techno clash
Recently, I visited Qatar and got to see the practices for the camel races. It was a hot dusty day and it seemed as if we could have left 2008 and traveled back in time. Until, of course, I saw one of the camel jockeys texting on his cel phone. I quickly took a photo of him and he returned the favor by taking my photo with his camera phone. Evidently, they used to use small children from South East Asia as the jockeys on these camels but ran afoul of human rights violations. Now, small robots with whips ride the camels during the actual races. These robots are remote controlled by men riding along side the camels in the beds of pickup trucks. I know this sounds like I am making it up, but that's what they do. I'll try to post my photos in the next day or two so everyone can see what I mean.
As I'm about to head to the InSEA conference in Osaka, this reminds me of the photos I've seen of women in geisha clothing talking on their cel phones. What is it about the clash of old and new that intrigues me so much? I really don't think I'm unique in this interest and it is (like so many other things) so much easier to see in other people's lives than in my own. This is coming from someone who does not own an ipod and is using the same stereo she received as a birthday present in 1988. Perhaps it's time for an upgrade, but if the old thing still works, why do I need to upgrade. I am continually infuriated by the notion of Rogers Innovation Adoption Curve. Not everyone has the time and money and desire to get new gadgets all the time. Where is the curve that compares the destruction of the environment to the adoption of new things? Where are the photos that show technological devices in working order that are in heaps in the junkyard with nickel and lithium batteries leeching into our groundwater?
Though I'm obviously a fan of technology, do not consider myself a Luddite, and certainly am intrigued with newer things, I'm not a believer in the need to have all these things. Perhaps this is a result of my protestant upbringing or my desire to have a simple life, but there is this continual message from our society that you must have and must use these newer gadgets or there is something wrong with you.
That's all the rambling for today.