(ed. note: I intended to make this one of my customary brief essays on a topic that had been mulling around in my head. Reading back after it was written, I think some interesting topics came up, but that it seemed more like a ramble that didn't lead anywhere. Sorry)
Only one of the very many contradictions that makes up my being, but one about which I feel the urge to speak a few words.
In high school or thereabouts, I think I would have been placed in that category of consumer that is referred to in the retail world as "The Early Adopter." My parents were around my current age during the height of what could be referred to as the "age of modern convenience," or that period of time where we erred just a bit on the side of technology. Breast milk bad-formula good. Antibiotics for everything. Crop dusting. Indeed, it was "better living through science" that quickly and decisively won us the Pacific arena of WWII and, mad scientist character in Sci-Fi movies notwithstanding, our country was more than happy to embrace a technological advance in any form. I will say that I think we, as a society, have stepped back from the brink a bit, but may be still just a little too ready to embrace those aspects of science that appease our yearning for instant gratification to the exclusion of another very important aspect of science, which is testing and long-term study.
That's getting a bit off point, however. What I'm getting to is that I personally "stepped back from the brink" sometime late in college. While I continued to build on my music collection somewhat steadily through the years, the only new technology adoptions have been a 19 inch TV (in 1996, to replace the 13 inch that died), a DVD player, and a car CD player, last year. Of course none of them necessary, but all relatively basis components of a early-21st centruy "wired" individua in the first world. I've not always succeeded, but I've striven to live the "less is more" philosophy; made more difficult because of this trait that was nurtured in me combined with working at the premier Technology Made Fun retailer in the world, but maybe a little easier with money never having flowed particularly generously into my bank account.
Moderation may really be the key, here. There are lots of possessions and clutter in all our lives that are simply not necessary. But it may well be that, even while I'm striving to make various aspects of my life and house a little simpler, a 32" letterbox-format TV and set of wireless computer speakers (for listening to my iTunes collection in various parts of the house) are important-enough reflections of my taste in lifestyle that they do justify purchase (to the extent that any luxury item in our society can "justify" such a thing) . Not that I have money for either at this particular time...
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3 comments:
I'm probably a step up the ladder as far as technology adoption goes, and some of that may have to do with having a more stable income for longer.
We have broadband internet via our cable company and run that through a wireless router. I use the laptop provided by work to access the internet at home (anywhere in the house/deck/yard I see fit - though generally in a specific spot on the main floor). This wireless capability was made a no-brainer by the incentives from Comcast and Best Buy, where I bought the router. It was more than free to add this little bit of technology, I even made money on that part of the deal, in exchange for a monthly bill for internet service.
I have the same stereo I bought in 1990 except for the cd player, which died, and always sucked anyway. The receiver looks as if I just pulled it out of the box, and runs that way too. It has the original Dolby surround, though sadly no center channel. I did replace the giant speakers I originally had with a set of satellites and a subwoofer.
DVD player was added, though relatively late in that phenomenon - they were well under $100 by the time we got one.
Computer stuff - scanners - one free, one recently bought to replace the free one. LCD monitor for Faith's computer - she uses one for her massage business - also a laptop. LCD is highly recommended.
TV - bought in 1997. 27". Will trade up for flat (probably lcd) cinema ratio tv at some point. Have a spot for it in the remodel - hung on the wall.
Portable hard drive - for music and video production. Those Mossyback files take up a shitload of sapce, along with a couple mockomentaries.
IPod since February 2005. Basically a more functional and dedicated replacement for my portable hard drive.
Digital camera, digital video camera.
Certainly plenty of technology, though still in no way keeping up with the Joneses.
Geez, you made me forget all this technology I have: cable modem internet, 6.1 megapixed digital camera, and music recording equipment. And Vonage, for crying out loud! Looks like technology has got me so bad, I can't see the forest for the trees.
Yeah - I sort of realized when I got to the end that I'm so far from living in a cave in Afghanistan that they'll never let me join the Tallibon.
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