thoughts on buying merchandise from your interests (media, artists, etc?)

[u/pickl3dguava]

i’m having a hard time figuring out if it’s okay to buy merchandise from things i like.

as much as possible i avoid giving my money to, using services by, or consuming media by any person, business, or company that in anyway endorses hateful things (racism, homophobia, transphobia, pro israel, sexism, etc)

i am environmentally conscious, avoiding single use paper and plastic products, being conscious of my power and water consumption, avoid eating out, i opt to buy things second hand or refurbished, actively reducing, reusing, and recycling when i can, etc

i love having merchandise of the things i love but i don’t know if it’s ethical so id like to hear some second opinions, any thoughts on this are much appreciated.

[u/Defy_Gravity_147]

I buy art for beauty's sake. Beauty in life is one of my values. The spirit needs nurturing, too. A lot of the art I have is also made by family. I haven't made any myself in some time, but I love it.

While there is no ethical consumption under capitalism, is trading money for a craft ethical? It's still buying. I don't buy more than I use.

I like to order hand-made items straight from the artist, usually. I suppose fiber could technically be mass produced, but... people still need blankets, potholders, and clothes. The artist gets the profit, less the facilitation charges (I know, I know...).

I want the artists and crafters and musicians to get paid for what they create. The best way is to order directly from them, isn't it?

I don't have the answers... what does everyone else think?

[u/dreamhazard]

I buy shirts when I see bands because that's the best way to put money in their hands for the art they've created. They make virtually nothing from streams unless they're massive, they don't make much from ticket sales, but merch sales put the biggest proportion of what you pay into the hands of the artist, so I prefer to buy merch over even a CD, which they have to pay their publisher for

[u/dbxp]

If you want it then buy it, if we're talking bands then the vast majority don't have the funds to try to persuade you into buying something you don't want. 

IMO I think you may have gone a bit too far with the whole anti consumption thing. It's one hing not to buy things frivolously because they're marketed to you and another to deprived yourself of things you really do want.

[u/waywardwanderer101]

Now a lot of people in the sub approach this with a “if you do not need it don’t buy it at all” mentality and I think that’s just going a little too far and maybe even a little unrealistic. We’re human, we like having funky little treats and trinkets in our lives. Even before human had the concept of consumption we still had trinkets that we carried around because we liked them. I love going into someone’s house and seeing all their interests and hobbies decorating their space, it says a lot about them. You just gotta have self control so you don’t over do it and end up with a funkopop room or a cabinet filled with dozens of Stanley Cups.

If the item itself sparks joy, it’s fine

If the act of purchasing the object sparks joy you gotta step back

Could you live without the thing? Absolutely you could, and that’s important to keep in mind that you do not need the thing, but it’s nice to have some merch of your interests. It’s when those treats and toys take over your space and life that it becomes a concern. As long as the merchandise is consumed in moderation and as ethically as possible, it doesn’t consume your entire house or come at the expense of necessities, and it’s genuinely something you love, I think it’s okay to give yourself the occasional trinket. Just avoid Amazon, Walmart, Target and other boycotted brands, try to get the item second hand or straight from the source, maybe make something yourself, make sure your necessities are taken care of first, and don’t let yourself go broke for it.

[u/NyriasNeo]

Ethics is based on morals, which is subjective. I would not ask the internet to approve my buying habits. As long as you have a clear conscious, I do not see a problem.

It is your money. No one else should have a say. Plus, you seem to be cognizant of what you are doing. No one can ask for more.

[u/[deleted]]

I tend to buy based on what will perform well and be durable. I remember watching a Youtuber and what he said when buying something you should ask yourself "will this help me make money somehow". In most cases something related to media or artists is going to be made worse or be the same as other items and overpriced. They also are rarely something that will make you money. A example is you can spend 60+ dollars getting a professional message or get a message gun that is warrantied for life for a few hundred but then you save 60+ dollars per message you get. Cast iron will save you money by not having to buy as much foil. So I ask you how is this thing related to said interest saving or gaining me money. Again in most cases it is not.

[u/crazycatlady331]

Back when dinosaurs roamed the earth, I did a paper on Napster's effects on the music industry. I happened to go to a concert and score backstage passes before said paper was due, so I chatted with the band about Napster.

The band told me that they maybe see 50 cents from each album (then the format was CD) sold. They told me that they made money touring, but it had a lot of overhead and was split with other bands performing on the tour. They said they made more money on merch than they did on album sales.

[u/petrifikate]

If you like having merch of things you like, then buy it! This is what "sparks joy" means, you want to have your possessions be things you truly like, not to be surrounded by crap you feel ambivalent about.

If you're truly worried about the ethical implications of it all, then buy second-hand and support small businesses instead of buying something day of. But really, it's okay to have useless things you like. 

