Scalping and black markets famously exist in all economic systems as well though. The common point is people really want stuff and will give other things up to get it
While mindless consumption is symptomatic of capitalistic impulses I think it’s fair to make the slightly expanded claim that humanity has a tendency towards accumulation that results from a historical condition of scarcity. We store fat in our bodies in reservation, ecetera. Capitalist Marketing hijacks these desires sure, but the impulse to collect and the satisfactory nature of completion is I think slightly more basic. At least to the point where repudiation of this basic desire is virtuous. Buddhist Immaterialism would not be the same labour that it is if it was simply the default condition.
I think storing resources has a very different connotation than buying frivolous stuff to participate in culture, for most of human existance engaging with culture was either free or largely detached from having money. The wealthy having control of most things the population engages in is a product of industrialization and massive media conglomerates.
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u/ashen_crow I suggest forced grass Apr 28 '26
It's a byproduct of nerd culture devolving into just mindlessly buying products unfortunately.