zondag 20 oktober 2013

Capitalism

Lots of people told me before the summer I needed a new mobile phone. But I am a stubborn man. I continued counting on my very first Nokia, and I paid attention - somewhere without being fully aware of it - not taking it out when other people were around to avoid their comments.

Okay, I admit, I had had other phones since the late nineties, like a BlackBerry, and more. They all proved to be less solid than the prehistoric Nokia, which was probably made in times that capitalism was not about producing phones that break after a year and a half. The old phone had fallen already a thousand times, and kept on functioning.

On the other hand, it did not look nice any more. Plus I heard about apps which make life easier. At a certain moment I turned out less stubborn than many people believed. A few months ago, I've bought myself a Samsung Galaxy. I did so together with a friend; she bought the same phone, and she took the same subscription from the same operator. Before buying, I told her that I would name my new phone Capitalism, according to the name of the system that moves us to buy things we are not sure we need.

During the weeks after, I had to call my friend a few times, as she could explain to me how to change certain settings and so on. She definitely has more talent with mobile devices.

Repetitively, I noticed myself  creating weird sentences about my phone, as sometimes I was amazed, or annoyed, or when I felt stupid having difficulties using it. I found those sentences weird, as the language mechanism did something strange: I was talking about some very concrete situations I lived with my phone, but my words were carried to the abstract level of our economic system, and maybe - I don't know - it says something about my position towards it. I have written some examples down:

- Capitalism is so much smarter than I am.

- I am just scratching the surface of Capitalism's possibilities.

- Pffff, Capitalism will never work, it takes too many evenings.

- I wonder if I master Capitalism, or if Capitalism is mastering me.

- Capitalism does not grant me a minute of peace.

- Capitalism knows all the time where I am, and what I am doing.

- Capitalism does not like me.

- At least some functions of Capitalism do make sense.

- It is so nice to spend a day without Capitalism.

- Everybody should be jealous of Capitalism.

- Capitalism applies filthy tricks to change you, if you don't pay attention to it.

- Life was easier before Capitalism, but I do like it.