
What she (Renata Salecl) was trying to point out that we don't live in a free (market) society. Anyone who would argue otherwise is an idiot. Western governments are more opressive than socialist could have ever dreamed of being. And, yes, republicans since Regan spin the myth of liberty to push their collectivist agenda
AtheistRightWing 6 months ago
So I have several children, and I am in the supermarket, and I have this choice: I can either buy expensive organic food, or I can save more money for my children's education, and buy non-organic food. I can either
A: Choose non-organic food, educate my children, but risk that they may get
cancer or have poorer health.
B:Choose organic food, risk that I may not have enough money to send them to college.
I cannot make this choice with the information I have, so I am filled with anxiety.
brunchable 6 months ago
@brunchable Risk of cancer or poor health is greater than risk of no college, so confidently choose healthy expensive food. If you are unsure, then buy some organic and some regular.
Being alive and healthy is more important than going to college. If you can't be bothered to get more information, then this isn't an important choice anyway.
grahammj 6 months ago
And the only people scared in a supermarket are radical leftists who hate the fact people are free and can make choices for themselves.
TheReviewer777 6 months ago
So, first of all, you are incorrect in seeing this video as an attack on capitalism. It is instead an exploration of the psychological problems that come with capitalism.
The anxiety-inducing point about the endless choices in capitalism is that they have you making choices that you could not even the most brutal dictatorship could force you to make.
An example: we choose to take antidepressants, get cosmetic surgery, not in a free landscape, but to get a better job, or keep the one we have.
brunchable 6 months ago
@brunchable Or because we want to not be depressed, and want to make ourselves look better.
TheReviewer777 6 months ago
So what is the solution? Remove All Choices, And Then THAT IS WHAT TRUELY MAKES YOU A MASTER OF YOUR OWN LIFE???
Im having trouble understanding.
MikeJGallagherJr 7 months ago
This guy is an idiot. It is extemely obvious that he has lived a very cozy and easy life. In reality there is right and wrong throughout nature so I'll say it, ' keep your opinions too yourself you pampered baby you make up 5% of the population so have no right too argue.
nukboyjman 7 months ago
This phenomena is not isolated to the speaker. Perhaps you should turn to peer-reviewed literature for more evidence.
Its difficult for academic-types to contextualize the research without incorporating their anecdotal experiences.
See the similar video. "Barry Schwartz: The paradox of choice"
calebtru 7 months ago
@calebtru Lee Doren (HowTheWorldWorks) debunked "The Paradox of Choice" as well.
xtreme1002003 7 months ago
Plus she believes in Freudian theory which is just f***ing ridiculous
RationalWorld 7 months ago
She is just displaying a type of ethnocentrism, the same way you are (guy who made video). Generally people who don't come from countries were there is a lot of choice (like Russia) see choice as overwhelming. On top of that they see choice in a different light than Americans do, for example if you set 15 different brands of soda in front of me I see 15 choices. However, a Russian will probably see only one choice, soda. Plus just in general she doesn't understand American psychology.
RationalWorld 7 months ago
The only RSA animate I saw before was rather politically neutral (it was about science).
You did a great job. One of my fav vids you have made
Narmical 7 months ago
which south park episode are you talking about?
Amaguqas 7 months ago
@Amaguqas The Underpants Business:
1. Steal underpants
2. ?????????????
3. Profit
Black6dog 7 months ago
Is it me, or was there an implication given by that Russian bitch that if it wasn't for Capitalism, Socialism would still be ruling Russia...and that's a bad thing because choices caused people to question their government...
SickBritKid 7 months ago
if anything it is not an effort to entice governments to act on the behalf of people to remove choice but to notify people not to get overwhelmed by choices or to fear loss excessively. Anyway i can see how a video like this would seem abstruse and difficult to understand to anyone who hasn't spent more that 2hrs looking for the "perfect" wall paper or to anyone who like me doesn't truly believe in but its possibility yet retains church membership for the sake of culture and family unity etc
dahadaller 7 months ago
To; How the world Works Critique-er. I understand your argument but this video did not advocate the removal of all choice, or the removal of any choice. It was simply an examination of a psychological phenomena which perplexes many sociologists and psychologist. Namely, that choice can be overwhelming at times and that when confronted with the deision of changing something for the better (societally speaking) that people will, nowadays tend to eir on the side of caution and consumerism...
dahadaller 7 months ago
I am literally overwhelmed by the number of options available for transport.
Give me a Trabant instead.
StateExempt 7 months ago
The reailty/truth lies somewhere between what the RSA video is saying and what this video is saying.
