On June 29th, Apple started selling the famous iPhone, a combination of a widescreen iPod, a cellphone, a pocket Internet device and a PDA. Some much expectations, so much buzz about what it's called by many reviewers "the prototype of the future of mobile phones".
For the moment, iPhone is only available in the United States. Customers eager to be among the first to buy the long-awaited cellphone waited in long lines in front of Apple stores in New York and other cities. According to the news, some had literally camped out there for several days. It seems that Apple may have sold 200,000 IPhones over the weekend! Steve Jobs has done it again. iPhone seems to be a winner.
The most powerful companies spend great amounts of money in an absurd and manipulating publicity, in order to have people consume what they really do not need nor wish.
But does iPhone or any other piece of technology worth all the hype? Does it justify waiting for days just to get it first? Some people bribed others customers waiting in line to swap places.
Does this qualify the "lucky" buyer of a special title?
An exclusive place in our society?
Does is boost self-esteem?
The question that haunts me is whether what gives people a respectable social status is "possessing things" and having what others don't have. People often compare themselves to others based on how much they earn, how big is their house, how expensive is their cars...
Unfortunately, the consumerism mentality is spreading and becoming rooted everywhere.
We forget that basic human values are more important in life. We neglect to work on acquiring and developing what makes us really human and we often sacrifice our relationships for a beautiful (and sometimes fake) "facade"...
We look better
We have more
But is this what will make the world a better place?
I've never been against technology. At the contrary, I love it, and I have many electronic "gadgets" ;-)
But, still, I believe that we need to look more inside our hearts, seek more our deeper needs and pay attention to the others' as well.
If we do this, being part of the social and technological evolution becomes an asset.
All of what we possess should be at the service of what we are!
(hopefully, never vice-versa)
The most powerful companies spend great amounts of money in an absurd and manipulating publicity, in order to have people consume what they really do not need nor wish.
But does iPhone or any other piece of technology worth all the hype? Does it justify waiting for days just to get it first? Some people bribed others customers waiting in line to swap places.
Does this qualify the "lucky" buyer of a special title?
An exclusive place in our society?
Does is boost self-esteem?
The question that haunts me is whether what gives people a respectable social status is "possessing things" and having what others don't have. People often compare themselves to others based on how much they earn, how big is their house, how expensive is their cars...
Unfortunately, the consumerism mentality is spreading and becoming rooted everywhere.
We forget that basic human values are more important in life. We neglect to work on acquiring and developing what makes us really human and we often sacrifice our relationships for a beautiful (and sometimes fake) "facade"...
We look better
We have more
But is this what will make the world a better place?
I've never been against technology. At the contrary, I love it, and I have many electronic "gadgets" ;-)
But, still, I believe that we need to look more inside our hearts, seek more our deeper needs and pay attention to the others' as well.
If we do this, being part of the social and technological evolution becomes an asset.
All of what we possess should be at the service of what we are!
(hopefully, never vice-versa)
1 comment:
I have never heard of iPhone before, but I am familiar with the iPod, which was my dream to get it .. although making the dream come true is very easy .. but the lack of Use for iPod made me rethink of such a wish .. and kept my admiration hidden.
Actually, I have only bought the cell phone for the sake of my family. They needed a communication facility between me and them. I have changed my phone 11 times and changed my number 7 times. Changing the phone was always for a reason: either it stopped functioning well, or had received a severe blow, only the last one (that I am using nowadays) was a gift, although the previous is still working and I use it from time to time.
Changing the numbers has a different reason.
What I want to convey, is the following:
Techonolgy is becoming a need .. but when it is used not for its own usage : it becomes unnecessary and inessential. Infact, acquiring it would be a direct indulgence in the Evitable World.
But,....
Techonolgy could sometimes be a nuisance when one discovers that each Updated device paralyzes the previous one .. so, it is much needed to keep on the track of techonolgy IF ONE IS USING IT AND MAKING USE OF IT.
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I know many people who like to brag of what they have and possess. Techonolgy and modernization to them is like jewels that would adorn the body and decorate the looks .. It is with such Advanced Tools one becomes with a bespangled personality. People would fall down from such irresistable charisma.
It is absolutely Fraud.
A fake mask we like to put on in order to hide some deficiencies. There is always something we lack. Something we are ashamed of. Something we hesitate and poder much before we divulge. And that is why a Masquerade is always favored.
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I hope that my persona is not puffed up with vanity .. in the view of others .. For, there is nothing more hateful than a pompous individual who pretends to be someone, but in reality he is both hollow and superficial.
I like technology .. but in fact I am not that updated ... maybe because my usages are very limited ... or because I am more into the old ways of things .. the old habits .. the old mentality .. :) ...
Maybe I am becoming Archaic.
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