In defense of the sanctimonious women's studies set || First feminist blog on the internet

This is what is wrong with America.

Vanessa

Someone showed me this thinking I would find it hilarious (which I guess I kind of do). Really, though, I find it terribly sad.

It’s like all the bad things about America rolled into one. From stupid newscasts to people buying into corporate hype (seriously, the iPhone is a pretty mediocrity, my cheapo-in-comparison Sidekick does several things it can’t) and spending amounts of money that people in most countries won’t make in a year on one item, to the woman who thought she could outsmart everyone with 100,000 dollars to the serious misogyny in the comments on Youtube, it’s all there.

This is why the terrorists hate us, folks. If the Romans had iPhones before their fall, I’m pretty sure their local newscasts would look something like this.

26 thoughts on This is what is wrong with America.

  1. If the Romans had iPhones before their fall, I’m pretty sure their local newscasts would look something like this.

    I think I see Odoacer’s on the horizon with his Blackberry. ;-P

  2. Wow, I saw that coming a mile away. She seriously thought she could buy more than one? I guess she’s never stood in line for anything before. A fool and her money… soon get taken by some kid who then spends it all for “iPhone accessories.” sigh…

    I have to say I’m excited by the multi-touch interface, mostly for interactive design reasons. And maybe the accelerometer, and the fact that it’s taking mere days for hackers to figure out how to unlock the device so that other software can be put on it to hopefully play with those sensors and make new, creative, unusual digital interfaces. Other than that, I don’t think it’s all that interesting, and the way Apple has handled their new baby and its technology is uninspiring to say the least.

  3. While I am a big fan of computer and electronic gadgets, I usually do a cost-benefit analysis before actually buying the item concerned. Also learned from the bad experience of friends that it is usually not a good idea to buy a first generation computer/electronic item. It is usually a better idea to wait until most of the first generation bugs are worked out. Ironically, most of those iphone buyers are paying for the privilege of being Apple’s guinea pigs in helping them find and fix those bugs. Furthermore, the current cost/benefit ratio of the iphone seriously underwhelms me at this point.

    Unfortunately, there is nothing new about this hype. In mid-1995, I remembered people waiting in similar long lines to get the first copies of Microsoft’s Windows 95. I bet there are many other examples both from the past and recent times.

    Speaking of Romans, didn’t they stand in long lines to gain access to the gladiatorial games so they could get free bread while watching the “circuses”?

  4. It looks bogus to me. I wouldn’t be surprised to find out the whole story was fabricated to “make a story.”

  5. Thanks Vanessa, nice to see at least a few folks out there who’re questioning all the hype surrounding the iPhone. A couple of my colleagues have it, and it seems like a “cool” gadget but 600 bucks? And long lines? All that sounds retarded. And I don’t want to get started on the smart-ass woman in the video. I think Exholt (comment #3) has hit the important issues already. Media hype and geeks trying to one-up = lots of money and unnecessary fame for Apple/M$/etc.

  6. It’s disgusting how people think that the iPhone is revolutionary. It’s a smartphone, and that’s it! Not to mention that the touchscreen is more prone to be scratched, damaged, and covered in germs because it takes up the entire front of the phone. Of course, everyone flocks to it because it’s iSomething.

    I wouldn’t be surprised if it soon becomes riddled with breakdowns like the iPods. Something is terribly wrong when someone is on their third or forth player in two months.

  7. Much as I want an iPhone, getting any piece of hardware at launch is a stupid idea. This is my philosophy as a gamer, too. I only just recently purchased my 360. All those people jostling to be first in line are my beta testers. They can deal with the kinks and shortcomings. Two years from now, when and if I can afford it, I’ll be investing in a better product.

    Most of the people selling extra phones on ebay were selling them at a loss, also.

  8. Also, I don’t consider myself brand loyal and I buy very few gadgets, much as I love having them. It’s a big deal when I get a new “thing” whatever that thing is, and I invest all of my things with sentimental value. I do this to consciously avoid getting sucked into consumer culture, which bothers me on a very fundamental level.

    I update rarely and with a lot of forethought. My parents forced a cell phone on me when I moved out, but the iPhone is the first phone that’s actually inspired any interest in me. I may not even be interested in it now if I hadn’t grown to be so dependent on the one I currently have.

  9. I don’t get the point of these. My cheap cell phone and mp3 player are small enough to fit in my pockets. Why would I need them to be the same thing? That would be kind of annoying, personally. As for the internet abilities, my addiction to the web doesn’t need me being able to read my email just anywhere. I would always be online. That’s not a good thing in my opinion… Sigh.

