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Hot Wheels & Marxism
(lemm.ee)
So, I just read 2 paragraphs of theory and it’s got me wondering: is collecting Hot Wheels cars antithetical to Marxism?
It would seem that, after my reading, while saving my money ultimately removes all humanity from myself, spending my money (especially in such a manipulative and exclusivity-focused market) is also enabling the very worst of the capitalist forces I aim to stand against.
How do I win? Also: Vroooooooooooom
I've been thinking about Hot Wheels from the production side recently.
All the cars have copyright on the underside of the year they were designed. I have one I bought brand new that goes back to 1986.
You could design a car for Hot Wheels and they can keep selling it as is for 40 years. Do you see any return on that for yourself?
Also, you'd think their biggest competitor is Matchbox, but they're both owned by Mattel
Any return on it for myself? That’s an interesting question. I guess from a consumer stand point, it can have variability and also an aspect of favoritism. I think that the models copyrighted that long ago have also had dies redone and the quality and detail nudged up a bit to meet the ‘current standards’.
As for Mattel owning Matchbox, they bought it in the 90s and it’s pretty odd it wasn’t blocked by antitrust. But as it stands now, they don’t try to pit them as competing products per se. For instance, at Mattel Creations, both brands are featured in their own ‘individualized’ manner. Hot Wheels products and Matchbox are pretty distinct from each other, at least to a collector.
Fun weird note about Matchbox: Their newer cars made in Thailand have a little elephant symbol on the bottom. People think it represents their democracy(lol) and the honor of the laborers who build them. 🦾