The Age of Indulgence and Passivity

By Volodymyr Kish

I am part of what is commonly known as the “Baby Boomer” generation, that large demographic bubble of people born in the two decades after the end of World War II. As such, I have been witness to an unprecedented amount of transformation, as economic, technological, political and social changes have had a revolutionary impact on virtually every aspect of life over the past half century.

For the most part, these changes have been beneficial.  Our quality of life has improved dramatically in material terms.  Many diseases and ailments have been eradicated or brought under control by medical advances, considerably prolonging our average life spans. Significant numbers of the world’s teeming masses have been liberated from assorted tyrannies and oppressive dictatorships. Human rights, freedom of speech, gender equality and literacy have all made noteworthy advances in our increasingly connected and interdependent world.

Yet, there have also been some troubling side effects from all this “progress” that are cause for concern. The one that strikes me the most is the increasing tendency towards self-indulgent consumerism.  Our society, encouraged by pervasive and manipulatory advertising practices, has become addicted to buying the latest products, gadgets, luxuries and transient experiences at every turn, whether we need them or not, or whether we can even afford them.  We have been seduced by easy credit to indulge ourselves, persuaded that we deserve it, that we need it, and that if we just buy this next “thing”, we will magically be happier, sexier, more attractive, more successful and fulfilled.  It is almost astonishing that, though most of us inherently know we are being manipulated and that such claims are either untrue or grossly exaggerated, we still fall for it.

Aside from getting us into trouble financially and in many other ways, the damaging corollary to this self-indulgence is that it also makes us more passive.  We no longer do things or create things – we just passively consume them.  We don’t grow or prepare our own food – we buy it or eat out.  We don’t make our own clothes, furniture, toys, decorations, and a raft of other domestic products – we buy them ready-made.  We don’t make our own entertainment by playing musical instruments, engaging in crafts or hobbies, or by participating in sports teams, cultural organizations or clubs – we watch other people perform on television and the movies, or pay large admission fees to see professional performers do their stuff and get rich.  Whether young or old, we don’t socialize in person like we used to, but spend countless hours in front of screens losing ourselves in virtual worlds.  We have become much more sedentary and passive and the consequences in terms of health, both mental and physical, are telling.

This also has had a telling effect on the level of our social and cultural engagement as well.  There was a time a generation or two ago, when if you were Ukrainian, you were intimately involved in the cultural and organizational life of the community.  Every kid I knew went to Ukrainian School, danced in a Ukrainian dance group and belonged to a youth or scouting organization of some kind.  The adults, regardless of background or level of education, were similarly involved.  Choirs, drama clubs, reading societies, marching bands, orchestras, and a large assortment of special interest groups enriched the life of the community and got everybody involved.  There were events at the Ukrainian Hall or cultural centre almost every week.  Today, only a tiny fraction of Ukrainians I know are at all involved in such activities.  And even those that do come out to “Ukrainian” events do so primarily as passive spectators.

Our high-tech, hedonistic, consumerist society has conditioned most us to be inert users rather than active creators or originators of art, culture, innovation or progress in the essential spheres of what makes us a civilized species.  We have forgotten that every individual has some talent, ability or potential to contribute, even in a small way, to the well-being of the society in which he or she lives.  We all have the ability to develop the skills and knowledge that give us more control over our lives and environment, rather than becoming totally dependent on the dictates and pressures of the marketing economy that has come to dominate our lives.

The new year presents us with a good opportunity to assess how we live our lives, and it is an opportune time to take stock of whether we are just consumers, or producers and creators of what makes our lives meaningful.  It is food for thought.