1. deadrats

    deadrats Contributor Contributor

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    Minimalism

    Discussion in 'The Lounge' started by deadrats, Apr 18, 2021.

    Anyone here a minimalist? I don't mean in terms of writing style, but in terms of the way you live and the possessions you have. I'm kind of a minimalist do to financial implications, but I still hate the idea of having too much stuff or clutter. It's a daily thing, isn't it? I like the idea of being able to pack up and go with just about everything I have and need. I've been trying to be super organized and know where everything is, not that there's too much stuff. Yet, I don't think I can really call myself a minimalist? Do you think minimalism is worth striving for? I mean, you can still plant roots without having a lot of stuff.
     
  2. Madman

    Madman Life is Sacred Contributor

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    I keep my little room pretty stocked with furniture and objects. They spice things up, but I could probably live without them. My things are of a classical art nature, so looking at them brings me peace and joy.
    I suppose it depends on who you are, if you like to feel ready to get going at any notice, minimalism might be for you. A lot of future scenes in science fiction seem to strive towards minimalism for some odd reason. Maybe there is a spiritual reason to keep as few items around as possible? Less things for the mind to keep track of?
     
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  3. Mogador

    Mogador Senior Member

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    I have been and still try to be, in my own way, at times.

    Minimalism is worth striving for as a route to other aims. I am very sceptical of it as a philosophy or aim in its own right.

    Minimalism could be useful if you (for some examples):
    ... Want to travel a lot;
    ... Want to take it further and become semi-nomadic (modern nomadism, of which you could also make a fairly scathing critique, at least has more going for it than minimalism);
    ... Are trying to unburthen yourself of old attachments and memories that are holding you back;
    ... Want to focus on a particular kind of work, shorn of distractions;
    ... Are striving for greater spirituality and/or connexion to God;
    ... Know you're likely to be hard up and want to accustom yourself to living without mod cons;
    ... To name a few possibilities.

    Minimalism is, in my opinion, a very bad idea if you think it can in itself improve the quality or meaningfulness of your life, or even reduce your materialism. It is not enough. In fact, if you are trying to be less of a materialist then focusing on minimalism is going to be counter productive.

    Minimalism uninformed by a proper discipline or goal (like those above) can lead to obsession over material objects; only now rather than than obsessing over very many different objects, now it is intensely focused only a handful of very carefully curated objects.

    As an aside, there are a few cases where minimalism is never applicable. Do not, for example, include books in any of those '100 Item' challenges or 'Have You Used It In the Last Six Months?' tests. The 'correct' amount of books is all the books you can afford, find interesting, and will fit into the space available. If you run out of space then give bundles of them to friends... but don't stop buying and swiping more! Hominem unius libri timeo.
     
    Last edited: Apr 18, 2021
  4. RMBROWN

    RMBROWN Senior Member

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    I have all the toys I ever wanted or dreamed of having, done stuff, the stuff of dreams, every corner of my life full, NO regrets! I have made a million, lost a million a couple of times in life, I doubt I could have ever done that with a minimalist philosophy, success seems to be a result of over achieving rather than just doing as little as possible. I am not sure you can really separate the two. Every successful person that I know would be accused of being driven and aiming for the stars, not just keeping it between the ditches and doing the speed limit. More power to you if you have figured it out.
     
  5. Xoic

    Xoic Prognosticator of Arcana Ridiculosum Contributor Blogerator

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    I don't remember if I posted about this in here before nor not. I'm minimalist in certain regards. I do have a lot of stuff packed into my house though—it was a slow creep thing. After a certain point I had to ask myself how I accumulated all this crap.

    One reason I like minimalism is to simplify my life, for instance when it comes to cleaning up. Several years ago I got sick and tired of having a sink full of dishes to wash, so I made a few changes. The main one was that I only use one plate now, one glass, and one set of silverware. I keep them out on the counter in their places (silverware goes in a big cup, now actually a small bucket where it can stand and dry). After a meal or before the next one wash it all. Everything in the cabinets stays in the cabinets unless I have a guest. I also installed hooks over the counter and pothooks on the side of a cabinet, so all the utensils and pans I use are right there in easy reach, and after washing I hang them to dry.

    After a while I tried to get more serious about this. I decided to put away my silverware and just get one spork to use for everything. At first I was gonna hit up Dairy Queen or something and get a plastic one, and keep washing it. But it occurred to me somebody must make a nice silverware-grade spork so I went in search. Ended up finding a beautiful one, but it was made and sold in Germany form Solingen steel. I went ahead and bought it, and it became my prize possession for a while.

