3 ms·

I could not disagree more. Our "stuff" is so much better than it was before. Would you choose to drive a 1982 Chrysler La Baron versus a 2025 Toyota Prius? A

I could not disagree more. Our "stuff" is so much better than it was before. Would you choose to drive a 1982 Chrysler La Baron versus a 2025 Toyota Prius? A 2025 Prius is objectively a better car than any car in existence in the 1980s. Clothes last longer and are made more efficiently than in the 1990s which places less burden on the environment. Technology? Two devices replace a dozen 1970's devices (stereo, record player, phone, ...). Cookware is made more efficiently out of better materials. You don't need forever chemical teflon to have a non-stick pan these days.

throwaway_20357 2y ago
Do you have any insight on which kind of clothes last longer today? I thought that the rush to "fast fashion" and the shrinking budget for clothing had actually led to the opposite effect [1]. I'd also say that kitchen appliances and home entertainment devices (stereo, record player...) were often kept for decades while today's mobile phones, tablets, streamers, projectors, multi-room entertainment systems etc. are thrown out after 5-10 years because they broke down, their software does not get any updates any more or they don't support the latest and greatest standards any more. [1] https://theamag.com/9238/fashion/how-the-quality-of-clothing-has-changed-over-time/ https://theamag.com/9238/fashion/how-the-quality-of-clothing...
relaxing 2y ago
I don’t know of any clothes made to higher standards today other than boutique items made to the standards of 50 years ago. Two devices thrown out every two years, meanwhile the 70s devices are still running today. The new nonstick cookware is the same old technology we had prior to the cost-saving move to aluminum. Cars have benefited from engineering gains to be sure.
fhd2 2y ago
Can't help but go off on another tangent here, because I hate modern cars with a degree of passion. My car is 17 years old and still works fine with yearly service. It doesn't patronise me, track me or provide terrible UX because some corporate marketing person had a questionable vision. But I attribute that to enshittification. Car technology surely improved. It's just that, to me, the downsides that were introduced outweigh the advantages of newer technology.

throwaway_20357 2y ago

Do you have any insight on which kind of clothes last longer today? I thought that the rush to "fast fashion" and the shrinking budget for clothing had actually led to the opposite effect [1]. I'd also say that kitchen appliances and home entertainment devices (stereo, record player...) were often kept for decades while today's mobile phones, tablets, streamers, projectors, multi-room entertainment systems etc. are thrown out after 5-10 years because they broke down, their software does not get any updates any more or they don't support the latest and greatest standards any more. [1] https://theamag.com/9238/fashion/how-the-quality-of-clothing-has-changed-over-time/ https://theamag.com/9238/fashion/how-the-quality-of-clothing...

relaxing 2y ago

I don’t know of any clothes made to higher standards today other than boutique items made to the standards of 50 years ago. Two devices thrown out every two years, meanwhile the 70s devices are still running today. The new nonstick cookware is the same old technology we had prior to the cost-saving move to aluminum. Cars have benefited from engineering gains to be sure.

fhd2 2y ago

Can't help but go off on another tangent here, because I hate modern cars with a degree of passion. My car is 17 years old and still works fine with yearly service. It doesn't patronise me, track me or provide terrible UX because some corporate marketing person had a questionable vision. But I attribute that to enshittification. Car technology surely improved. It's just that, to me, the downsides that were introduced outweigh the advantages of newer technology.