  10. Not to mention that the touchscreen is more prone to be scratched, damaged, and covered in germs because it takes up the entire front of the phone.

    Actually, a lot of people have deliberately tried to scratch the screen, but without much luck. It seems to be a pretty tough little gadget.

    We played with one at the Apple store. Very cool, but still not worth $600.

  11. Two years from now, when and if I can afford it, I’ll be investing in a better product.

    Cola,

    That was one reason why I put off getting an mp3 player for 5 years even though all my fellow computer enthusiast friends were buying them up. It was only after my long suffering walkman died along with a substantial discount that I finally broke down and got myself one.

    Media hype and geeks trying to one-up = lots of money and unnecessary fame for Apple/M$/etc.

    AG,

    Some “Geeks” like myself love to do almost the exact opposite. Personally, I used to see how many tasks/software packages I could run on the slowest possible computer within reason. Learned a lot about computer technology this way to the point I can see through a lot of the BS put out by computer hardware and software sales PR.

    Sometimes on my long walks through various urban neighborhoods ranging from middle to upper-middle class, I would see decent desktop computers in nearly immaculate condition being put out with the trash. Up until recently, I would take them home, clean them up, test them, and find most were suitable for use for standard desktop applications. Kept some for my own computer hobbies and gave many away through craigslist. Though the mass media loves to hype about “cheap computers”, there are still a lot of people who cannot afford a desktop machine for basic office and internet applications. It pains me to see decently functional computers being taken to the trash dump when there are so many people who can put them to good use.

  12. Mrrr? I have a Sidekick and my partner has an iPhone…the only thing I can do that he can’t is IM natively, and he can do it with a beautiful little webapp instead.

    Not that I want an iPhone. For some reason, flying in the face of human nature, I’m happy with what I have.

  13. I like my razr, thanks. I hate overhyped shit, and my phone is simple and works and does what I need it to. If I want to watch movies, I’ve got a teensy DVD player.

  14. At least said gadget is functional and actually desirable. Apple has built its clientele by at least being less evil than their competition. Not to say I would buy an iPhone or stand in line for said gadget as all first-generation products are better left alone.

    I think the whole thing really underlines the attitude of feudalism we have been embracing in this country. The richer, more priveledged person comes in on the carriage and by lieu of their advantageous financial position attempts to subvert the effort of the lower classes and is shocked when the rules don’t automatically bend to suit them. I would like less news broadcasts trying to capitalize on the “gosh, aren’t geeks stupid to wait all night for dumb gadgets” and the “heh heh, aren’t women dumb bitches” and focus more on that rich attitude of entitlement. Especially since they do so many articles circling the issue. Of course, I might as well ask they report on the low amounts of competition in nearly all fields and the extra rights bestowed upon corporations over normal people.

    While I’m wishing, I want a magic pony-car.

  15. Mrrr? I have a Sidekick and my partner has an iPhone…the only thing I can do that he can’t is IM natively, and he can do it with a beautiful little webapp instead.

    Ask him to try and copy/paste any text in any application. Or customize his ringtones (seriously, no ringtones available for download? That’s like, the best part of having a cell phone!). Plus, T-Mobile’s rate plan for the Sidekick has unlimited text messages, which is a much better deal. The iPhone is much prettier than the Sidekick, and the interface is cool…but come on.

    And ditto to all who are saying it’s completely stupid to wait in line for a first generation product (not to mention a first generation product you can buy on the internet). I mean, it practically has “Two out of five chipsets failed!” written on the box.

    Or if not that, they will still be trying to get their 600 dollars worth in 8 months when Apple comes out with the smaller, fancier IPhone nano (or whatever) that has more memory and comes in 5 different colors.

  16. Ah. I sort of hate ringtones, and so does he, so that’s probably why we didn’t notice that :p

  19. Am I the only one who feels like cellphones should just be… phones? Why all the needless complication?

    I think it’s the idea that instead of buying five or six things, you can buy one thing that does it all. I mean, you can have a typewriter, a CD player, a TV, a mailbox, a calculator, a scrapbook, a memo pad, a pocket calender, etc … or just have a computer that can do ALL those things.

    Still, there should be simple things on the market too. While other women my age are buying phones because they have cameras and video-players and whatever, I just want a phone with decent reception. And they say women loooove phones. Psh.

