[DanI-S]

Human civilization (and not just our current iteration) is like a gigantic, uncontrollable beast. It tramples thousands underfoot, growing fat on their fears and impossible dreams. Some people may be riding up on top, out of trample range, but they're still riding on top of a gigantic, uncontrollable beast with no real aim other than its own continued survival.

Not much to be gained from blame or envy. Just try to set a good example. It might help, over time.

[kiba]

Well, look. I decided that I will get rid of the useless things in my life. Books and papers, trash, and so on.

I also decided to save and not consume much. Therefore, I resort to making homemade sandwiches and finding water bottle.

A few days ago, I made a pencil holder out of a discarded soda can. Why the hell not?

There are cool things that I want to buy. But, they're mostly for making cooler projects.

I am a prosumer. I find it fun to make stuff and sell stuff just so I can make much more interesting stuff to sell.

The Man's strategy? Did he even really exists? What's there to blame and be envious?

The intellectual life is worth more than the cars, the fancy houses, and 2 1/2 kids. Things are in itself an interesting intellectual exercise. Selling them is merely a way to keep points about which is the most interesting things to the most people.

[tabsa]

From your comment it seems that your are advocating an "intellectual life". Isn't this the same old consumerism, just a changing real goods for virtual ones (aka information)?

[kiba]

Hardly, because for your life to be intellectually interesting, you must discriminate between information. You're choosing not what people will think of you, but what is interesting to you.

[DanI-S]

I'm sure most people at least in some way try to develop interests in certain areas so that other people find THEM interesting!

[pyrhho]

You should read "What Technology Wants" by Kevin Kelly.

He investigates these sorts of things, talking about how it is now impossible to be separate from civilization (even the Amish are dependent upon civilization at large to support their lifestyle). And he starts to talk about how we can cope with that, and engage with it on our own terms, in a constructive manner.