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‘My buyer’s guilt is insane. It’s $1,300 on trash’: the adults addicted to blind box toys like Labubus (www.theguardian.com)
submitted 1 year ago by to c/aboringdystopia@lemmy.world
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[–] 87 points 1 year ago (10 children)

Wolfram Schultz demonstrated in the 80s that incorrectly predicting a reward stimulates dopamine.

It's the science or neurochemistry underlying bullshit gambling machines, gacha games, and... well... loads of things really.

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  • [–] 31 points 1 year ago (9 children)

    The sad thing is not people getting addicted. As you said, it's just neurochemistry. You wouldn't blame someone for getting addicted to cigarettes. The sad thing is that people get addicted to idiotic things by mindlessly following celebrities and influencers. "My favorite singer is smoking (carrying a labubu). It's so cool, I have do the same!".

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  • [–] 17 points 1 year ago (2 children)

    Not quite sure what you're getting at.

    Seeing someone you love addicted to something harmful is very sad.

    Being addicted to cigarettes or any substance isn't really relevant here.

    The point I was trying to make, is that these sales tactics exploit a feature hominids have developed which would have been critical for survival. In situations where a reward is uncertain (hunting) a gland in our brain releases a stimulant to help us stay focused and look for opportunities to improve the outcome.

    It's easier to avoid a trap when you know how it works.

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  • [–] 23 points 1 year ago (1 child)

    Not quite sure what you’re getting at.

    I think I'm just tired of stupid people falling in love with everything they see on social media. I know thinking for yourself is hard but never before it was so clear most people just don't think at all.

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  • [–] -1 points 1 year ago (5 children)

    Yes I do blame them for their addictions. It's amazing to me how modern young folks can just pass every ounce of blame off into some other problem.

    I have to buy the pre processed garbage and walk past the produce section that would make a 1900s king jealous.

    It's Amazons fault for selling all this shit and I just couldn't help myself.

    The la bubu people made me spend thousands of dollars buying toys.

    All of it is just excuses.

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  • [–] 24 points 1 year ago (2 children)

    There’s also a significant portion of people who are spending money on things like Labubus and other luxuries because they have no optimism for the future, and would rather just spend their money on having fun instead of saving up for retirement or a home.

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  • [–] 7 points 1 year ago (1 child)

    I meant that if you try cigarettes you will get addicted because that's just how your body works. Trying cigarettes in the first place because some celebrity told you to is totally on these people though. Sadly most people just can't think for themselves.

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