Has the digital age (and/or industrial revolution) created a "throwaway" world?

[Deleted member 4644]

From CPUs to digital cameras, from toasters to microwaves... cell phones, cars... etc etc.

Not to mention -- people used to buy a desk or a bookshelf that was good for CENTURIES and was passed on in the family. Now Ikea stuff is considered good if it lasts 10 years.

The same goes for almost everything that is made in a factory. (ie, anything that is not ultra specialty)

Edit: Even many "luxury" items are CHEAP sh!t nowadays. Fake gold, plastic instead of metal, etc etc. You go to a "good" hotel and a lot of the fixtures were probably made with some sort of composite tin sh!t.

Now, I will be the first to admit that not all of this is bad: we get cheaper stuff faster. But a lot of it is bad yes?

 

[Schadenfroh]

convenience, mass production, lower costs, middle class

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

Bad in what way? Sure, it'd be "better" to make everything super high quality, but that's just not realistic.

 

[myusername]

I am sitting in a "Danish" style office chair that was purchased for ~100 back when these things and those backless steno stools started taking off (1988 or so). Despite the covering having finally started to wear off (in the last couple months), the construction itself, including all hinges and hydraulics, is still very solid.

OTOH, it only took me 4 months to tear the back off a similar style office chair purchased more recently. Admittedly the new one was obviously not of the same quality, though for ~$70 you would think it would last longer than 4 months.

Quality products are out there, but the buyer has to be extremely discriminating, as well as willing to pay more (any idea what $100 in 1988 dollars is today? That's an expensive chair)

 

Yes, the wal-mart nation is sickening.

 

[Wahsapa]

didnt you just answer your own question? or could atleast easy come to the proper conclusion from the information you stated

sounds like your writing an essay...

 

[Deleted member 4644]

Originally posted by: Wahsapa
didnt you just answer your own question? or could atleast easy come to the proper conclusion from the information you stated

sounds like your writing an essay...

haha nope, school doesnt start till sept 22

Another item: my grampa has tools that he has had since the 1930's and they kick ASS -- everything is solid steel construction. He has a drill from the mid 40s. All our neighbors have to borrow it for serious jobs because their plastic, portable drills dont have the juice.

 

[43st]

If you make stuff that lasts then people won't purchase as often. Our economy, based on ever increasing returns on investments, would not survive.

See sig.

 

[Ornery]

"...He has a drill from the mid 40s...."

Sorry, but electric motors have improved phenominally over what was available in the 40s. Milwaukee makes "plastic" tools able to withstand a 6' drop to concrete, and up till December 03, had a lifetime warrantee to back that up. Now it's only five years. There are quality built tools, furniture and other things available, but the average consumer is too short sighted to see the value of paying more up front. They'll happily spend far more money over time, replacing their garbage purchases over and over.

Sometimes "throw away" crap makes sense. If you're only going to use an item a couple times in your life, it might as well be disposable. Suit yourself, but that's pretty rare for me. We bought our bedroom set, living room tables and kitchen cabinets with the intent of keeping them forever. They've lasted 25 years so far, with no sign of giving up the ghost...

 

[Tab]

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