OK, I'll try a bit harder
Main point - peopple want to know that they exist. We do this mostly by attempting to elicit a predictable response from other humans. Tree falling in the woods stuff. Materialism then is a gross, matter-based social construct whereby we can elicit a reasponse from others, and thereby validate our existence, more and more predictably by either the amount, or specific qualities of, the stuff we surround ourselves with. And behaviour, such as saying "I'm not a materialist" in a public forum, is simply another way of achieving the same outcome - validation by people. So those of us wishing to be less attached to material things ultimately face a quandary - either accept our ongoing need to be validated by others and do it in a different way than by the use of stuff, or make a big philosophical and behavioural leap into consciously choosing not to want to seem - well, like anything at all. In which case, if I had been successful in this tonight, you wouldn't see my post. There is no argument.
(dadadali has hybrid vigour, Sat 10 May 2008, 12:13, Reply)