okay your first mistake as a youngster was saying "I want that" instead of "I need that"! :-) JK- I had parents who saw through the hype and passed it on by making most of my "I wants"- including bikes from several gathered at the local dump (there were some great bikes assembled from three or more!) I made a game with my daughter about her "wanting" vs "needing" something. A great rule of thumb in our family is writing it down and then going back a week later and seeing how great your "need" (want) is. Short-lived most times. Funny thing is I have 3 siblings who have NEVER caught onto this and interestingly enough fell into the very thing you continue to talk about- instantly jumping on the latest band wagon because "he/she/expert said so", and pointing fingers at those who DO question, and never seeing how in the long run they will not be immune to the imposed rules? How do people from the same family grow up to have such different mindsets and ability to actually think things out? Guess we will never know...