Learning to share again
If life were a game, capitalists would have you believe that ‘whoever dies with the most things wins'. They want us to run around in their little rat race, buying every useless commodity that they present us with, while they work us to death so that we can afford the privilege of living in their trap. “You've gotta buy this car, so that you can drive to work, so you can work all day to pay for this car.”
Don't be a sucker; ‘owning' things is a two-way street. This is why having ‘nothing to lose' can be the most liberating feeling in the world. It is once we've acquired things and feel the need to guard them, maintain our control over them and keep others from enjoying them, that we chain ourselves down in a materialistic prison. Everything you own owns you. This is especially true of the things you own that you do not actually need. Stop hoarding, collecting and acquiring things, and start sharing.
Most of us already have everything we need, but if we don't, we can be sure that somebody else out there has got it. Why not tell the boss to shove it, stop working for the crumbs they so ‘generously' kick down to us, and find alternative ways of providing for the needs of others and ourselves.
There are enough tools gathering dust in garages that nobody should need to buy a new toolset. There is enough perfectly good food being thrown into dumpsters that nobody should be going hungry. There is enough clothing hanging in closets, hardly ever being worn, that nobody should need to buy new outfits. If you're in need of something, whether a thing or a service, don't be ashamed to inform the people around you. It is quite probable that somebody has what you need and is willing to help you.
It's time that we live freely, and share things with those in need. Look around your house tonight and free yourself from the clutter that you've managed to accumulate. Find something that you don't use and then look for someone to give it to. Don't donate it to corporate chains like Value Village, who turn around and make a profit on your generosity. Most of the items donated end up in the dumpster anyways, and lots of the clothing is exported to third world countries where they undercut clothing companies and destroy local economies. Instead of blindly throwing your stuff in a box, find people to give it to.
Help your neighbours out as much as you can. You shouldn't always expect payment for the services that you offer. You should offer your time and skills freely to those who need them, and others will do the same when you need help. In a ‘gift economy,' everything is provided for everyone freely and voluntarily without money ever changing hands. To each according to their need, from each according to their means. It's like communism… without a corrupt, disillusioned and authoritarian government consolidating power. But this could never happen in the Western world right?
Wrong!
It's happening right now, you just need to plug into the culture. There's tons of websites that facilitate gift economics, they just need you to post your things/services on them to work. Go to Craigslist.com and post the services and things that you are wiling to share in their ‘free' section. Give away your belongings as random gifts to friends and strangers. Use the Sharing Shop! The Sharing Shop is a space where you can leave the things you no longer need and/or take the things that you presently need. It is the most brilliant service any college has ever offered it's students and it costs nothing. It is completely volunteer-run (they can use more volunteers this year), and is stocked by donations that students make. On a typical day you can leave with clothing, food, books, school supplies, household essentials and much more. This isn't some charity or food bank that degrades and humiliates you by making you prove your poor, it is a Sharing Shop; it facilitates sharing among students, rich and poor alike. You don't even need to give them your name. So head down to B1050 and share the love.
Gift economics is taking over. You are all invited to participate in a ‘really really free market' and potluck meal on Saturday, November 24 as part of Buy Nothing Day celebrations (location TBA). Bring an empty wallet, a free spirit, and an open mind. Share a skill, perform a song, offer a service, and give away your things.
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.
Don't be a sucker; ‘owning' things is a two-way street. This is why having ‘nothing to lose' can be the most liberating feeling in the world. It is once we've acquired things and feel the need to guard them, maintain our control over them and keep others from enjoying them, that we chain ourselves down in a materialistic prison. Everything you own owns you. This is especially true of the things you own that you do not actually need. Stop hoarding, collecting and acquiring things, and start sharing.
Most of us already have everything we need, but if we don't, we can be sure that somebody else out there has got it. Why not tell the boss to shove it, stop working for the crumbs they so ‘generously' kick down to us, and find alternative ways of providing for the needs of others and ourselves.
There are enough tools gathering dust in garages that nobody should need to buy a new toolset. There is enough perfectly good food being thrown into dumpsters that nobody should be going hungry. There is enough clothing hanging in closets, hardly ever being worn, that nobody should need to buy new outfits. If you're in need of something, whether a thing or a service, don't be ashamed to inform the people around you. It is quite probable that somebody has what you need and is willing to help you.
It's time that we live freely, and share things with those in need. Look around your house tonight and free yourself from the clutter that you've managed to accumulate. Find something that you don't use and then look for someone to give it to. Don't donate it to corporate chains like Value Village, who turn around and make a profit on your generosity. Most of the items donated end up in the dumpster anyways, and lots of the clothing is exported to third world countries where they undercut clothing companies and destroy local economies. Instead of blindly throwing your stuff in a box, find people to give it to.
Help your neighbours out as much as you can. You shouldn't always expect payment for the services that you offer. You should offer your time and skills freely to those who need them, and others will do the same when you need help. In a ‘gift economy,' everything is provided for everyone freely and voluntarily without money ever changing hands. To each according to their need, from each according to their means. It's like communism… without a corrupt, disillusioned and authoritarian government consolidating power. But this could never happen in the Western world right?
Wrong!
It's happening right now, you just need to plug into the culture. There's tons of websites that facilitate gift economics, they just need you to post your things/services on them to work. Go to Craigslist.com and post the services and things that you are wiling to share in their ‘free' section. Give away your belongings as random gifts to friends and strangers. Use the Sharing Shop! The Sharing Shop is a space where you can leave the things you no longer need and/or take the things that you presently need. It is the most brilliant service any college has ever offered it's students and it costs nothing. It is completely volunteer-run (they can use more volunteers this year), and is stocked by donations that students make. On a typical day you can leave with clothing, food, books, school supplies, household essentials and much more. This isn't some charity or food bank that degrades and humiliates you by making you prove your poor, it is a Sharing Shop; it facilitates sharing among students, rich and poor alike. You don't even need to give them your name. So head down to B1050 and share the love.
Gift economics is taking over. You are all invited to participate in a ‘really really free market' and potluck meal on Saturday, November 24 as part of Buy Nothing Day celebrations (location TBA). Bring an empty wallet, a free spirit, and an open mind. Share a skill, perform a song, offer a service, and give away your things.
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.