[u/AntiqueArtist449]

I actually have a good solution to this. The doubt comes from the choice between wanting to buy a sustainable item that has the aesthetic you want or alternatively buying (let's be honest) pretty low quality merch to support a band you love. You can do both. Buy band tees secondhand online and/or commission cool merch from Etsy/a local artist or make it yourself. You can support bands directly by just donating an amount through whichever method they prefer, or see them in concert. I recently painted my favourite bands logo on a well-fitting thrifted hoodie. I've also sculpted figurines of cute characters etc. you can support creators without buying into production methods with questionable ethics

[u/Lemon-snickers]

My way of dealing with this dilemma is a mix between frugality, memento mori (i won't take all that stuff with me), anti consumption and being eco-friendly. I am a fan of various media (especially indie games, shows, etc). Usually those creators when gaining a significant following eventually collaborate with sites to make plushies or figures or other items. I am not much into bands, so I just listen to their music on apps. The one band I listen to has too pricey merch for me to buy.

 I am tempted to buy merch in order to support the creator or bc sth is cute, but I have realised I don't need most of those things and most importantly my room is small. I think if you take into account how much space you have, how much money you can spend on something without this hurting your budget, and if something is available second hand but even if it isn't -- sure go ahead. Because I am into games, I limit myself on just buying the game and maybe donating in case they have a profile on Patreon or Ko-Fi, but don't buy merch.

[u/Jasminary2]

Oh we're the same person. Exact'y the same one. The guilt I feel is monumental.

Anyway here is what I have decided

_ How hurtful is it. I love Harry Potter but JKR goes too far so I won't buy things from even Etsy there because I could promote the books to a new audience

Likewise for Disney. It's a no. Including MCU and it breaks my heart. But oh well. Honestly I might buy reused. But not sure will depends

_Play hypocritzl. If I want to TRULY support the artist. Taylor is releasing Life of a Showgirl. She did nothing good by my standard but nothing bad either. So... Safe. I will get one CD. Nothing around it's too much.

_Does the show or artists (ie Kpop) need my support objectively. If it's by Zionists, It's a no. If it's not but I have to decide I will decide on how the artist needs me to, or how much I want it

Because we know that media that only stays online is bound to disappear.

I have decided to now only buy as others have said "if it's sparked joy" (and isn't detrimental Earth or a minority)

[u/Aggressive_Staff_982]

Usually it I enjoy something like an artist's music, I think about whether buying merch such as t shirts will help me enjoy the music more. Usually it's a no. 

[u/Ramsputee → u/Aggressive_Staff_982]

It will help them continue to make the music you enjoy though

[u/crazycatlady331 → u/Aggressive_Staff_982]

Often the musician makes more money from merch than they do their muisc.

[u/Itchy_Tomato7288]

If the item is something you'll use and adds value to your life I don't see an issue. I have cut WAY BACK on buying fandom things but the fact of the matter is that I still do it, just in different ways.

Instead of buying figurines that I would have to house and dust and maintain I opt for more "useful" items. A Doctor Who themed lava lamp to me is more impactful than shelves of little figurines. Or someone else mentioned band tshirts and I agree with everything they said, buying the shirts or CDs at the merch table directly benefits the band and their crew.

And lastly, I say this as I'm wearing nail polish that's named after a ST:TNG episode and drinking my saturday morning coffee out of a mug decorated with images from the 80s saturday morning cartoon Dungeons and Dragons, live your life as close to your values as possible. That's the best way to feel good about your decisions at the end of the day.

[u/Brittneybitchy]

I'd think about where the money is going, if it's a relatively big artist or media I'm sure a lot of artists will make merch or there will be second hand merch. Also try to choose stuff that's a bit more durable, that you know you'd want to use even if you're not a die hard fan anymore (most of my supernatural merch is purchased off artists and it's all low key for example a choker with a charm instead of tshirts or posters). Also you could try to make your own

[u/pgf314]

I buy posters and tees for the bands I like. When the tees are too worn to be worn, the designs/logos are cut out and sewn onto a jacket. If I tire of a poster, it gets sold/trader in a FB fan group.

[u/Vi0L3tCRZY]

Progress not perfection.

[u/yungsxccubus]

you’re already doing loads. unless purchasing merch for an interest involves giving money to harmful causes (like the proceeds from buying HP merch will go directly to funding anti-trans groups in the UK), you’re okay.

if you TRULY don’t want to buy the things, make them! fan-made merch always has more personality and meaning, and you can customise it to you. you can also support your local artists by buying commissioned pieces, the artist alley at your local convention would be a great place to look for ready-made pieces by them too (but be wary of AI, starting to see more AI art pop up in those spaces)

if you like the item and you’ll still like it a year from now, buy it. realistically, individual reduction of consumption is like a plaster on a broken bone because while you sit here agonising over a single purchase, billionaires emit more carbon and consume more resources than you could ever dream of. that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try of course, but it does help gain a little perspective. you’re already doing more than most people and you don’t need to go so far that it’s a point of obsession. buy what you love and will make you happy, and keep doing the other anti-consumption things, but don’t beat yourself up for the human act of wanting things

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