I believe someone leaving the culture of consumption goes through the same stages. The elite advertise to the middle and lower class telling us to buy cars, clothes, and glamor informing us if we aspire towards it we can be rich and famous. As one begins to realize that they are being treated as debt serfs running after an illusion they begin to develop a hatred to debt, consumption and materialism. As they move towards as less materialistic lifestyle they start to realize that they have little to talk about with their friends and co workers. "What do you mean you did not watch dancing with the stars?" "What you don't have a tv!?" "Why would you sell your car to take the bus?" . As this progresses people stop asking if you want to go out as they don't want to hear about your crazy ideas. As one gets more isolated they begin to become more foreign. They walk into a grocery store and look at magazines that they once found interesting only to realize they have no idea who the people are. They also don't understand why anyone would pay the asking price for new technology when you can wait a year and get it for free. Ask anyone at this stage what they think of a mall. It is sad to walk around a mall and see people in a fog of debt and consumption. At the same time it is rather isolating to realize that you can no longer relate to them.
Hopefully one is able to find like minded individuals even if it is in book or blog form. There are many books, blogs and people past and present who have written about simplicity and offer paths to follow so you don't have to carve out your own. The next stage in breaking the cycle is where I have my problem. How can I engage (i.e. relate to people enslaved) in this world without being judgmental or opinionated and at the same time staying interested.