Categories: uncategorized
Date: 11 October 2006 20:53:09
For reasons which are too complicated to explain, I found myself inside a mobile phone shop today. "Oooh, shiny," I thought. Then I got pounced on by a member of staff.
"May I ask you about your current phone and price plan?"
"Um, sure."
I told him what price plan I was on, and his face fell - it's very cheap and difficult to match but exactly what I need (lots of texts and some any time, all-network minutes).
"May I see your phone?"
I fished out my ancient-yet-perfectly serviceable Nokia and his face lit up.
"Well, if you upgraded to this plan, we could give you this shiny new phone for free!"
"But that plan costs more. And that phone's pink. And this phone works perfectly well."
"Or we could give you this shiny new phone!"
(And it was very shiny. And not pink. But still...)
"But that plan costs more. And I like my phone." (Actually, it's not a case of "like" as such. It's more a case of "but I've just found out how to make WAP work on it, please don't make me read another manual!")
"How long have you had that phone, madam?"
"About four years?" I said, doubtfully.
"Four years? I should probably send it to the Science Museum!"
"But what if someone wanted to phone me on it and it was in a display case?" I thought, but didn't say, and at that point I got rescued by the friend who I was in the shop with and we left, me fiercely hugging my poor phone in case it developed a complex about being old.
I do not understand this obsession with having the latest shiniest newest thing, Just Because. Having the latest phone because "I get automatic upgrades with my call plan." Why? Why not keep your old phone, because I bet it still works perfectly well, it just doesn't light up and go "twing!" in exactly the same way as the new one does. I have no problem with replacing them if they break, so long as the old one is disposed of sensibly, but if we are called to be stewards of God's creation, then it behooves us to step lightly on the world, not to go leaping after the latest thing because "Ooooh! Shiny!" or because someone in a suit says horrible things about a phone that's served you well for the last 4 years.
I mean, Rosamummy's 60 in a week, but I'm not trading her in for a new one. (I'd only have to read a new manual, and I haven't finished the current one yet).