Ramblings And Reflections

Have you ever noticed how things have become so specialized and compartmentalized?  Nothing is simple anymore.  Every pursuit (leisure or work related) has been so specialized that by the time you figure out what you want you've wasted a lot of time.

Case in point:  tennis shoes.  It used to be (please don't write me off as an old fuddy duddy) that when you went to the store to buy a pair of tennis shoes the only things you had to worry about were if they were high or low tops and what color you wanted: red, blue, black or white.

Now when you go to the sports shoe store (notice that the selection is so huge that  'tennis shoes' have to have their own store) there are literally hundreds, if not thousands to choose from.  There're walking shoes, tennis shoes, basketball shoes, running shoes, etc., etc. and each pair has little extras such as shocks, lights, reinforcements, special inserts-the list goes on and on.

Another example is electronics.  I don't have to tell you the vast selection of cell phones out there.  A side note here.  Why does cell phone service cost more than a land line?  Shouldn't it be the other way around?  After all cell phones have no wires, telephone poles (except the occasional tower) or other parts or structures associated with them.  All they have is a satellite link-up.  Why such a high cost?  Just a thought.

How about stereos or TVs?  Have you ever seen such a collection of features, accessories, functions and styles?  Cars, clothes, food, houses: ever aspect of our lives have become so complicated and multi-functional that we're loosing our ability to think.

As much as I love the Internet it has dumbed down our population.  People seldom read anymore.  Students in school use the Internet as their primary source of information for everything-too bad most of it is garbage.  Just because it's there doesn't mean it's correct-Wickipedia is a perfect example of this.  For a time anyone could put anything into Wickipedia as fact.  And people believed it.

Social networking has just the opposite effect it should.  Instead of people communicating more (Communication is more than typing words.  Real communication should be face-to-face.  Talking is only part of the equation.) they are abreviating their conversations  I have students in my high school classes that talk or text and never say anything of importance.  Making noise or forming words does not a conversation make.  Conversation also involves listening, paying attention to another person's body language and empathizing with them.  Hard to do when you text.  

In a society that prides itself on individuality we've actually becoming a nation of drones-a country of lemmings.  Wherever the popularity winds blow we follow.  Privacy is quickly disappearing.  The more people share their every move and thoughts the more information about them is floating around in the Internet for anyone to read.  Frequent a certain restaurant or go out a certain time of the week?  You've just set yourself up for burglary.  Share your personal information or highly suggestive photos?  Congratulations, decades from now when your grand children catch a photo of you half naked on an old site how will you explain it?  Political aspirations?  Be careful what you post on the Internet.  It will come back to haunt you.

I don't own a cellphone.  I know, shocking isn't it?  Why?  I don't want someone calling me whenever they want.  When I go on a long trip I buy a disposable one just in case of an emergency. Do I have a Facebook account?  Yep.  Do I share my deepest darkest secrets or my daily routine?  No way!

My point, or points, is that just because something is new, doesn't necessarily mean it's good.  Granted the Internet and certain improvements in products and services are beneficial.  But, if you've been paying any attention you'll discover our lives have not become easier.  No, just the opposite-they are far more complicated.  Instead of saving us time, many 'improvements' have cost us more.

I'm not suggesting we go back to the 'good ol' days'.  That would be foolish.  What I am recommending is that we think before we act.  Do we really need many of the things we want or have we become victims of brilliant ad campaigns?  I used to work in advertising and marketing and I tease my friends and colleagues by saying, "With the right copy and visuals I could sell you a rock and make you believe that you couldn't do without it."  Create a false need and fill that need-it's an old marketing ploy that works everytime.