George Carlin Talks About "Stuff"
Why Hacker News recommends it
HN keeps linking it in threads on clutter, storage units, real estate and consumerism as a perfectly apt comic take.
What it is
George Carlin's classic stand-up routine about 'stuff' and how much of life is spent accumulating and storing it, from Comic Relief 1986. It satirizes American consumerism and possessions.
Recommended by 7 HN commenters across 7 different months, 2010 to 2026.
What Hacker News said
Recommends saurabh · 2010-09 · on “Ask HN: What's the big deal with startups anyways...”
Have you noticed that their stuff is shit and your shit is stuff? - George Carlin If you have some free time, do watch this. [this video]
Recommends adolph · 2013-10 · on “How to get rid of old stuff, sell it for more, and use Amazon as cheap storage”
If you haven't seen it, a link I think worthy of a listen, George Carlin Talks About "Stuff": [this video]
Recommends cfallin · 2016-02 · on “Why I don't want stuff”
> "you don't own stuff; the stuff owns you" Reminds me of the George Carlin bit on "stuff". Brilliant commentary on the American way, as always: [this video]
Recommends rashomon · 2018-06 · on “Toys ‘R’ Us Didn’t Have to Die”
Any source on that theory? I think you have something solid there. George Carlin put it quite eloquently: [this video] We're definitely seeing a resurgence to simplicity after advertisers had performed scorched-earth on frontal cortex lobes.
Recommends twiceaday · 2018-10 · on “Microplastics found in 90 percent of table salt”
For what its worth, you are describing Carlins newer specials. His career spanned over 40 years. And yeah look at the shift in tone just from the names of his HBO specials 1977 On Location: George Carlin at USC 1978 George Carlin: Again! 1982 Carlin at Carnegie 1984 Carlin on Campus 1986 Playin' with Your Head 1988 What Am I Doing in New Jersey? 1990 Doin' It Again 1992 Jammin' in New York 1996 Back in Town ------------------------- 1999 You Are All Diseased 2001 Complaints and Grievances 2005 Life Is Worth Losing 2008 It's Bad for Ya If you are interested, check out his older stuff like Carlin on Campus. "A Place for My Stuff" [1] for example. [1] [this video]
Recommends faster · 2020-07 · on “Designing a New Old Home: Part 1”
George Carlin did a great routine on 'stuff'. [this video] "a house is ... a pile of stuff with a cover on it".
Recommends roland35 · 2024-10 · on “So thieves broke into your storage unit again”
What a story! Most people probably would just give up. Dealing with storage units is why I try to eliminate all the extra "stuff" in my life... George Carlin had a great bit on stuff: [this video]
Cites KannO · 2016-01 · on “Stop Buying Real Estate in SF”
Evolve the idea of what a home is. Elio motors is offering a small 84MPG vehicle for $6,800. 30 year old Volkswagen Westfalia Campers maintain a high resale value to this very day. Why are all mobile homes so huge? How much money do people spend on rent, leases, mortgages, and buying homes? I'm sure college students would love a compact mobile home vehicle. Developing countries would likely eat such a thing up. The CEO of Zappos lives in a trailer park of Airstream trailers and Tumbleweed tiny mobile houses with a shared kitchen, living room and other common areas designed to encourage a true neighborhood / community. Or just consider a house as infrastructure. Real estate is assumed to be l