CountryPlans Forum

Off Topic => Off Topic - Ideas, humor, inspiration => Topic started by: Windpower on November 08, 2011, 07:03:10 AM

Title: Planned Obsolescence
Post by: Windpower on November 08, 2011, 07:03:10 AM

We were just talking about how fast we go through light bulbs

these used to be common

http://www.centennialbulb.org/

enter the Phoebus Cartel

The vid starts out with a story of a failed printer

Interesting side note  -- My company used to sell an integrator with an inkjet printer -- the standard circuitry (from Hp) does indeed have a counter

on our integrator the user could reset it --- watch to the end of the video -- or just watch the first part about the failed printer then ff to the end

although the complete video is thought provoking

http://youtu.be/Y1xt4nEvipg (http://youtu.be/Y1xt4nEvipg)
Title: Re: Planned Obsolescence
Post by: Ernest T. Bass on November 08, 2011, 09:59:39 PM
Great video, thanks for posting. Not that it's really new to most people here, but it's still very eye-opening to see it all laid out like that..
Title: Re: Planned Obsolescence
Post by: carroll on November 09, 2011, 12:39:59 AM
I just watched the whole video -- please take a half an hour or so and watch it -- I'll bet everyone could learn something new from it . . . .  It's horrifying  to think that the rampant consumerism that is the "modern plague" (IMO) was planned and implemented by a secret conspiracy. 
I was raised as part of the "fix it, don't buy new stuff" population and hate shopping in general, but now I have even more reason to dislike 'shopping palaces'.  As a woman, I especially hate that we are often culturally pushed to fall into this trap of wanting the latest fashion, etc.  But clothes fashion has nothing on planned obsolescence as a terrifying concept!

I'm not a fan of conspiracy theorists, usually -- but this video makes me rethink that position -- I'm so glad that some people are fighting back . . . . 
Title: Re: Planned Obsolescence
Post by: Sassy on November 09, 2011, 12:47:50 AM
Thanks for posting, Windpower...  tried to post earlier today after watching but our service was down.

What I like about this video is that it goes through the history of manufacturing since around the turn of the last century - how well things were made & then the great idea that in order to make more money you had to make things crappy...  like lightbulbs, womens' nylons, etc. 

I liked all the video clips that were included...  I knew there was planned obsolescence but this proves it.  That was cool how the guy w/the printer finally figured out what was up & how to fix it   [cool]
Title: Re: Planned Obsolescence
Post by: waggin on November 09, 2011, 02:21:24 PM
Thanks for posting a link to an explanation of something we all suspected, well, actually know.  Started watching it, and have it saved on my playlist.