So, yesterday, the I-Phone was finally launched into the UK. Cue a lot of geeky consumerism obsessed weirdness.
People lined up for hours to have the privilege of being the first Brits to get their hands on Apple's latest ubergadget. Finally, the first customers got their I-Phones and branded carry bags. What happened next was somehow hilarious and scary at the same time.
The first people who were allowed to buy their heart's desire seemed to act as if they felt their entire life had been validated by a higher power (or Steve Jobs). They held up their I-phone carrier bags as if they had been given some kind of award. Had they won the Oscar for Best Picture, discovered the Holy Grail perhaps? No, no. These dudes had done more than that. They had just spent the best part of a day waiting on line and paid £268 for an electronic device.
Frankly, I don't know what worse. The euphoric victors, holding their gadgets aloft or the crowds of eejits applauding them. Weird city, is all I can say.
Maybe Doctor Who got it wrong when they showed that people didn't want to be upgraded into cybermen. Who knows? If Apple were in charge of the conversion process, perhaps we'd all be queuing up round the block. Rapturously the crowd would be applauding those who had managed to get the upgrade.
"Liberty through consumption", is not an attractive slogan. However it's considerably easier to sneak it under the wire of our collective consciousness when it is wrapped in the mantra of "Cutting edge is cool." It all resembles a rather disgusting Orwellian package disguised by a seductive, mouth-watering wrapping of Palma ham.
There is a well known theory of society stating that when citizens have nothing left to contribute to Society then all they are left with is their ability to consume. This has always struck me as a bit harsh. Yet, if we allow others to make us feel 'valuelight' then the road ahead becomes very rocky indeed.
The I-Phone isn't even G3, anyway.
Leave a comment