Nozza1000 7 months ago
Do people actually watch the RSA videos and take them seriously? The one thing that makes a person free are choices. I have never seen an Animate RSA until this video. I almost thought it was a parody, because of how ridiculous the topic was. Wow, Coke or Pepsi I'm so full of anxiety I'm going to quit eating GOD I wish someone would make that choice for me. Thank goodness Communism is here to save the day.
dynamitemike65 7 months ago
post modern political society, everything is symbolic... sadly we are past the days of Kant and now every idiot with an ip address can pretend they have formulated "critique". How the world works. Lemme guess a game theory toting econ student?
sacrebeat 7 months ago
This entire video just made me laugh from the strategically placed books behind you to try and seem like an intellect to your pure ignorance of thinking you know 'HowTheWorldWorks', you should become a comedian, you would do better in that field.
jakgee93 7 months ago
The comments about that RSA video are not objective and therefor they are very superficial. It's not problem about choices, already about a lots of meaningless ones we take so serious so they affect are lives in wrong way. Don't tell me that everythnig you buy it's not under suggestion of someone else and when, e.g. we buy some clothing we don't think a bit how others will see us.
vn050318 7 months ago
Can you critique more of these videos.
joshrocks11 7 months ago
you got it wrong here Lee, She and her kind dislike individual choice because they want to choose for you
58robbo 7 months ago
@jhollander049
I agree that he is missing some of the points about choices that she makes that are good. Problems like choices that people might feel pressured by others and the idols they look up to, to make a specific choice that they would agree with or the pressure of making sure the choice you made was ideal like choosing a product that got a lot of good reviews but a couple bad ones. Will the choice you make be like the bad review or the good ones?
Though I do see what he is saying abo
albert475 7 months ago
He oversimplifies and seems to misinterpret what she says. She agrees choice is good but too much choice can cause issues. She's not making a claim to support communism which I believe this guy thinks she is doing.
Riddled with logical fallacy.
jhollander049 7 months ago 2
49 stockhold syndrome sufferers coted this down.
calstategop 7 months ago
lol, I like how you responded to things she never said and called it a critique.
SPQRomantic 7 months ago 2
@SPQRomantic ^ lying troll
nurbSoldier 7 months ago
I personally agree to a certain extent, but there are some points that sound like an oversimplification to me. For example, when we settle down for an ideal choice, it is not as easy as choosing between a house with holes on its walls and a house without holes on its walls. The choices involved sometimes seem to provide the same amount but different kinds of advantages. It is not always that obvious...
pandamanda123 7 months ago
The problem she has today? Seems to me she could go live in one of the communist countries around the world, may not be able to leave but oh well at least she has the choice.
sintruder 7 months ago
Everyone I've known who has lived under Communist rule has said they would never go back to living that way.
DecepticonSpike 7 months ago
The 44 (so far) people that "disliked" this video must be really barren of gray matter.
kalawine 7 months ago
“Liberty not only means that the individual has both the opportunity and the burden of choice; it also means that he must bear the consequences of his actions.... Liberty and responsibility are inseparable.”
-Hayek
The only alternative is to let others that are part of the same species decide for you.
diurdi 8 months ago 9
This has been flagged as spam show
@diurdi The only alternative is to let others that are part of the same species decide for you.
You're an idiot. They did that in the USSR and they had famines that murdered tens of millions.
rhodeislandpatriot 7 months ago
Capitalism wins every time. The point about the "Guilt" felt from professional life is the fact that you feel because you were laid off that you have less value than the next person who was not laid off. Its an opportunity to better yourself. I am not going to say that it does not suck, because it does.
jonathanMallard 8 months ago 2
@SalamiWurscht Actually, that was the point. I was making the assertion that her communist background made it impossible for her to understand true freedom. Whether Russia or anyother communist country, my point is made.
intrepidorator 8 months ago 2
Anyone who used to live in the Eastern bloc will remember that feeling of walking into a western supermarket for the first time. And it certainly wasn't anxiety and fear. It was awe, it was the feeling of freedom. For the first time in my life, I felt I had real choice. It was beautiful and I will never forget it.
Tharapita 8 months ago 3
No surprises here. Liberals always try to limit choices and information, on the basis that "the populous" are too weak-minded or easily influenced to process information. That's why NPR, Consumer Reports, etc., were so against prescription drug advertising.
wlchase 8 months ago 2
She was probably a KGB spy.
nebraskastatepatriot 8 months ago
I just came back from a supermarket. Dear God. I don't know how I'm going to manage the horror of those things when I'm thirty. Forty different kinds of bread to choose from! All of them just ot make me feel like a master of my own destiny!
NikovK 8 months ago
I am all for choice and competition, but in America, we have the illusion of choice, at least when it comes to politics. Democrats and Republicans are basically the same, as evidenced by Obama's administration. Ron Paul 2012!
Drahthaar422 8 months ago
Anyone seen his moustache? What has been seen can not be unseen.
RoyvanKeulen 8 months ago
this critique is childish!
FleshMob 8 months ago
I do support socialism but what this women is talking about makes her sound stupider than Sarah plain
thatkamikid 8 months ago
Also, Lee...without society there wouldnt BE any jobs.
GermanConquistador08 8 months ago