A device that should be issued to all at birth -- what's your take?
What device do you think would enhance society at large if it were issued at birth to all newborns? The PC or Mac I think is an obvious choice, so other than that, what do you think? In my own opinion? I think the iPod. I was standing in line at the bank at the bank today and the line was huge. For a bit I was feeling stressed out and impatient waiting for all the people in front of me. Then almost out of nowhere I just felt like I was being ridiculous for feeling impatient, I had my headphones on and music blaring, and just got into the music. I wonder how many other people feel this needless stress when having to wait, and what kind of potential it has for brewing violence (or at least more stress in those around the more impatient sorts). What do you think?
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10 commentsReplies
bizzy said, (229 days ago)
I agree with this. I don't own an ipod, but my phone has a built-in mp3 player and it comes in handy when I'm waiting for the bus or in line at the grocery store. I can't stand when people get fussy over long lines when it's obviously a busy time or something else completely beyond their control. Grrr! Whiners!
JasAsian v2.0 said, (229 days ago)
Well, for industrialized nations that's not a bad idea, but there's a guy who has developed a cheap, efficient flashlight/lantern that you can recharge with solar panels during the day.
For every one he sells on his website to western outdoorsmen and the like(marked-up to twice their value), he donates one to developing nations. This allows poor artisans to work after the sun goes down, allowing them to produce more without having to pay for fuel oil for lighting, thus allowing them to claw their way out of subsistence living.
Dead Air said, (229 days ago)
I have learned that I can stand in the longest lines at the grocery store. Even ones with screaming children, because of the Ipod. I am not as annoyed with long lines when I have it with me.
oimoi said, (229 days ago)
I like long bouts of waiting. They give me the opportunity to hold one of those self-destructive Socratic dialogues in my head.
The HIGHrophant said, (229 days ago)
@Jas -- I totally dig that, I often forget that not everywhere is industrialized
@Oimoi -- Creative self destruction ala Kali? Or destructive self destruction?
Tive said, (228 days ago)
I see this idea as kind of ironic. Hear me out:
I believe the reason people get pissed/stressed/impatient/possibly violent when they have to wait is due to industrialization and modern commerce. Our western service industry places a huge emphasis on getting as many people in and out of the door as possible in as short an amount of time as possible. It's to the point that we believe that almost everything should be available instantaneously or as close to instantaneously as possible.
So in order to counter this effect of modern capitalism, you're suggesting adding another product of modern capitalism. And pretty soon, we'll get pissed when our iPod takes 2 seconds to load up instead of half a second. I don't think there's any PRODUCT that can ameliorate our impatience. I think instead we need to take a breath and realize that we haven't done a damn thing to earn getting what we want the moment we want it.
The HIGHrophant said, (228 days ago)
Hrm, I dig what you're saying. My love of gadgets sometimes makes me forget they aren't going to be a solution for everything.
I am friends with a man who refuses to wait. It could be a five minute wait a restaurant and he will be all like, that's it, we're outta here. So I got him an mp3 player, which he uses, but not for waiting - which he still refuses to do. Some people are just dicks if you give them a reason to be one.