> Maybe the answer is similar to why some people stay in abusive relationships.
As someone who was in an abusive relationship for a couple years, who found himself giving everything for nothing in return and not understanding why everything sucked: I can sort of see your point. The bits and pieces are there. But it's a really, really stretched metaphor.
Abusive relationships involve deeply personal manipulation and that's why they get such a hold over you. Consumer apathy is not even close to being directly convinced by someone you love - often using your own fears against you - to stop caring about your own needs.
As someone who was in an abusive relationship for a couple years, who found himself giving everything for nothing in return and not understanding why everything sucked: I can sort of see your point. The bits and pieces are there. But it's a really, really stretched metaphor.
Abusive relationships involve deeply personal manipulation and that's why they get such a hold over you. Consumer apathy is not even close to being directly convinced by someone you love - often using your own fears against you - to stop caring about your own needs.