Mirror on the Wall - Cell Phones

 

 

Daughter, "Avoiding gold earrings, but a 10,000/- cell phone in hand ...", referring to me. And to many of us. Trying for simplicity, and starting at the wrong end. At the convinient end.

A mirror is always a difficult thing to face.

Comments

• Ramanan Jagannathan

  the utility value of a 10,000 phone is much higher than a gold ring. so no comparison, 

  Aparna

  -ji. 
  • Aparna Krishnan

    Please revist kaaka muttai. The children there. And the implications of expensive cell phones. On those who then start desiring them, and have no way to attain them.

    As to the utilitarian value of expensive cell phones. Well. 
  • Ramanan Jagannathan

    Aparna Krishnan

     I meant the benefits the phone brings to you and your work. A 10K phone may have a decent camera - so you can take good photos to share with others along with good memory. Instead of being introduced as fashion accessories, if we try to educate our kids the utility value of the phones and how it helps to do our work better, may be they may have a chance to get them see it in different light . 
  • Aparna Krishnan

    This is not about the phone. The phone indicates many things.

    And the contradiction here indicates many many contradictios that we have made peace with. 
• Kavitha Nistala Gollapudi

  There is much more value to an expensive smartphone which itself is a mini computer. Of course for those who want cell phones as a show off is a diff scenario. Yes everyone desires but we are all limited in what we can buy. Simplicity and a need for phone to be utilised in the best way is not wrong. Yes if I am rooting for simplicity but yet want a 10000 Rupees saree which I am never gonna wear that's wrong. That's where our reflection on our thoughts and actions come in. Gold is an investment for future for many. Similarly an expensive cell phone which has all the features to use on go is a very handy mini computer. Else , we all would not be in connection at anytime. 
  • Aparna Krishnan

    I can live with a simpler phone. We grew up with a single landline at home in my school dayd.

    Now at home each of us has a cell phone. Across generations, I doubt productivity shows a proportional increase.

    We can do with much soul searching. 
  • Kavitha Nistala Gollapudi

    Aparna Krishnan

     true. There were days when landline and a postman were the only ones and yes agree good old ways. Over the time technology has improved - a computer was born which actually helped in a lot. I myself had a normal phone till a few years back.

    For many , they tend to buy their children as well smartphones at a very young age. For them it's prestige. There's a diff.

    There are people who use these phones and the technology available just for not the correct reasons which is when I think it becomes important to understand what's needed and what's not.

    Soul searching -- I'll leave that to my husband to think n talk as I can't in those terms  
• Sanjay Maharishi

  There's no hiding from children.

  

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  • Aparna Krishnan

    They see us very closely. And we are all grey.

    

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• Ramanan Jagannathan

  Aparna

  -ji, all of us can live with something simpler. But you wouldn't be able to help people or reach out to them the way you do now, with the old system. so there is obviously an advantage now. instead of focusing on the value of the phone in terms of the money we spend to get it , we have to look at it in terms of the value it brings. of course , not everyone does this and ends up being frugal. when adults are frugal, kids follow them - even if the wider society that is so driven by consumption wants you to consume more and more. And on deciding what one wants and needs, some people get over it after traversing the path. some people get lost in it for ever. it is not easy in today's world.