I will never as long as I live be able to afford DVDs since even if I get a player, I never was and never will be able to afford to actually buy commercial copies af shows and films. And I have an apartment full of old and rare stuff on VHS that won't be on DVD perhaps ever, anyway. I'm absolutely committed.
My original post wasn't really about DVDs, that was just one small thing. Is everyone rushing out to buy Blue Ray? That's the next thing. If people overall were less concerned with the machinery, and more with content, the culture could be in better shape. DS viewers aren't being criticized here. All of you enjoy a low-tech show made 35-40 years ago, overlooking bloopers, other problems. That takes character.
Consumer culture is fine as long as it isn't so all-pervasive that it screws up the feelings and perspectives of masses-- generations-- of people, for short-term profit. Look at Springer and court shows for all the childish, irresponsible, selfish types, the extreme cases, and most don't get anywhere near that far 'out there'. Most are just quiet about it, usually. They pay their taxes, so they're mainstream.
McDonalds, and the rest of consumerism? Fine, within reason. The influence of companies like that is way out of hand though. In a shallow culture where nothing really matters, except short-term gratification, no wonder people snap. Then they scratch their heads on the news reporting it, and wonder why. The culture should nourish some, or it's worse than useless. Our culture is like parents who throw expensive toys at the kids and then leave them on their own to raise themselves. Bad analogy, the culture isn't our parents. But this may be erased for being OT, and it's too long. No time or space to fix it.
