[KirinDave]

Why is it that your definition of minimalism is paucity? The movement's canonical definition is: the right amount of things for your goals. If you are a cook, a well-appointed kitchen is the Right Thing to have. Anything less is just a conceit, and itself a violation of the goal-oriented thinking we've been talking about.

There is this idea of zen and asceticism that has crept into the conversation and honestly I'm not sure what reputable source people are drawing it from. No one is saying you should be living on a tatami mat and with 256kb of storage. No one worth listening to is saying you should avoid owning a pet or enjoying an occasional drink with an umbrella in it.

A lot of people, particularly in our affluent western world, simply say "yes" to the do-I-want-more-stuff proposition. They don't ask, "Do I need this? Does it serve a purpose?" I think the world would be a better place if people made a habit of asking that question and not being afraid of saying, "No." Even if the answer is "Yes," the conscious consideration of utility has benefits.

[beoba]

Woah woah woah, a there's a movement for this?

I think I'll go found a movement based on coupon shopping. Be one with the discount.

[adestefan]

Too late. There are some hardcore coupon shoppers out there. People who buy $100 worth of food for $5.

[p_nathan]

I'm not sure of the origins of the zenny/ascetic minimalist idea either, but it certainly is present, and not a figment of my imagination (http://cultofless.com/ is an example, so is http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/minimalist-freedom-how-to-l...). And that's really the sort of thing I am talking about. It's not immoral to have stuff, and I feel this "stuff is immoral" vibe floating around from some proponents of Minimalism). Some stuff is worth keeping, and lives that deal in physical things simply need physical stuff. Be prepared, as the Boy Scouts say.

[KirinDave]

People making passing references to Zen as a mental stance, if not a religion. Like I said in my essay, sites like http://cultofless are basically publicity stunts and personality cults. They're out there more to get attention for the authors than to provide any real advice.

As for Everett Bogue, for someone espousing minimalism he sure has a lot of books to sell you.