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Markets in everything: lives for sale
He says he's not the first person to put his life on the block.
Australian philosophy student Nicael Holt, 24, offered his life to the highest bidder last year to protest mass consumerism.
American John Freyer started All My Life For Sale (www.allmylifeforsale.com) in 2001 and sold everything he owned on eBay, later visiting the people who bought his things.
Adam Burtle, a 20-year-old U.S. university student, offered his soul for sale on eBay in 2001, with bidding hitting $400 before eBay called it off. Burtle admitted he was a bored geek.
Here is the story. The current seller is Ian Usher, a lovelorn Australian:
From Sunday, June 22 for one week, Usher's life is up for sale on eBay with the package including his $420,000 (US$397,000) three-bedroom house in Perth, Western Australia, a trial for his job at a rug store, his car, motorbike, clothes and even friends.
Here is a previous MR post on an Australian life for sale.
Posted by Tyler Cowen on June 22, 2008 at 06:21 AM in Economics | Permalink
Comments
Why has so-called 'consumerism' gotten such a horrible connotation recently? It's become a buzz-word of the left and those that want us to live poorer lives. I'm very interested in your thoughts on it.
Posted by: Speedmaster at Jun 22, 2008 7:59:17 AM
I'm with Speedmaster. Those platitudes about consumerism are getting on my nerves. I believe that it stems from the anti-materialistic crowd, which for some reason has a moral high-ground.
A senior at my high school wrote a piece about the dangers of consumerism (it was unintentionally hilarious). He's going into an esteemed business school this fall.
I remember about two years ago, a preppy girl who gets her nails done and carry designer bags made a comment about how consumerism is ruining America.
I really just want to ask these people a few questions. I don't know why everybody is so hostile about consumerism. I don't even think they do, either. But I really want to know.
Posted by: Daniel Reeves at Jun 22, 2008 1:06:15 PM
A 24 year old rug salesman cum philosophy student owns a $397,000 (US) house? Rug sales in Perth Australia must be good.
Posted by: jbarrett at Jun 22, 2008 5:37:12 PM
A 24 year old rug salesman cum philosophy student owns a $397,000 (US) house? Rug sales in Perth Australia must be good.
Posted by: jbarrett at Jun 22, 2008 5:38:02 PM
A 24 year old rug salesman cum philosophy student owns a $397,000 (US) house? Rug sales in Perth Australia must be good.
Posted by: jbarrett at Jun 22, 2008 5:38:11 PM
House prices in Perth have tripled or so in the last few years. It was probably a $120 000 house when he bought it.
Posted by: doctorpat at Jun 22, 2008 10:35:23 PM
