is a very dumb take (and this applies to any other example). it's like having a polluted air while you're an ecologist and you're still breathing it
being against a system does not mean that you aren't living it. if anything, it's difficult to get out of it on your own. being against capitalism is the first step towards finding a system that opposes it. and it's normal if you dont have an answer to "but what else if not capitalism??" right away
nowadays, it seems hard for individuals in this society to accept multiple facts at the same time. for instance:
- capitalism hurts,
- SO i am against its system,
- BUT i do not have an idea of substitution (yet)
- AND im still conditioned to it
these 4 points can coexist together in this reality.
we have been living under capitalism since forever, that's all we've known so it's completely NORMAL to not know what else could work right away because this requires our brains to unlearn what we have always lived under, to think outside the box.
so telling this kind of things to an average someone who's living/surviving through capitalism and who is using an iphone (that might be reconditioned, 5 years old, you never know) is pushing the individual to feel guilty over a whole system: making it seem like it's their whole responsability if they are using this iphone (or any other object of this magnitude) = unfortunately, nowadays, you can NOT live without a phone. you can not stop exploiting services and tools that capitalism make you use otherwise you wouldn't be able to live, even if you criticize them (and you actually need to continue the critics)
don't forget that as individuals, we are swimming right into this system, its organization and its economy. the corporations that are at fault: they're doing everything for you to feel blameworthy. they want you to push the whole responsability to other individuals who are just like you aka not privileged (+ who might be aware of how bad it is already), anything and anyone to blame except the ones pulling the strings.
obviously im not saying that this a free pass to run towards consumerism and buy all the new iphones every 3 months because this is not whats being said. you need to continue your efforts nd be aware of the limits. And no it's not because others want to stay fakely ignorants that this excuses anything.
this is a way to explain that no matter what you do, in this date and age, you can not deny that modern slavery won't suddenly stop existing in countries despite the phones' brands you're trying to get rid of, the clothes you are wearing whether it's thrifted or not. that this liberal economy will continue to crush society as multinationals greedily grow.
and it's with this in mind that you must act by regulating your own ways because individualistic comfort is not the solution either (it would be an illusion) while accepting that you're in a society of overconsumerism. it's a progressive process. the question is HOW and WHY do you consume, the way you do it
keep a critical and ethical perspective!!! the problem IS the systemÂ
ps: this is very messy and i think it would be way better to write abt this in depth with a proper structure (+ i already posted this on spacehey months ago lolol still lazy as hell to organize thoughts)
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finally a smart take on this topic because i’ve seen too many entitled people attack individuals who don’t fit their performative views, especially the working class who don’t have a choice. you can be against capitalism but also be an unwilling slave to it because it’s deep rooted in our societies. for example we cannot just abandon phones because these little square devices are essential for our survival: communication, job, important emails etc. we cannot not update our phones physically and both digitally because we risk being vulnerable to digital attacks.  if capitalism were to come down all at once, unfortunately all the capitalist countries would suffer an almost apocalyptic result: banks would be down, people would struggle to transport, businesses would close down, the internet would go out because we rely on companies to give us access to internet— so, while it’s possible to substitute you can’t fully live without it. they’ve made sure we are as dependent as possible. so, if anyone feels guilty, don’t. Â