    Anyway, as for the video … it’s not what’s wrong with America specifically, but western culture. Sure, America is a lot WORSE, but all western countries have the same problem of consumerism and bragging rights. I see footage of people elbowing through the masses during Christmas or after-year sales, and wonder what sort of madness those people suffer from.

    And I admit, the iPhone looks shiney, and I’d like to fiddle with it. Buy it? HELL no.

  20. As someone who previously* Kept Their Life On Their PDA (Just an old PALM) I toyed with the idea of getting a “converged device” that had the PDA and phone in the same piece of hardware, but the cost was always a huge barrier — and then the “converged devices” started following the same development pattern as the cell phones – announce, find sotware defects, abandon model, launch New! Improved! More Expensive! , rinse & repeat.

    *”previously* because the toddler got hold of it and it’s *still* missing around the house……

  21. Nicole, I feel the same way. My phone is internet enabled, text ready, has a camera, etc. I hate texting, I don’t get why internet is necessary on a phone, and I only ever use it to call people. I don’t need the other stuff, but the phone was free with the plan, so it’s the one I have.

  22. @Exholt:

    I’m the same way. I just get too attached to the things I have to replace them without a good reason. My current cell phone contract says I have to wait a year for a new phone, anyway, so I might as well.

    @Nicole:

    Well, I’m interested in having an all in one. I’m the rare breed of human who doesn’t care about music very much, so I never use the iPod that I stupidly bought over a year ago. But if I can do all that on one machine, without worrying about which gadget I remember to bring alone when a certain fancy strikes me, it would be worth the trouble of having such an expensive one. Now, if only I could play games on it, too, because my DS Lite doesn’t get much love, either. =(

  23. Cola,

    Interesting. I tend to use the ipod mp3 player much more than my cell phone. Been a big fan of an increasing wider variety of music since my first year in college. With the old walkman, I would need to carry several cassettes to maintain the limited variety of music needed for a bus trip or the daily commute. Now, carrying one device containing the vast majority of my music collection simplifies things. It has also made it easier to access different types of music such as from alternative rock to Chinese folk songs.

    As for all-in-one devices, I’m with several posters who would prefer to avoid the complications. 🙂

  24. It’s disgusting how people think that the iPhone is revolutionary. It’s a smartphone, and that’s it!

    I don’t even own one, but let me just say that you’re missing the aspect that has always typified Apple products. Certainly nothing they’ve ever made has ever been truly technologically revolutionary.

    It’s not like a Mac can do any more than a PC can do. Your PC almost certainly can edit video, make web pages, convert songs to mp3 and load them to a player; etc. But if all those things are too hard for you to learn to do, you’ll never do them, and that functionality might as well be non-existent.

    Sure, the iPhone doesn’t do anything that other phones don’t do, but most of those functions are simply too hard to use on other phones – so people don’t use them. If they can use them on the iPhone that’s a marked advantage in features.

    That said I’m probably going to be waiting a long time to get one- until they’re 3G, at least, and there’s a voice/data plan that doesn’t break the bank and rely on ATT’s spotty service. Mostly I want it to work as a WiFi phone, too, but do they already do that? I’m not sure. Anyway I guess I’m holding out for the iPhone Nano, or whatever – the current device seems a little big.

  25. I don’t even own one, but let me just say that you’re missing the aspect that has always typified Apple products. Certainly nothing they’ve ever made has ever been truly technologically revolutionary.

    Chet,

    While your point is largely correct over the last several years, Apple created and sold one of the first “Personal Computers” as we know them today starting in 1976. This predated the first IBM PC compatibles which first appeared in 1981. To be fair, saying “nothing they’ve ever made has ever been truly…revolutionary” is a bit too strong considering the available historical information on personal computers.

    As for the iphone, it is largely a flashy toy that underwhelms me even while many of my “Geek” friends scrambled to get one. I’ll wait to see what bugs or issues are discovered.

  26. An iPhone is far in excess of what I need. My cell phone is pretty simple: outside of calling, I can send texts and IMs, and it’s Web-capable (though it runs way too slowly). My next phone will probably have a camera on it since the free ones T-Mobile is offering when I upgrade next all have one. I don’t have an mp3 player, because I don’t have enough digital music to justify the expense, and I don’t like to walk around listening to one because it distracts me and I like to be mindful of my surroundings. I can watch DVDs on my iBook. As for a PDA, I had one once and found it wasn’t that much better than my six-ring planner. I bought the binder at a thrift store for about two dollars, and bought the FranklinCovey inserts for about 40 dollars (a bit much, but I like FranklinCovey’s designs better than any of its competitors).

Comments are currently closed.