Not All Things Are As They Seem At First
March 19, 2008 | In Mindset |
When I was in college, I became very interested in photography. 
For one class, I presented a series of images of ordinary things: baseball glove and ball, ceiling fan, mailbox, etc. However, the twist I put on the collection was I cut each photo into strips or puzzle shaped pieces and put them back together again slightly off. The immediate effect was like an art piece, but when you looked closer, you realized what the picture was actually of. I loved how this collection forced people to see ordinary objects in a different light.
I thought about this today when I needed to be at a temp job early and therefore needed coffee. Previously, coffee had become a drink I had occasionally because I wanted to enjoy the taste. But, this morning, I realized I was reaching for the coffee has a crutch because I hadn’t had enough sleep. While I know lots of people drink coffee for this reason, it got me thinking about how we do things, and use certain things without thinking about the real reasoning behind why we do. If we took a few moments to really think about these things, could it teach us something about ourselves?
The Hidden Message Of Coffee
As I mentioned above, I realized this morning that I turned to coffee as a quick fix for not getting enough sleep. The caffeine in the coffee is a stimulant that gives us energy, even if only temporarily. However, that’s not all coffee is. If it was just about the taste, or the stimulant boost, there wouldn’t be a Starbucks on every corner in America. In thinking about this, I realize coffee is also used for social bonding and status and to escape from an unhappy life.
Wherever I’ve worked, several people meet around the coffee machine in the mornings. They talk about what is going on in their lives, about diets, about other coworkers. The coffee is the background while the conversations can go on for many minutes. The coffee break is a socially acceptable way to converse with your coworkers. While standing at a coworker’s desk and talking for 20 minutes in frowned upon, the same 20 minutes in front of the coffee machine is perfectly acceptable. The coffee appears to be a pick me up, but is really an excuse for conversation.
In the same way, going out for coffee, like to Starbucks, has the same social bonding effect. However, going out for coffee has another social benefit - that of status. Folks don’t go for coffee to Al’s Quick Stop. No, they go for Dunkin’ Donuts, or Starbucks. McDonald’s may be on the list, but only if you are in a big hurry. It’s not about the coffee in that case, it’s about the social status. The coffee drinkers need to be seen, not just to “get their fix.” The same goes if you frequent Panera Bread. Coffee and a laptop (which I talk about below), is about being seen more so than drinking a cup off brew.
Caffeine by itself has mood boosting properties for me, and I doubt I’m the only one. But, in addition, the act of brewing, getting the mix of sweeter, and creamer just right distracts me from thinking about other things in my life. This effect is heightened if we are drinking coffee outside of the home. Starbucks or Dunkin’ Donuts coffee gives us social status that puts us in a “happy, successful” strata. The inside of a Starbucks has crisp, uniformed employees, cafe tables, paintings on the wall and a decor in soothing greens and browns. Every time I open the door, I expect to see a woman with blond hair pulled back, smart looking glasses, and a pinstripe black skirt suit like in every advertisement for anything that involves the words “women” and “career;” I’m sure you know what I mean. It’s this image of a success that we look for when we drink coffee. By the way, I’ve never seen one of these women, but this is the image surrounding coffee bars.
Behind A Laptop Screen
Laptop computers seem to be everywhere these days. Many use them as their primary computer. In today’s always on the go society, a laptop is more and more necessary. While I understand the need for having a portable computer, I wonder if we realize why we need this? A laptop represents freedom to get away and work wherever we choose, but paradoxically, it also represents our belief in always needing to be connected. And, as I mentioned above, laptops also represent a huge social status booster.
My 9 year old desktop computer ties me down to a desk in my apartment’s second bedroom. My secondhand laptop purchased from e-bay has a battery that won’t keep a charge. While it allows me to work in the living room (I’m typing on it right now), I am still tied to an outlet. As a writer, I long for the freedom to work at Panera Bread, the local library, a local park, or in the car while I’m waiting to pick up John. I don’t have this freedom to work wherever I want to. I realize there is always the “analog word processor” option (a pen and paper), I type a lot faster than I write, so this isn’t a particularly viable option. I envy those who can pick up and go wherever and can work in an environment more suited to their mood that day. I also envy their ability to get away from the same scenery of their house or office. Having a laptop computer offers freedom, not just a mobile workstation.
On the other hand, having a laptop fitted with Wi-Fi means the user can connect to the internet at any time. They have constant access to their e-mail and if they use online calendars of document managers, they can access them from anywhere. So, while they have the freedom of working where they choose, they are still tied to others. This is more the idea of a laptop being a “mobile workstation.” Business people I would think are more likely to choose this option. Laptops can be plugged into projectors for presentations at meetings and conferences. I’ve been to Panera Bread in the middle of the afternoon (OK, so I hang out there a lot, even though I don’t have a laptop that is portable) and seen 3 businessmen in suits and ties having a meeting, two laptops open in front of them.
