7 Things That Shouldn’t Go Out of Style
As technology and styles progress, things inevitably get left in the dust. Here’s a short list of things being left by the wayside that deserve to be saved. Are you doing your part?
1. Backpacks
Yes- the old fashioned one or two-pocketed, two-strapped bag that you put around BOTH shoulders to take items from point A to point B. Backpacks seem to be losing popularity to messenger bags, purses, and the latest one-strap bookbags- but I can’t understand why (at least in the cases of messenger bags and one-strap bookbags). You can almost always fit more stuff in a backpack, they last forever, and they’re more comfortable to carry.
2. Handwriting
There’s a scene in the “Business School” of The Office in which Michael tells the class to write something down, and the camera turns to an auditorium full of business students tapping away some useless anecdote on their laptops. I think we’ve become much too reliable on our electronic lifestyles to appreciate the value of pen and paper. My reasoning is similar to some of my arguments for paper books vs. ebooks- pen and paper is cheap, reliable, and no company is ever going to take it away from you unexpectedly. My friends will attest that I am a big fan of handwritten letters- it’s always fun to get real mail these days. Handwriting a letter or your class notes connects you with your words on a level that typing them cannot. Typing takes speed, writing takes thought.
3. Local Business
There’s something to be said about the proliferation of big business in America and the explosion of commerce that the internet has made possible. On one hand it generally means lower prices, greater availability, and the convenience of being able to shop from one’s home. That’s fine- but chances are you live close to a local bookstore, eatery, grocery store, or other commercial center that is independently owned. Local businesses are reeling from the 1-2 punch of large “everything” stores (Amazon, Wal-mart) and the current recession. While they probably cannot compete with the prices you’ll find online, they trounce the larger vendors in the service department. Need a real person to recommend a book? Your local bookstore owner should have plenty. Want to taste a local delicacy? Don’t go to Applebee’s. You get the picture.
4. Non-electronic entertainment
Similar to the handwriting argument, I think we plug ourselves in too much when trying to entertain ourselves. I am speaking quite hypocritically here; I waste time on the internet just as much as anyone else in my free time, but I don’t forget that there are some things you can’t do with electronics. Since it’s the height of summer (at least in the northern hemisphere), get out and play a game of Ultimate. Attend a concert at your local or regional symphony orchestra. Spend a few hours and play a board game. You won’t regret it!
5. Walking
Driving has become an everyday necessity, but walking hasn’t lost its place in our lives. It’s good exercise, gives you a breath of fresh air, and offers a welcome change of pace from the otherwise busy day.
6. Film photography
I’ll be the first to admit that I think digital photography is one of the greatest mass consumer technological movements ever. The technology has advanced to the point where just a few hundred dollars buys you virtually unlimited photos provided you have the storage space. Of course the spread of digital photography has led to the dilution of the craft and the incorrect notion that “more is better.” People don’t realize that owning a DSLR means nothing if you don’t know how to use it. Film photography forces one to either spend a lot of money or gain a more intimate understanding of the variables involved in taking a memorable shot. It emphasizes quality over quantity instead of the opposite. Plus, film pictures still look better in a picture frame than digital, and film prints still hold a huge advantage in resolution over digital prints.
7. Real food
Restaurant chains, pre-packaged food, and the misconception that eating well takes more time than you have to offer are contributing to the death of “real” food. Instead of buying foods artificially enhanced with whatever nutrients or vitamins, why not just eat some broccoli? For some reason the perception is that there is no place for fresh produce in the kitchen or the restaurant. Food companies are not better than nature.
Agree/disagree? Argue with me in the comments.
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