For this blog post, I analyzed the transcript of Brent’s interview to see if I could relate to anything he threw out there.
This interview was incredible. Nearly everything Brent shared connected perfectly to either of our two lectures on Sustainability & Consumption and Consumer Wisdom.
What stuck out most to me was a concept that I’d like to become more familiar with: paying enough money on quality products is a necessary trait of a wise consumer.
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Making wise purchases begins with research. However, many investments, especially in America, are made with minimal research consumers gather from advertisements. Brent mentioned that Wonder Bread began a slippery slope of American ads convincing consumers that cheap products are worthwhile. But, to a wise consumer, these products should be considered useless: “A lot of people in America are from Europe. They come from cultures where people still know what really good bread is…So how did they go from that to suddenly thinking that Wonder bread is bread? It had to have been advertising that duped them into buying the idea of if you buy this” (387-392).
Admittedly, I have fallen victim to TV adds and Billboards. Most recently, it’s been those Old Spice commercials. Terry Crews as a centaur in a shower is absolutely hilarious. And enough of that content convinced me to buy Old Spice Swagger deodorant, a product marketed at goofball guys like myself. I’ve used every type of deodorant Old Spice offers, but I’ve had same result every time: uncomfortable, chafed underarms. My research for these unwise purchases has been solely from advertisements. To improve my underarm comfort, I’m going to need to put in enough research to the right deodorant for me.
Contrarily, I’ve made several wise, sustainable purchases recently. As a Division 1 athlete in my 3rd year of College Football, I felt the need to supplement my workout routine with proper equipment. Several weeks ago, I spend a hefty $150 combined on a heavy duty lifting belt and high-quality wrist wraps. I needed the belt for personal reasons. For the past 7 years, my lower back has suffered from a myriad of issues. A good belt to support my back during heavy squats and power lifts is exactly what I need to stay healthy and gain strength. The wrist wrap investment was made particularly with sustainability in mind. In my lifetime, I’d estimate that I’ve used upwards of 500 roles of tape on my wrists. Tape is effective for wrist support, but so are these wraps. Why not save tape? It was worth it. This “Pay it back” (324) mentality parallels Brent’s investment towards his innovative, simplistic stove. As I conserve tape while preserving wrist support, Brent is conserving wood and reducing smoke pollution, while also heating his home.