Pervasive profit motive encourages us to commodify ourselves, a horrifying suggestion
20 November 2019 - 14:18
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Desné Masie’s article (“Vitality and Apple Watch: big brother or health motivators?” November 18) fed into my view that there is little room for critical thought in society any more due to the idea that it’s all about the money and nothing else.
We’re encouraged to commodify ourselves, or in the words of one commercial institution, “monetise your behaviour”. I’m horrified by the suggestion. It makes me want to misbehave, badly. Capitalism’s pervasive profit motive has captured all of modern culture.
The first question anyone throws at me when I make this point is, “so what do you want, socialism?” All I want is some alternative viewpoints and critical discussion by sociologists, anthropologists, philosophers and psychologists, as well as the opinions of economists and politicians that are foisted on us by the media.
Masie’s piece made me feel not so much as if I’m not crazy, but at least as if I’m not the only crazy one.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
LETTER: Capitalism’s grey world
Pervasive profit motive encourages us to commodify ourselves, a horrifying suggestion
Desné Masie’s article (“Vitality and Apple Watch: big brother or health motivators?” November 18) fed into my view that there is little room for critical thought in society any more due to the idea that it’s all about the money and nothing else.
We’re encouraged to commodify ourselves, or in the words of one commercial institution, “monetise your behaviour”. I’m horrified by the suggestion. It makes me want to misbehave, badly. Capitalism’s pervasive profit motive has captured all of modern culture.
The first question anyone throws at me when I make this point is, “so what do you want, socialism?” All I want is some alternative viewpoints and critical discussion by sociologists, anthropologists, philosophers and psychologists, as well as the opinions of economists and politicians that are foisted on us by the media.
Masie’s piece made me feel not so much as if I’m not crazy, but at least as if I’m not the only crazy one.
Charmaine Manicom
Randburg
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