    At the same time I got obsessed with getting ahold of something I had read about called a trencher, used in medieval times i think as a plate or bowl. They were carved from wood and rectangular, shaped so it could work as a deep plate or a shallow bowl. In fact people used to carry only a trencher and a belt knife and go into a pub where food would be ladled into the trencher (usually stews or porridges, but anything will work) and you'd scrape it off with the belt knife into your mouth. The knife worked as knife, fork and spoon. I found a few trenchers but the're all massive, more like dinner platters than a plate. Thought about making one, but instead bought some square wooden plates and bowls that I love.

    But I got tired of the spork—it doesn't do the job of either a fork or spoon as well as the right dedicated tool does. And the wooden plates and bowls are limited in their use as well. You can't microwave them (the cells in the wood will collapse or explode). So I ended up getting a single nice looking plate from Walmart that's my special plate, I stand it beside the sink to dry and use it for everything until I need a bowl.

    Wow, not exactly a minimalist post! But suffice to say, I value functionality over aesthetics (except of course in art). I try to set up my house as well as I can to simplify my life.
     
  6. Catriona Grace

    Catriona Grace Mind the thorns Contributor Contest Winner 2022

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    Minimalism? I admire the idea but prefer to go for baroque myself.
     
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  7. KevinMcCormack

    KevinMcCormack Senior Member

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    Yep.

    I probably always have been, before it had a name.

    I grew up in foster homes, and there was pretty much no point in having stuff. The big kids would just take it. I used to be able to fit everything I owned in a pillowcase. When I was in uni, I upgraded that to a big backpack. I have a house now, so my inventory includes stuff like couches, it'll never be that simple again; but when I compare to my peers, it looks like I'm still comparatively light. No car, no TV, simple kitchen.

    I confuse some of my friends in that they know I'm well read and an aspiring writer, but meanwhile I only have a couple of shelves of books. This is where I depart from @Mogador - I am happiest knowing books are being read, so seeing them on shelves saddens me. I'm 90% library read, and the other 10% that are purchases, I donate to the library when I've finished, putting them into circulation for others who can't afford to buy.
     
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  8. Homer Potvin

    Homer Potvin A tombstone hand and a graveyard mind Staff Supporter Contributor

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    Nope. I've got a whole ton of shit. What else am I supposed to do with my basement and garage?
     
  9. Earp

    Earp Contributor Contributor

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    I moved at the first of the year after 24 years in my old house, and I'd guess that at east half of the stuff I brought should have been left. I've made a solemn promise to myself that if I ever move again, everything I own will fit in my car.
     
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  10. Mogador

    Mogador Senior Member

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    Damn, now I feel out minimalist'd.

    It must depend on your reading habits and memory I suppose.

    You sound reasonably disciplined. Get book, read book, absorb book into a high-functioning wetware memory module, move on.

    Me... I'm a get books on a whim, leave book staring down at me giving me options on what to read, eventually read the most interesting looking ones, donate the others, leave most interesting of the most interesting books I've read still staring down at me forever as a visual reminder of their content and for easy grabbable reference because I can't remember sweet Fanny Adams... sort of person.
     
  11. KevinMcCormack

    KevinMcCormack Senior Member

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    The good news is that it's not a competition.


    You raise a good point, which is that I do take notes from an author perspective, if the book is in my preferred genres. I do this with all my media consumption, actually, including radio, TV, movies, plays, and when I do improv shows.

    And I do keep some books, if they're reference books that don't have an online version. For example, I have some books on hand gestures, facial expressions, and body language that are intended for actors, but I found valuable as a writer, to help me 'show' instead of 'tell' what the character is thinking.
     
  12. deadrats

    deadrats Contributor Contributor

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    Curious as to what sort of things you've got "of a classical art nature." Like paintings and stuff? I think that artwork and other things can definitely create a vibe in your space. I wouldn't mind owning more art. A friend gave me a few big frames when she moved. I bought a poster from etsy to put in one of them. And the other as just been collecting dust under the couch. Yesterday, I was going to get rid of it. The thing is there's this nail on the wall that's been there since I moved in years ago in a spot where it looks like something should be hanging on the wall. I decided to frame a copy of the first magazine that published my fiction. It's not fine art, but it definitely brings me joy.
     
  13. Homer Potvin

    Homer Potvin A tombstone hand and a graveyard mind Staff Supporter Contributor

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    It's antique furniture for me. Got a real week spot for chests, credenzas, little tables, bureaus that way 300#, etc. And lamps! Jesus, I got me some lamps.
     
