As far as propounding new ideas to save the planet here is a new one. Growing up we have all had our share of toys. It was a way to experience the unknown or pretend to be something you could only dream of. Whether it was playing house with little appliances or flying to far away lands in a pretend lego space ship. But what if we stopped making toys?
As I think that not having gadgets and toys might actually make the planet a better place. Toy mania is born out of the parents desire to distance themselves from leaking, nagging and disruptive children. So stick that ipad in front of them and problem solved.
Kids used to find something to do if their creativity was truly given free reign - I too remember hanging from trees and pretending to fly only to find out that I had landed at the bottom of the guava tree with a nail in my shin. So well - take it out - get a tetanus shot and we are back in business this time chasing dragon flies so I could tie a thread on its tail. Cost - zero dollars - Happiness - priceless.
The toy buying habits continue to adulthood for kids that grow up with the plethora of toys and lead to what is known as a consumer culture. At the end of the day all things that add no utility to life are toys. From the so called revolutionary outputs from Apple to Microsoft to Sony to Nintendo; to the car, boat and cosmetics makers churning out new goodies using a brand obsolescence strategy its all toys for young and old alike.
I mean there are now clubs dedicated to painting little toy figurines that look like some characters in a medieval period fighting with gory looking weapons and wearing fancy suits for battle. Popularity of characters like Potter and Superman have long led to a boon for such allied industries. Girls want the latest Disney doll that is born out of the business of first creating a movie character then making sure its sold in all channels and manners to unsuspecting girls and boys till their parents declare bankruptcy.
This autumn the weather gods cooperated as we took a family trip in the northeast to see six states that qualify or makeup what is known colloquially in America as New England. Mass, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut and Rhode Island (tiniest state in the union). The outing helped tally up the states we either lived in, visited or have worked in to 47. Guess which three have eluded this intrepid traveling family. Any rate the drive was all in about 1,800 miles and included some memorable geographic wonders or points of interest. Easternmost part of state of Massachusetts being one. Furthest drivable road east in Mass being another. Visit to all Ivy League schools (term harkens to a collegiate athletics conference and generally regarded as elite academic institutes of some repute worldwide) is another random bucket list item of which this trip afforded the chance to knock two more of the list. Dartmouth in Hanover, NH and Brown (and its sister institute the RISD - school f
Comments
Post a Comment