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We
are the generation of statistics. For years, the big wigs, the
Boomers, have been saying, "In the year 2000, this many people
will be doing this, this many people will be doing that." We are
the proof. We are those stats. The 2.5 kids, so to speak.
Our
parents were bombarded with the first images of mass communication.
Through television and radio, people were forced to deal with the
fact that what they saw and heard every day was a way to sell them
something. But the people behind it all were still going on their
best estimates. Every product sold was another number in a column,
another notch on the wall. It was gathered in the hopes that one
day it would all mean something more than that. They'd conduct studies
and tests, all designed to gather information on the lives of the
people they sold their products to so they could figure out the
best way to sell it to them. They've had 50 years to get it right.
We are the first results of this culmination of sights and sounds
and we are falling in line, so to speak. Every one of us is essentially
a walking advertisement. And the products sell themselves.
Trademarks
have become so ingrained in our psyches that we need hear only a
few notes of a jingle or see the colourful swirl of a logo and we
are automatically drawn into their world, reminded of how thirsty
we really aren't or how necessary a new shirt is what we wear or
drink defines us, as people. We are whoring and de-valuing ourselves,
but in exchange we get to be a walking advertisement. But that's
okay because, hey, it's SHINY while we maintain that we have the
ultimate decision, as far as they're concerned, they've already
sold the shirt.
And
that's all that matters, right? Sadly, as they predicted, we're
doing it to ourselves. Brand new products and ingenious timesaving
devices are coming out on a six-month cycle. Most of us carry little
electronic gizmos on us at all times—pagers, phones, and watches--anything
we need to help us keep tabs on things. But every time we swipe
a card or dial our phones we add to the growing file on each and
every one of us. How do we know things aren't keeping tabs on us?
Many tout to us "the digital revolution." In the digital world,
they say, all things are possible. Just give your credit card number,
just give your address, you need not leave the comforts of your
home, everything will be there, all in good time. So will the statistic
there for those who would exploit it. Every transaction monitored,
every exchange noted. We need only register our bank accounts and
everything we need will simply arrive, deducted from our paychecks,
digital money we never see or feel.
But
how does one effect change without being crushed by the very system
that seeks to slow down all motion, all e-motion? We're becoming
so much more dependant on these "services" that we aren't really
aware of the stranglehold these same technologies have on us. Well,
hell! Strap us down to a table and plug us in…
Our
world is closing in on us. A global village experiment gone horribly
wrong. Barcodes for all of us. This is the last chance we have to
get out and enjoy ourselves free of these inevitable digital constraints
as humans, as tangible beings. So get out and live. Get out and
die. Just get out.
Copyright
© 2000 Elton Sharpe. All Rights Reserved.
Elton Sharpe is an enigma.
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