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  14. deadrats

    deadrats Contributor Contributor

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    So, a lamp collector? A lamp or two is probably the thing I need the most. I've got one near the living room chair that I like to read by, but other than that it's ceiling lights and most of those lightbulbs have burnt out. Yeah, I need more light in my life. :)
     
  15. Homer Potvin

    Homer Potvin A tombstone hand and a graveyard mind Staff Supporter Contributor

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    Not really a collector, but when I see a badass lamp, I have to have it. My favorites are an antique inverted globe from about 1920, a set of floor lamps wrapped in cream canvas from the 80s (I think), and a pair of cast iron red/green - starboard/port that weigh a frigging ton.

    Not into hurricane glass, but I do love tiffany... particularly the ones that have a 70s billiard/saloon vibe going on.
     
  16. deadrats

    deadrats Contributor Contributor

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    I don't really see how owning less is a bad thing. I'm not materialistic, but I do like to buy things from ethical companies when I do shop so I guess that's always made me aware and pay more attention to what I'm brining into my life. I also think minimalism can have quality of life benefits. I used to have a lot more stuff than I do now. I basically lost everything and had to start over and have just never owned as many things as I used to since. But I do like that and I feel like I'm more on top of things with less things. I also agree with @KevinMcCormack about the books. I'm more than happy to pass along books I've read. And even with my small home library I never find myself short on reading material. I guess I don't really understand your warning about the negative side of minimalism. I didn't even think there was a negative side, though, I know it's not for everyone.
     
  17. deadrats

    deadrats Contributor Contributor

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    I was actually looking into Tiffany-style lamps. They seem to be quite pricy. Have any recommendations for good quality and price for this kind of lamp?
     
  18. Homer Potvin

    Homer Potvin A tombstone hand and a graveyard mind Staff Supporter Contributor

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    I honestly couldn't tell you much about the different styles or trim levels. They ain't cheap, that's for sure. $100 is nothing to spend on a classic lamp. And unlike the big bulky furniture things, which store owners are dying to get rid off and clear the space for something else, they tend not to haggle too much on smaller things like lamps.
     
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  19. deadrats

    deadrats Contributor Contributor

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    You think owning things made you successful? I've given it my all, had success and failures, but I don't think my possessions or even lack of possessions ever really played a part in that. Drive isn't connected to stuff. At least that's not how I see it.
     
  20. Friedrich Kugelschreiber

    Friedrich Kugelschreiber marshmallow Contributor

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    I think whatever makes you happier is the best. Some people are probably happier with more stuff, whereas others take joy in being able to own relatively little. It takes all kinds. Clutter is real, although it's a function of space and stuff; if you have the space, why not have the stuff? Empty rooms are sad rooms, I think.
     
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  21. Xoic

    Xoic Prognosticator of Arcana Ridiculosum Contributor Blogerator

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    I'll remind you of that next time you have to move. :supercool:
     
  22. RMBROWN

    RMBROWN Senior Member

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    Yes, I never budgeted money, if I wanted something I did what I could to earn extra money. I had dreamed of racing motorcycles when I was young. I competed in the Mid Atlantic road racing series. The average cost was about $30,000 a year for motorcycles, tires and spare parts plus travel and fuel and entry fees. I made that money by expanding what I was doing into new areas. I have started businesses to fund all sorts of travel, a nicer home, sports cars, lots of other motorcycles, a summer home and lots of other hobbies. I am a risk taker by nature, with both money and my health when it comes to sports adventure and business. While I have seen the top of the mountain financially, I have also seen the bottom of the valley. To work 80 plus hours a week, to risk your financial security, there has to be a reward. I have no desire to retire, I love what I do, I love not having to worry about money. True success is setting a goal and then doing it. What do you have to show yourself that have succeeded or failed. Did you ever dream about having nothing. The mountains are beautiful because of the contrast with the valley, life is not really that different for me. You seek to live in the flat desert, there is no highs, no lows, no snow or rain. I could have been average if I just went to work every day, paid the bills and just got by. I chose the other route. Yes, my stuff, my desire to have more, is a direct result of owning things, they are the joy and the purpose I have that lets me get out of bed every morning to try and conquer the world and not be average.
     
  23. Homer Potvin

    Homer Potvin A tombstone hand and a graveyard mind Staff Supporter Contributor

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    Rock and roll! I topped out at 60 hrs a week. And am more than ready to retire!
     
  24. Xoic

    Xoic Prognosticator of Arcana Ridiculosum Contributor Blogerator

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    ^^ Brothers from another mother! :supergrin:
     
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  25. Friedrich Kugelschreiber

    Friedrich Kugelschreiber marshmallow Contributor

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    You are the sort of person that will colonize Mars someday probably.
     
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