The article that refuses to wear out is a tragedy for business.
March 13, 2012 6:32 PM Subscribe
"The Lightbulb Conspiracy" is a documentary that combines investigative research and rare archive footage to trace the untold story of planned obsolescence, from its beginnings in the 1920s with a secret cartel, set up expressly to limit the life span of light bulbs, to present-day stories involving cutting edge electronics (such as the iPod) and the growing spirit of resistance amongst ordinary consumers. (56 mins. w/ subtitles)
This post was deleted for the following reason: Double. -- restless_nomad
If you can't even open the device to do something as simple as replacing the batteries, it's hard to argue it isn't planned obsolescence. Which is to say a waste and a scam.
posted by DU at 6:40 PM on March 13, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by DU at 6:40 PM on March 13, 2012 [1 favorite]
Byron was to've been manufactured by Tunsgram in Budapest....
posted by Afroblanco at 6:41 PM on March 13, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Afroblanco at 6:41 PM on March 13, 2012 [1 favorite]
Yeah, I guess it is, even though I searched for "lightbulb conspiracy." This thread is obsolete, dammit.
posted by crunchland at 6:46 PM on March 13, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by crunchland at 6:46 PM on March 13, 2012 [1 favorite]
This isn't a double it's the planned obsolescence of the previous and *inferior* version.
posted by multivalent at 6:47 PM on March 13, 2012
posted by multivalent at 6:47 PM on March 13, 2012
Oh. I see. "light bulb" as opposed to "lightbulb."
posted by crunchland at 6:47 PM on March 13, 2012
posted by crunchland at 6:47 PM on March 13, 2012
If you can't even open the device to do something as simple as replacing the filament, it's hard to argue it isn't planned obsolescence. Which is to say a waste and a scam.
posted by Pinback at 6:48 PM on March 13, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Pinback at 6:48 PM on March 13, 2012 [1 favorite]
Most people have no problem with planned obsolescence because philosophically they believe it's a good thing. We live in a disposable society. Better to use it up and buy new (and improved!) then hang on to the old forever. It's not really a conspiracy when everyone is in on it.
posted by stbalbach at 6:49 PM on March 13, 2012
posted by stbalbach at 6:49 PM on March 13, 2012
It's not really a conspiracy when everyone is in on it.
Far from everyone is in on it. And most of the (non-business) people who seem to be are only rationalizing the sour grapes. If there were a way to fix more cheaply than buy new, "most" would do that, keeping in mind that "most" people aren't rich enough to buy a new smartphone every 6 months.
posted by DU at 6:54 PM on March 13, 2012
Far from everyone is in on it. And most of the (non-business) people who seem to be are only rationalizing the sour grapes. If there were a way to fix more cheaply than buy new, "most" would do that, keeping in mind that "most" people aren't rich enough to buy a new smartphone every 6 months.
posted by DU at 6:54 PM on March 13, 2012
For whatever it's worth, there's a hilarious section about 2/3rds of the way through Gravity's Rainbow that concerns the lightbulb conspiracy — it's told from the perspective of Byron the Bulb, a seemingly immortal lightbulb who's continually on the run from Phoebus cartel agents who aim to retire him. When I found out that the cartel was actually a real thing instead of something made up by Pynchon, I believe I triple-taked.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 6:59 PM on March 13, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 6:59 PM on March 13, 2012 [2 favorites]
If there were a way to fix more cheaply than buy new, "most" would do that, keeping in mind that "most" people aren't rich enough to buy a new smartphone every 6 months.
Yeah I really don't understand what life the kind of people who line camp outside shop X waiting for the release of gadget Y are living - their phone isn't on a contract that they have to pay out? Their phones break every 6 months?
posted by Jimbob at 7:02 PM on March 13, 2012
Yeah I really don't understand what life the kind of people who line camp outside shop X waiting for the release of gadget Y are living - their phone isn't on a contract that they have to pay out? Their phones break every 6 months?
posted by Jimbob at 7:02 PM on March 13, 2012
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posted by Saxon Kane at 6:35 PM on March 13, 2012