Being seen with a laptop computer, like the businessmen I mentioned above is a social phenomenon. I admit that one of the reasons I want a laptop is so I too can been seen by others working wherever. There is a part of me that needs this validation to make my writing feel real. Thankfully, that thought is short lived, or I would have given up on writing a long time ago. However, I’m sure that this is part of the reason I see so many people using their laptops at restaurants. Hey, even McDonald’s has WiFi now. Certainly that isn’t about hanging out and eating Big Macs - it has to be about them raising their social status. I go to Panera Bread several times a week (or at least I did before cracking down on eating out) and every time I see several people with laptops. Of the dozen or so times I’ve been to McDonald’s since getting laid off, I’ve never seen anyone with a laptop. So, it’s not working for McDonald’s, but it is certainly working for Panera Bread. Offering Wi-Fi isn’t just about getting more customers, it’s also about attracting a certain type of customer which will enhance their image.
The Fun Of DVD Movies
Lately, I’ve been thinking about getting rid of some of my movies because I hardly ever watch them. However, there is a part of me that doesn’t want to let go. Part of it is the money that I’ve spent on them and some of them were gifts. I also don’t want to lose the possibility of watching them with friends, or being able to loan them to someone else who hasn’t seen them. And, I know that even if I get rid of some of the ones I already own, I’ll still add more later. There is just something about unwrapping a new movie that makes me happy.
These days, you almost have to take out a loan to afford to see a movie at the movie theater. Plasma TVs can be hung on the wall, surround sound is has become affordable for just about everyone and home improvement shows have episodes about turning basements into home theaters. The home movie has become the norm. Netflix is a name everyone recognizes (at least in the US - are they overseas?) Getting streaming movies through your computer are the edge of technology, as is Blue Ray Hi Def. DVDs are still everyone and lots of people buy them. Why do we go to these extremes? To impress. Sure, we want a better movie watching experience, but we don’t need these elaborate setups to simply watch a movie. However, it’s just not cool to watch on a 5 year old DVD player hooked up to a 26 inch TV. (Which means I’m totally not cool by the way!) If owning a large movie collection and home theater system wasn’t a social status symbol, we wouldn’t go to the trouble. It’s not just about watching a movie.
On the other hand, no one wants to watch a movie alone. We want to cuddle up with our sweetie, or invite a group of friends over for a party. We love having our house be the gathering place. But, if we only have 5 movies, it won’t take long before we are watching at someone else’s house. So, a large DVD collection gives us social bonding power. Movie nights are better at home. Women arrange potluck dinners around chick flicks. Men have the guys over for pizza, beer, and the latest action movie. Our home theaters and the DVD collections that go with them bring us closer to our friends and provide an excuse to “hang out.”
As I mentioned, everyone has heard of Netflix. Even Blockbuster is in on the at home movie delivery. At the same time, Amazon sells DVDs for cheap and you can pick up movies at the local supermarket. DVDs are everywhere and easy to choose. I get a thrill when I order the movie I’ve been looking to add to my collection. I’ve had fun picking out the movies I would rent from Netflix if I was to join, although I haven’t taken the plunge and signed up. There is just that thrill of the purchase, of the package arriving in the main. It’s a little slice of Christmas or our birthdays; a gift just for us. Lots of things that we purchase have this effect; this is the icing on the cake of what DVDs represent.
We buy to watch a movie we couldn’t afford to see at the theater. We look forward to having friends over to watch the movie and we eagerly anticipate the arrival of the package in the mail. DVDs aren’t just a plastic case with a disc inside, are they?
Photo Credits: Photo Gallery by jonfeinstein; Coffee and Sea by annia316 ღ; Starbucks Mug by rudolf_schuba; Laptop Keyboard by DeclanTM; Laptop at Panera Bread by gotbob; DVD Reflection by C.P.Storm; Home Theater Christmas by tsuacctnt
These are just 3 of the everyday items that appear to be one thing on the surface, but when investigated are so much more. I’m sure there are dozens more. If you know of any, or would like to add to my discussion, please leave me a comment below.
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Mobile phones. Clothing is probably the biggest - not a lot of it seems dedicated to keeping us appropriately warm and cool comfortably.
Ah, I didn’t think of clothing. But, perhaps the “hidden message” in clothing isn’t as hidden as with other objects? At least for women, we talk about how clothes are “sexy” or “comfy” on a regular basis.
And, mobile phones. Are there any that are just phones anymore? I mean, I see all these people with the Blackberry type phones. Might as well call that a mobile computer (not quite a laptop, but almost the same.)