>Everything comes in a packet from a trusted brand who is taking are of you.

And how is this different from the present ? Everything comes non-packets ? From an untrusted brand ? That dystopian future sounds better somehow.

> Everything comes in non-packets? From an untrusted brand?

Close; bulk ingredients and reusable containers, from a minimally branded supplier to which I have no loyalty.

Even Amazon have their own "Amazon Basics" brand. When it comes to paper towels you really don't need a brand sponsored button.

I’d like an AmazonBasics button.

Depends on your present. I like to make a choice before buying things. Especially coffee.

So then you don't get the coffee button. There are a set of products where selection isn't important or where you have brand loyalty (detergent is an excellent example).

That sounds exhausting. I need my decision-making-juice[0] for more important things.

[0] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ego_depletion#Consumer_behavior

Interesting link. Suggests that presenting unnecessary choice leads to passive behaviour. I'm thinking of active choices rather than seeing a row of a dozen different identical kitchen towel brands at the supermarket. Like, what are the ethical standards of this shop, how does it treat it's suppliers, does it exploit it's workforce etc.

Every decision is important, and every time it is automated for the sake of convenience is a little bit of disenfranchisement.

Again, it depends what you consider important. Purchasing decisions arguably dictate much transnational economic concerns. For example palm oil, the fair trade movement. As a global citizen I would say that was well spent decision juice.

I'm sitting higher up on my high horse than I started, but discussions tend to polarise / crystallize views!

My thoughts exactly. This video did not make me want the dash button. It made me want to re-think my existence.

Most supposedly anti-consumerism arguments I hear imply we should devote more attention to our purchases.

But, if you want an identity that isn't based on consumerism, it seems we should devote less attention to your purchases rather than more.

Honestly, I don't care about toilet paper. If I can hit a button and move on with the rest of my life, that seems better than spending time shopping for it.

Except this is literally FOR consumables. Like, detergent and toilet paper and things that get used up quickly.

If the physical button was free, I wouldn't mind having a few of these to just press when I need some more of something like that. Remembering to write it on a list and bring it with you to the store and pick it up is a bit of a hassle.

This could be pretty handy to have.

It also makes sure you don't question your consumption habits, shop around for better deals or look at the competition.

I already don't question my habits for paper towels or laundry detergent. I buy the same ones every time because it works and it's not worth optimizing the $20 of paper towels or detergent I'll buy every 6 months.

Maybe you're right about those particular things (but maybe in a dystopian future you would because the interference with competition drove the price up into local maxima).

Seriously though, do I question my habits when buying food, drinks and coffee. This video is saying "you can lock yourself into a cycle of dependence on this one brand of coffee and this one brand of water and this one brand of cheap unhealthy ready-made packaged food".

Either you find that unpalatable in principle or you don't. It's probably a cultural thing.

Why all of this talk about a dystopian future? I can choose to refill on a particular brand of paper towels without giving up my right to choose what I eat. This entire thread is full of absurdity.

The conversation started about consumables like laundry detergent and paper towels, not food and drinks. So I'm not sure why food and drinks came up, and then why the further jump to "unhealthy" food and drinks.

Personally, I buy the same stuff over and over because it doesn't matter. I don't want to spend time worrying about things that don't matter.

No point dragging this out. But this conversation started with a video about how you can order things including food (e.g. microwave ready made food) and drinks (coffee and bottled water).

> question your consumption habits

"Maybe I can go without wiping my ass this time?"

"Maybe I'll give this new paper that has lower environmental impact a go this time."

What if I know what kind I like and don't want to change that? I don't see why you think it's such a bad idea for people who know what they like and want to make their lives easier with a little button. You don't have to get one, but don't try to make people who want one out to be mindless consumer drones.

I'm not commenting on the people who want to use the service, I'm commenting on the video which is unashamedly monoculture big-business. If they'd included a custom button for organic honey from the local local yoghurt-weaver I wouldn't feel quite so negative...

I would feel guilty using a button like this. I mean, do I seriously lack the time and/or willpower to go to the store and pick up my own groceries? Thanks Amazon, but I got this.

Our parents' generation felt guilty about buying a dishwasher. It'll pass.

> I mean, do I seriously lack the time and/or willpower to go to the store and pick up my own groceries?

I think it's more for refilling things you commonly use without needing to worry about them. I can't tell you how many times I've forgotten things like detergent when we were low or out but pressing a button when I notice it's out right after I use it? That's really low friction. It's not a half bad idea in my opinion.

Between Google Shopping Express, Instacart, and Amazon Fresh, yes, I'd say there are tons of people who lack the time and/or willpower to do their own groceries.

Why don't you grow your own food?

you could have a shortcut with a nice icon on your phone, it would be mostly the same I think.

Except your kids won't spam that on your phone, like they would with a physical button.

The dystopian future is when China does a DDoS on our washers and we've forgotten how to shop, so end up wearing the same laundry week after week. D=

Or you can't reorder until you sit through a 30-second Tide commercial first.

So you clean your clothes in the stream out back using a washboard and lye you made from white ash?

"The dream of the 1890's is alive in Portland..."

You'd have to be out of your fucking mind to touch the rivers in Portland, much less wash your clothing in them.

I swear, mutants under the overpasses...

No, I'd make informed purchasing decisions and question them.

Then again, I doubt my current preferred brand[0] would be available with a branded button.

[0] http://uk.ecover.com/en/products/laundry/

Why wouldn't it have a branded button? Amazon carries it right now: http://www.amazon.com/Ecover-Laundry-Liquid-Fluid-Ounce/dp/B...

Did we see the same video? Those were all megabrands, probably all manufactured by a small number of Unilever-type companies. (Of course amazon carries it, they carry everything.)

what isn't to love about this, oh look i'm running out of bog roll so I push the button ordering more....a little while later it arrives - probably the next day with 0 p & p as i have amazon prime.

I get lots of small deliveries of whatever i need an can spend less time shopping - perfect.

This is the part that bothers me most. A lot of small deliveries are convenient and all, but the cost to ship multiple small items (maybe separately) to your door has an impact.

We are currently in a single-serve consumer-focused environment and this takes it a step farther.. potentially a single item shipment environment.

Unless they batch days or a full week, I think this is a bad habit to get in.