iPoo

Following the launch of the newest iPad (is it 3, 4 or 3.62 anyway?), one cannot help but observe and conclude that we live in a dominant materialistic society. Before I start casting stones though, allow me to confess my own sins: I am a chocoholic, I check facebook frequently, I enjoy food (a lot!), i enjoy sex, I like buying new clothes (though not brands) and I cannot do without my iPhone (a couple of times I fell asleep holding it!).

However, there is a big difference between enjoying the pleasures of modern life and technology, and letting them control your whole life. We all desire these – not so cheap – products to some extent. And they are essential to us – also to some extent, depending on our line of work and how important networking is to us. In order to play the game, one has to follow the rules. Unfortunately, whether we like it or not, mobile phones, laptops, computers, iPads, smartphones are becoming a significant factor of our everyday lives. 

Think back, 20-30 years ago. How did people communicate without mobile phones? They would call each other at home – if you are not in, you don’t pick up, tough, try again. How did they find directions without smartphones? They would ask for them. Or carry a map. How did people find answers to all sorts of questions? They used encyclopedias stashed on the top shelf of their bookcase. How did they find out news of their loved ones across the world? They wrote letters to each other. So we could actually survive, without technology.

Yet, since these tools become available to us, should we not use them? Have they not brought us closer to people who live far? Have they not offered us the opportunity for increasing our general knowledge? Do they not enable us to get a task done faster and more accurate? The answer to all of the above is affirmative. However, we need to draw the line and take a step back when we realise that we are not dominating technology anymore, but that it dominates us.

I saw pictures of people sleeping outside the Apple store for days and nights (!), so that they could be the first ones to get their hands on the newest iPad version. Completely pathetic and ridiculous, if you ask me! Allow me to add here, that I have no problem with the specific brand or their products; my only problem lies with the crazy people that drop everything in their lives to queue for the latest product: their jobs, families, responsibilities, personal hygiene (I did mention they sleep out there for days, right?). Last year, a guy admitted to missing his own son’s birthday, so that he could queue outside the Apple store to buy the new iPad. I honestly hope his son grows up to resent him!

I can understand some degree of fascination and curiosity, if you are into technology and gadgets, but to sacrifice so much is unthinkable. I wonder though, who are those people that get to queue out there? First of all, they must have decent jobs and earn a good salary, in order to afford these products on their release day. But heavy salaries usually come with heavy commitments. How are they able to drop everything and take 3 days off for that reason? How do they even tell their boss, without getting fired? Then, let’s say they do get it and take it home all happy and excited like a kid who got his present for Christmas. How much of an impact is it going to have on their lives? How different is it really from the latest version? Why was it so crucial to get it now and not 2 months later?

Unless the latest version of iPad can turn back time and offer you those precious hours you wasted whilst waiting for it and marginalising your life and the lives of those around you for its sake, then you are nothing more but a fool. And whilst you have that prized toy in your hands (cause it is a toy after all), try searching on Google, how many children are dying of starvation today. Or whilst you are queuing for its next release, perhaps look to your side at the homeless man shuffling through the garbage. Maybe you could have put your money into a better use. Angry Birds looks good in the older iPad version as well.

PS. There is actually an application called “iPoo”. I will not even go into it. Have a look yourselves and draw your own conclusions.