I think the key thing here is that freedom is choice. I've had a number of discussions lately on the topic, and what I find a lot of people miss is the freedom to, to whatever extent, choose not to be free.
Loyalty is a personal choice. To deny me my will to be loyal to someone or something restricts my freedom to choose my own path in life. So when I say I live my life as a free man it's because I choose my own path. If someone tries to restrict me against my will, I will move past them. If I decide to set my own rules, it is my prerogative to do so.
That's the precise kind of freedom we have. While we live in the oppressive post-9/11 world, we have developed a stronger sense of personal agency.
As long as you are directing the direction of your own life, you are free. You are free to love or hate, free to listen or ignore, and free to be loyal to everyone or no one. Loyalty isn't dead or dying, expectations are.
I think that with more freedom, which I think we have/will have, we will have more choices and options which will cause us to be less loyal because we will be free to choose something better that may come. Say, for example, that you tend to buy a specific brand of vitamins, because where you live there are restrictions on other brands. If you are suddenly able to choose from many other brands which may be cheaper or organic or have better reviews, than your loyalty for the brand you bought previously will be tested.
I agree, my brand loyalty will certainly be tested, as it should. There are certain brands I doubt I'll lose my loyalty to though, particularly local ones. I have a tea supplier that I've been using for years. Her prices are reasonable, but more than anything I just like the woman who sells it. Sweet lady who really just wants to make the most of life.
Aren't most decisions that we make, based on "branding"? Beyond just purchasing loyalty, if you follow the logic then this could include most of our decisions; from what websites we frequent, to what wife we choose. The more freedom we have, the more choices we have. The more choices we have, the more competition there will be. The more competition there is, the less loyalty there will be. Competition drives up improvement, but drives down loyalty.
I would have to disagree, at least personally. The more choice I have, the more I feel I made the right one. No second guessing if I would have found something better if I had of just looked harder. I only have confidence in my decisions if they've been well tested.
Yes, there are some who prefer to be loyal even if something better comes along.
I'm like that a lot of the time. Loyalty still means something to me, though in many ways it works against my very being :P Still, I try to keep options open if something is particularly better.
I have the other problem, I am always thinking about what out there could serve my interests better. It is kind of a curse as well.