Yesterday I saw an interesting documentary about the planned obsolescence. The idea can be summarized by saying than most of things which surrounds us basically break because they have been engineered to break at a precise moment, as it is explained in this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2KLyYKJGk0. They showed some examples of this, such as an Epson printer that stopped working after a certain number of printings, the nylon stockings, which had to be made weaker so they broke earlier and more stocking could be sold.
Buying-throwing, buying-throwing, that was the cycle we were supposed to follow, like cows munching grass in a stable. Is that our purpose as a species? as a being? as a citizen? I find it very sad that we are not up to more important and interesting things. Christmas had just finished and as a mental diet starting after the winter binge, with a great deal of hypocrite remorse, TV showed us a maybe more clever way of thinking. Too late for some. We are all too fat, too silly, too helpless to start thinking cleverly and critically, it is not cool.
From Homo sapiens to Homo shopping; from living in the savanna to dwelling in malls. A monkey could do that.
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I've heard this (planned obsolescence) before but never with concrete studies or details. It would be interesting to watch a documentary or something that goes more in-depth into the rumors and 'conspiracy theories' I keep hearing about.
ReplyDeleteI've heard sort of 'flip side' reports as well...that certain industries have actually studied and invented products that WON'T break down for a long, long time but the ideas never see the production line because in the long run it would kill profits.
Very sad.
The idea of Perceived Obsolescence is also very intriguing.
Thanks for sharing.
Hi Barrufet! Només passava per aquí per slaudar. He llegit alguns posts però encara em falta una mica per posar-me al dia. M'encanta el de les eleccions! hehe.
ReplyDeleteUna abraçada!