Quote:
Originally Posted by filtherton
I'm with planny. In many instances, possessions exist to provide experiences. I like the experience of having a nice computer. I like the experience of driving a car. I like the experience of riding my bicycle. I like the experience of having well-designed things.
That being said, I do think that there are experiences that aren't worth the price and also that there are experiences that can't be bought.
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Strong +1 to the above, and I love this thread.
I think of stuff as vehicles to experience
Good rucksack-trolley = carry things well
Good monitor = give instant pleasure and reduced hassle when colour-correcting for printing.
Stuff = points in workflow of activity
[camera->computer->software->monitor->printer->daylight bulbs shining on print-on-wall.] = "Zenda's photography"
Good Stuff = OPTIMISE points of workflow
eg upgrade to daylight balanced bulbs.
"Zenda's Photography" becomes an 'Invisible stuff' in an existential workflow
[Go-out-walk-health-see-feel-breathe-IN -->
Process-look-at-pictures-improve-pictures IMPROVES SEEING/RESPONDING -->
Go-out-walk ETC PLUS IMPROVED SEEING/RESPONDING]=part of "Zenda's Being Flow"
Good Invisible Stuff = Optimise invisible parts of workflow
eg improve photographic skills.
Another loop:
Stuff informs experience: More lenses, you can take more things well.
Experience informs stuff: See more things, realise more lenses needed.
Lindy's response triggered off some pain in me .......
There are times when all the above is, for me, dead. She said they become 'services' which one finds oneself living to maintain. For me, it can be "Yes I can go photography and have the gear to output pictures and COULD to out to do it", or "Computer is good, it will not be a bottleneck in what I want to do ... and I am paying for the room in which I sit with it, and for the broadband etc"
....... and I have two strands of association.
One: I realise that PURPOSE needs to be there "Good car and I'm a good driver, now where do I want to go?" and "Regardless of the vehicle at my disposal, why do I want to go there in the first place?"
Two: I go Uh Oh ... and have a backstop position: I've chosen things which enhance my 'bare necessities' life as well as my 'preferred activities' - then, in a weird way of thinking, I 'can't lose' EVEN on a bad day.
Here's How: this computer monitor is 'photo process' spec, and I get a distant warm glow as I write to you, at the same time as knowing that I am not experiencing the squinting pain I used to when writing to my friends with the old monitor. My Wheeled Rucksack Trolley WOWWWW - it is storage-transport-container to die for! I have two brief 'staying away from home' periods a year, and when i do, then LUXURY. However, it is my UBER-LEET SHOPPING TROLLEY too. It's sense of 'value in my life' never fades, because it is constantly reaffirmed, as is this monitor, even though I am not using it for photography at this moment.
Another 'bad - 'I got these things' day remedy for me is to ask "OK, So what's it like is DIDN'T have these, now?", then IMMEDIATELY remind myself "I Do have them!"