Don't Tell Me

I can't find the article that inspired this thought, so I'll forge ahead without it (that will teach me to delay writing things down!). I was reading one of those articles that suggests ideas for making your life more earth-friendly, like buying in bulk, reusing, buying products made from recycled materials, etc. One of the commenters said something along the lines of, "These are all good ideas, but I don't really like people telling me what I should buy."


Seriously?


Let me start with the obvious question: Why did you finish the article, then? If you're so opposed to taking suggestions, stop reading sooner. Also, if you don't want people telling you what you should buy, then I can only suppose that you live in a cave far from other human contact, and this article was the first thing you read when you emerged from isolation for your yearly visit to the internet. Maybe I'm weird, but I give and receive recommendations about products/businesses/services all the time.

If you can avoid hearing about these...
Please tell us how in the comments!
Source.

And then there's the people who set out to tell you what to buy: the advertisers. TV, internet, billboards. On the sides of vehicles and the backs of receipts. On book jackets, in emails, on t-shirts and coffee mugs. If you can get away, even for a few minutes, from people telling you what you should buy, I salute you. Really. Because as I understand it, capitalism is built on people telling other people what they should buy.


If you all don't mind (or even if you do!), I'll continue to make my green living suggestions. I'll pass along tips and ideas that work for me. I'll talk about books I've read and TV shows I've watched, and maybe the occasional product that makes my life better. And if that offends you...


I don't even know what to say, except perhaps 'goodbye'.


How do you feel about idea suggestions? Are you more likely to buy something if it's recommended by a friend? What about a fellow blogger?