I read a short story in high school about a future society where automatons had taken on the drudge work of manufacturing goods. As a result, the world was awash in consumer items. In order to keep the economy moving, laws were passed that required people to consume. Only the wealthy could afford to have nothing. The farther you were up the economic ladder, the less stuff you had.
That story was published in 1954. There’s a 1956 story by Pohl with a vaguely similar point. It’s called “Happy Birthday, Dear Jesus”. And of course there’s the 1953 novel The Space Merchants by Pohl and C. M. Kornbluth which is also anti-consumerism. This was a big theme for Pohl at the time.
There’s also a sequel story, “The Man who Ate the World”, about a fellow who grew up in grinding “poverty” and took his duty to consume so obsessively that it was straining even the robot-driven economy.
I remember one story like this but am a bit fuzzy on the details I do recall, so consider this a paraphrasing. Very obese guy, possibly rich, possibly being interviewed, in a society where robots have taken over entirely the production of all goods. The robots produce so much, however, that humanity can’t keep up. There may be mandatory consumer laws, as to amounts to be consumed and whatnot. Still, mankind can’t keep up (why production isn’t limited now escapes my memory) and robots also step up and begin consuming, such as wearing clothes until they need replacing (or even wearing an article of clothing once and then recycling it, as the consumption has now been performed as required/necessary).
The obese man is surrounded by robots probably designed to be kids’ playmates. I think his closest and smartest robot is styled as and talks like a ‘typical’ cowboy. I remember one scene fairly clearly wherein the man is eating (and eating and eating and EATING!), not because he’s hungry or gluttonous, but because it’s been drilled into him that the consumption of goods, to include food, is his absolute duty. In fact, it’s described that he continues eating until the pain in his stomach ‘rips and rips’ at him, then he pauses until the pain subsides a bit, then pulls another plate towards himself to continue eating, tears in his eyes. The cowboy robot gently suggests (can’t order humans around) that the man (Davey?) ‘might oughtin’ to slow down a mite’ (or something very similar).
In the end, despite the craziness of the above-described treadmill world, the man’s problem is that, at a very young age, his beloved teddy bear robot was taken from him. He has many, many others, but his little heart is broken and his mind is warped, as his indoctrination to ‘consume’ (use) other robots begins. I think the psychiatrist dresses up as the teddy bear in an effort to begin helping the man through therapy.
I guess I remember more than I thought, although it still seems fuzzy to me. Not sure where or when I read it, but I’m thinking Asimov’s SF magazine and very likely before the '90s.
Thanks so much for the link to “The Midas Plague.” I’ve been looking for a link to that story for YEARS. I mention it in a couple of my classes, but haven’t been able to tell students where to find it.
The Internet Speculative Fiction Database is an incredibly complete guide to where to find any science fiction, fantasy, or horror story you’re looking for.