Snobbery
We are living in the age of consumerism. And with our obsession as a society to have the newest/smallest/biggest/shiniest/blingest goods on the block comes S-N-O-B-B-E-R-Y. In my opinion, the only one who could pull it off was Veronica Lodge. Sadly, her wink of comic irony lacks in human form.
Last week I was on ONTD looking at paparazzi pics of some silly starlet (I know, I seriously need to get a life!) and said starlet was jogging whilst wearing an iPod Shuffle. I was surprised at the number of "Ewwwww" comments directed at this device - and not at the starlet's withering frame.
"Can't she afford a real iPod?" questioned one poster, while another left their comment as simply "Shuffles are gross".
Perhaps I'm being a bit defensive because I'm the proud owner of an iPod Shuffle, but I don't see what the big deal is. It plays enough songs so that I only have to change them about once a month before I get bored (I never get bored of the "Monster Mash" though); it's small and blends into my exercise routine seamlessly; and, it's simple interface makes it easy for non-techies (such as myself). What is more important in this day and age: having an mp3 player that does the job OR having the most expensive model on the market just for bragging rights? I have yet to meet someone who's had a chance to listen to all 10,000 songs on the original.
And it goes beyond this...from family members inquiring when I'm going to trade in my "old" car to get a shiny new model (I drive a 2000 Honda that is far from being scrap metal) to well-intentioned but mentally vacant beauty shop employees informing me that my naturally auburn tresses are "so yesterday" (blondes are apparently hot right now), I can't escape this unfinishable race to keep up with the Jones. A race that I refuse to join mentally or financially. I choose instead to pass hot coffee to those jogging by...or perhaps I'll drive by in my paid-in-full Civic while my undamaged locks blow in the wind. Debt-free and truly free.
Last week I was on ONTD looking at paparazzi pics of some silly starlet (I know, I seriously need to get a life!) and said starlet was jogging whilst wearing an iPod Shuffle. I was surprised at the number of "Ewwwww" comments directed at this device - and not at the starlet's withering frame.
"Can't she afford a real iPod?" questioned one poster, while another left their comment as simply "Shuffles are gross".
Perhaps I'm being a bit defensive because I'm the proud owner of an iPod Shuffle, but I don't see what the big deal is. It plays enough songs so that I only have to change them about once a month before I get bored (I never get bored of the "Monster Mash" though); it's small and blends into my exercise routine seamlessly; and, it's simple interface makes it easy for non-techies (such as myself). What is more important in this day and age: having an mp3 player that does the job OR having the most expensive model on the market just for bragging rights? I have yet to meet someone who's had a chance to listen to all 10,000 songs on the original.
And it goes beyond this...from family members inquiring when I'm going to trade in my "old" car to get a shiny new model (I drive a 2000 Honda that is far from being scrap metal) to well-intentioned but mentally vacant beauty shop employees informing me that my naturally auburn tresses are "so yesterday" (blondes are apparently hot right now), I can't escape this unfinishable race to keep up with the Jones. A race that I refuse to join mentally or financially. I choose instead to pass hot coffee to those jogging by...or perhaps I'll drive by in my paid-in-full Civic while my undamaged locks blow in the wind. Debt-free and truly free.