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Toxic chemicals were used during production of the components, probably leaving waste to be dealt with, toxic gases vented, etc. The components of the computer

Toxic chemicals were used during production of the components, probably leaving waste to be dealt with, toxic gases vented, etc. The components of the computer were made using minerals possibly sourced from conflict-ridden, corrupt places like Congo. Some of the minerals involved may become significantly more scarce in the foreseeable future. If you're going to incur these (ethically, if not strictly economically) non-trivial externalities of manufacturing an electronic device, the ethical thing to do, it seems to me, is to at least make an effort to use the device as it was intended for a reasonable service life, rather than destroying it in a cheap stunt in a way that renders it unlikely to be recycled in any meaningful way and impossible to cannibalize for working parts. This is especially so if your company pretends its motto is "Don't be evil". As for the marketing value for the blender firm: They could always fake it. Put a "No Cr-48 Laptops Were Harmed During Production Of This Advertisement" disclaimer up at the end. Sure, that would probably reduce interest in later ads, but frankly the whole thing is just played out now. "Wanker posts video of a gadget being destroyed as cheap stunt to draw pageviews. Yawn." They'd probably get some PR for the switch to faking it, then they could bow out of the whole tired thing.

cabalamat 16y ago
Yes, the notebook was used up for a frivolous purpose. But consider, the vast majority of game consoles are used -- and used up -- for frivolous pruposes, and over their lifetimes, they'll have used more resources (e.g. electricity). Or consider large sporting events that costs lots of money to stage and large amounts of energy for the crowd to get there. A lot of human resources are used for frivolous purposes. do you want to ban them all?
extension 16y ago
I think you overestimate the non-frivolity of proper laptop use and life in general. Beyond providing the bare essentials of survival to yourself or others, you're just playing around. Call it Serious Business if you like, but if you don't need to do it to survive then it's no more important than blending laptops to entertain the internet.

cabalamat 16y ago

Yes, the notebook was used up for a frivolous purpose. But consider, the vast majority of game consoles are used -- and used up -- for frivolous pruposes, and over their lifetimes, they'll have used more resources (e.g. electricity). Or consider large sporting events that costs lots of money to stage and large amounts of energy for the crowd to get there. A lot of human resources are used for frivolous purposes. do you want to ban them all?

extension 16y ago

I think you overestimate the non-frivolity of proper laptop use and life in general. Beyond providing the bare essentials of survival to yourself or others, you're just playing around. Call it Serious Business if you like, but if you don't need to do it to survive then it's no more important than blending laptops to entertain the internet.