“You Still Don’t Have One?”: 30 Things We’ve All Been Brainwashed Into Wanting
In a world where advertising constantly whispers (or screams) in our ears about what we need to be happy, successful, or accepted, one Reddit user threw a thought-provoking question into the mix: “What is something people are 100% brainwashed into believing they need?”
The answers poured in, and they weren’t just about consumer goods — they peeled back layers of societal expectations, cultural conditioning, and personal insecurity. Here’s a look at some of the most upvoted and brutally honest responses.
#1
Religion. One of my favorite sayings is from a meme: “If you need the threat of hell to be a good person, then you’re just a bad person on a leash.”.
#2
Expensive weddings.
#3
The newest phone every year no matter the price.
#4
Gender Reveal…
#5
An endless stream of clothes/accessories to follow every trend. Overconsumption of clothing is a huge issue.
#6
Expensive funerals and coffins.
Just incinerate me when it’s time. I’ll be dead, I obviously won’t care. And even if I did believe in an afterlife I still don’t see why I would care as I wouldn’t be hanging around my old self.
#7
A need to sympathize with billionaires and celebrities who don’t give two s***s about us.
#8
The belief that everyone needs to have children, which, in my opinion, is a dangerous mindset since you have people who neglect their kids abuse their kids m****r there kids ect.
#9
To ruin the lives of people that are different than they are.
#10
Super white teeth. It doesn’t look weird at all.
#11
A 12 step skin care routine.
#12
Designer anything.
#13
Diamond jewelry
It can be made in labs. Chemically and atomically the exact same stuff that gets pulled out of the earth with child and slave labor. Then hoarded to artificially inflate the price. All that blood and misery just for something shiny to look at. “A wedding ring should be 3mo pay,” screw that nonsense the entire and whole way! It’s just cut and polished carbon; whoopty-f*****g-do.
#14
A new car as soon as the old car is paid off.
#15
Religion to be a good person….you need empathy.
#16
You can fix stuff. Don’t have to replace every time.
#17
Social media.
#18
A relationship. Learn to be happy on your own and things will fall into place.
#19
Fabric softener. Just more perfumes and probably micro plastics.
#20
Big trucks when not in the trades. Big SUVs for a family of 4. Etc. etc.
#21
Climbing the corporate ladder. You spend years stepping on rungs made of stress and unpaid overtime, only to realize the top floor belongs to someone else—and they just pulled the ladder up behind them.
#22
Gonna keep this light. Most people don’t NEED a shower every day. Embrace the ponytail and wear that shirt a third time before washing. The earth will thank you. But PLEASE, however funky you get, brush and floss those teeth twice a day.
#23
A gigantic fake a*s.
#24
To prove they’re right.
You don’t need to reply to every comment that denies the point you were trying to make. Your time is valuable. State your points and move on with your life.
#25
A million vitamins and supplements every day, like hundreds of dollars a month amounts.
#26
A lot of things for babies. Babies don’t need things, parents think they need things to make their lives easier.
Diaper genies are not easier and 100% more gross and that’s a hill I will die on.
#27
Grass lawns.
#28
New cars, new clothes, new rugs, new homes, new stuff.
#29
A four-year degree for jobs that pay you $18/hr and ask if you’re ‘passionate about Excel.’
#30
Keurigs. Making coffee is not that hard or time-consuming.
Saumya Ratan
Saumya is an explorer of all things beautiful, quirky, and heartwarming. With her knack for art, design, photography, fun trivia, and internet humor, she takes you on a journey through the lighter side of pop culture.
