What can the average American consumer do right now to prevent future Rana Plaza-like tragedies?
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posted by MaddyRex
on May 1, 2013 -
20 answers
How do I become a more ethical consumer? I'd like to primarily do business with organizations known for treating their workers - domestic and foreign - well. Where and how do I find them?
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posted by Selena777
on Jun 13, 2012 -
9 answers
I'll phrase this in a way to avoid legal problems or simple unfairness. I've noticed that certain foods and drinks I buy from The Big Store differ from the same items when I buy them from a Small Store. The items are the same brand with same description on packaging. But they just seem different in how they taste, feel, or spoil. Any insights on how and why this happens?
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posted by ErikH2000
on May 21, 2012 -
17 answers
I am visiting Russia in June - Moscow, St Petersburg and Magadan. What should I buy while I'm there? Which food items, clothing, booze or um anything-at-all are wonderful, affordable and hard to find elsewhere?
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posted by Marquis
on Apr 30, 2012 -
12 answers
Does anybody know the name of a type of christmas-y sugar cookie with sprinkles that used to be sold in a cylindrical plastic tub?
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posted by SomeOneElse
on Nov 24, 2011 -
6 answers
Hi there,
After having used the same laptop for about 5 years, it's time to get a new one. So I'm here to ask 1. which laptop I shoudl get and/or 2. any online guides that are helpful.
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posted by beautiful
on Jun 20, 2011 -
15 answers
You know how sometimes you find a single object that makes travel
so much less inconvenient, uncomfortable, or disorganized? I'm going from the US to Russia (St. Petersburg) in a few weeks - please tell me what I would buy now if only I knew of its existence. Stuff for plane trips, packing, or just living out of a suitcase are all welcome.
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posted by you're a kitty!
on May 30, 2011 -
68 answers
What is the name of the industry / sector that designs retail store layouts etc. in order to encourage impulse buying and maximise profits?
posted by FuckingAwesome
on Mar 26, 2011 -
9 answers
How can I find out who invested in certain movies and how much they invested? I am trying to find out where the product placements are coming from in movies. Right now I'm working on Wayne Wang's 'Smoke', but also want to find this kind of information for other films.
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posted by Knigel
on Nov 8, 2010 -
11 answers
Why do big box stores move, build brand new box stores, the exact same size, in the same neighborhood, what seems like every couple of years?
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posted by woodjockey
on Oct 20, 2010 -
11 answers
Looking for some good documentaries on advertising, marketing, public relations & consumerism to help teach an undergraduate class! We have a list of possible documentaries already (we will show selected excerpts - not the entire thing) but were wondering if we were missing anything out and what the Hive Mind might suggest! Good "teaching moment" video clip suggestions based on Mad Men and other fictional advertising/marketing/PR/consumerism-themed films and TV shows are also welcome. Or perhaps there are even good relevant scenes from documentaries which are primarily about some other topic. Thanks for any help... it's much appreciated! Full list that we already have compiled inside...
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posted by zresearch
on Aug 20, 2010 -
18 answers
What are specific and attainable things I can do to lessen my participation in the consumerist aspect of our world? Related, how can I justify the degree of 'necessary' participation?
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posted by anonymous
on May 18, 2010 -
25 answers
Help me help my daughter appreciate what she has instead of wanting more, more, more.
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posted by lucyleaf
on Dec 26, 2009 -
58 answers
I don't wear deodorant, wash my hair, or run in shoes. What else can I stop doing?
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posted by cmoj
on Dec 20, 2009 -
87 answers
I recycle, cycle, take the train, eat nearly no meat and don't buy useless stuff. But I know it's not enough.
What can I do about environmental/consumerism issues that goes beyond that but doesn't involve chasing whalers on a tiny boat in the Sea of Japan?
I'm especially interested about answers for things in the UK, but I'm academically interested in international things too.
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posted by Zarkonnen
on Apr 13, 2009 -
18 answers
Sorting out the airline ticket sites -- is there an efficient way to do this? Confusion and madness reign.
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posted by paultopia
on Oct 14, 2008 -
9 answers
Can you suggest interesting--but not too long--articles on consumerism, for the College Writing class I teach?
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posted by whatgorilla
on Sep 16, 2008 -
11 answers
VideoID Filter: Help me find an online video from about a year ago that "highlighted" all of the advertisements in a city. All of the ads were white and everything else was black (or the other way around?). It really illustrated how surrounded by consumerism we are.
posted by PixelatorOfTime
on Sep 12, 2008 -
5 answers
How to find balance between consumerism and materialism, and taking care of needs and appreciate quality/craftsmanship/design?
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posted by Foci for Analysis
on Jan 20, 2008 -
25 answers
How much energy/CO2 debt in used/incurred in the production of a new car? The fpp about the group who pledged to buy nothing new (which I can't find) got me thinking: some consumerism is spurred by the idea that newer products are more energy efficient than the older ones. But new products may use a lot of energy in their production and the break-even point may be beyond their lifespan.
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posted by 445supermag
on Feb 24, 2006 -
11 answers
Being sick of Christmas consumerism, I'm trying to create as many of my holiday presents as I can. A semester-long photography course has allowed me to make a bunch of nice-sized prints for friends. I saved the best for my girlfriend, a portrait of a swan from our recent trip tp Strasbourg, France.
What I'm wondering is if it's presumptuous/precocious/obnoxious to have it framed for her.
posted by themadjuggler
on Dec 17, 2004 -
20 answers
With the proper amount of cash, what is the best alternative if I want a flat panel television?
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posted by benjh
on Jun 15, 2004 -
11 answers