Does GAS = "Affluenza"?

[NickTrop]

GAS - gear acquisition syndrome.
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Affluenza, from affluence and influenza, is a term used by critics of capitalism and consumerism. Sources define it as follows:

affluenza, n. a painful, contagious, socially transmitted condition of overload, debt, anxiety and waste resulting from the dogged pursuit of more.[1]
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British psychologist Oliver James asserts that there is a correlation between the increasing nature of affluenza and the resulting increase in material inequality: the more unequal a society, the greater the unhappiness of its citizens.[3] Referring to Vance Packard's thesis The Hidden Persuaders on the manipulative methods used by the advertising industry, James relates the stimulation of artificial needs to the rise in affluenza. To highlight the spread of affluenza in societies with varied levels of inequality, James interviewed people in several cities including Sydney, Singapore, Auckland, Moscow, Shanghai, Copenhagen and New York.

James also believes that higher rates of mental disorders are the consequence of excessive wealth-seeking in consumerist nations.[4] In a graph created from multiple data sources, James plots "Prevalence of any emotional distress" and "Income inequality," attempting to show that English-speaking nations have nearly twice as much emotional distress as mainland Europe and Japan: 21.6 percent vs 11.5 percent.[5] James defines affluenza as 'placing a high value on money, possessions, appearances (physical and social) and fame,' and this becomes the rationale behind the increasing mental illness in English-speaking societies. He explains the greater incidence of affluenza as the result of 'Selfish Capitalism,' the Market Liberal political governance found in English-speaking nations as compared to the less selfish capitalism pursued in mainland Europe. James asserts that societies can remove the negative consumerist effects by pursuing real needs over perceived wants, and by defining themselves as having value independent of their material possessions. - Wikipedia entry on Affluenza
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So, when you say you have "GAS", are you misdiagnosing yourself? Do you really have affluenza? Is "GAS" a variant of the (metaphorical) affluenza virus that affects amateur photographers?

 

[Nikon Bob]

There just maybe some truth to that theory.

Bob

 

[Roger Hicks]

In many cases, they must be related, but a bare 'equals' sign is probably overstating it. Many people chop and change until they find the kit they like. If they never find any kit they like, yes, it's probably affluenza.

Cheers,

R.

 

[christian.rudman]

Or if you look in the attics of half the users here you'll find the sure signs of Affluenza. I know much of my GAS lends itself to me purely wanting more. I think of camera gear as a higher plane than pithy things like cars and clothing 🙂, but it really is still just me not being content with one camera. Interesting position and I'm a little scared that I'm in such an advanced stage of Affluenza. Thanks for the point!

 

[Steve3333]

I clearly suffer from affluenza...and I am loving it!!! Just got myself a new leica M7!

 

[NickTrop]

It is Affluenza. There is a cure for the (relatively, mild by comparison) case from which I had once suffered. For mild cases - no drugs required. - Once you're intellectually honest to admit it to yourself, you will be free. You don't have "GAS". Period. You have "Affluenza", and because cameras can be procured at many price points on the used market, you do so. It is a case where - in the past you lusted after a certain camera or lens. But in the old film days, that's all you could do... lust. Because that [Leica, Nikon F, Canon, Yashica, Pentax] you wanted so very badly, was $1000, $100, $65... what have you. And it was out of reach. So now in the digital era, with small format film photography on its way out, you're able to get many of these cameras, used, for comparitively little money. You're earning more, and you can have all the film cameras you want. Or, you can get that M3 now. So you get "GAS" - and you buy this one, that one... Like a greedy child in a toy store after the zombie apocalypse. - Or the late Burgess Merideth in that famous Twilight Zone episode who "finally has all the time in the world, and a library full of books to read..." You get a charge out of getting that ________ camera you always lusted after but couldn't afford back in 1994 when you were in college (or whatever...) - and it's yours, all yours - finally. Has nothing to do with the photographic capabilities. You have that focal length covered (many times over...), and truth be told a similar camera with similar capabilities... and whose pictures you'd be hard pressed to "pick out of a pile".

But you had "GAS"...

Not GAS - Affluenza. And a strain of this disease that effects photographers. It's the charge you get from "wanting more" and "finally" getting that object of past desire... It has nothing to do with photography.