|
April 28, 2005
Finding and widening gaps
Are iPods causing crime? Some people think so. .....[I]f thefts of iPods and cellphones are excluded, serious crime has actually fallen 3 percent so far this year, compared with last year, according to Michael J. Farrell, the deputy commissioner for strategic initiatives, who gave a presentation to the transportation authority's board yesterday.That's like saying that if thefts of the most frequently stolen cars are excluded, the auto theft rate would be down! Of the various inanities sputtered in the article, my favorite was this remark by an M.I.T. professor: Henry Jenkins, the director of the Comparative Media Studies Program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, described the thefts as a consequence of unequal access to technology. "The participation gap creates techno-envy, where the kids who are locked out of participation in the culture covet those tools and devices that are considered essential to being a young person," he said.I'm old enough to remember a generation gap, and who could forget the credibility gap? But a participation gap? People are being "locked out?" Hell, you can buy a new name brand mp3 player for less than $50.00 at Amazon, and the generic brands go for less than $20.00. A movie costs ten bucks in New York, Mister M.I.T. Professor, so why not just cut the gap crap, OK? I guess I should be glad they're not contemplating a total ban on what the criminals want -- as a crime prevention measure! (Don't laugh, they're already attempting it with guns.) The fact is, lots of people in lots of places hate iPods. They're are being banned in schools in Australia, in British corporate environments (although the UK military denies a ban in the armed forces), and of all things, they're apparently being targeted by Microsoft's next version of Windows! (I wonder what "gap" the latter outfit is really worrying about...) MORE: Getting his foot in the door, Justin points out that sneakers these days can cost a lot more than iPods! These Nike Air Jordans retail for around $279.00. The shoes are black, and look like an athetic shoe influenced by Science Fiction and LSD. (Note the moon-crater-like indentations, and psychedelic sole patterns....) Hell, I know no one bothers to click on these links. Here's a picture: Steal enough iPods, and maybe you could afford to buy, maybe, a left shoe... Obviously, shoes cause crime. posted by Eric on 04.28.05 at 01:13 PM
Comments
There has always been a "participation gap" (if that's what they want to call it) Not everyone can afford all the new gadgets. That's life and it's still the same when you grow up and start buying your own stuff. You learn to deal with it. Lynn S · April 28, 2005 04:53 PM When you finally grow up and have bought all that stuff and have to start disposing of what you bought 5, 10... oh hell, who am I fooling? 30 years ago, the new stuff looks less and less exciting. The only things I bought 30 years ago that still works as originally specified and is still entertaining are books. Y'all are believing 30 years, right? Donna · April 28, 2005 11:48 PM Books rule. I have to say, however, that I am having to replace the books I bought fifteen years ago, because I was largely buying paperback at that point, and they are being loved to death. B. Durbin · April 29, 2005 01:20 PM I'm told that gang kids sometimes kill each other for their expensive shoes. I'm also told that around here (Los Angeles) that a sign that a gang member was killed in a particular spot is a pair of shoes, with the laces tied together, flung over the nearest telephone wire... what a world we live in. :-( Mary in LA · April 29, 2005 01:40 PM But whether there's a "participation gap" seems to depend on who's participating -- and who's judging the "participation." Eric Scheie · April 30, 2005 09:28 AM |
|
March 2007
WORLD-WIDE CALENDAR
Search the Site
E-mail
Classics To Go
Archives
March 2007
February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 March 2004 February 2004 January 2004 December 2003 November 2003 October 2003 September 2003 August 2003 July 2003 June 2003 May 2003 May 2002 See more archives here Old (Blogspot) archives
Recent Entries
War For Profit
How trying to prevent genocide becomes genocide I Have Not Yet Begun To Fight Wind Boom Isaiah Washington, victim Hippie Shirts A cunning exercise in liberation linguistics? Sometimes unprincipled demagogues are better than principled activists PETA agrees -- with me! The high pitched squeal of small carbon footprints
Links
Site Credits
|
|
Horror of horrors, we're actually considering a purchase of sneakers for $100 for my husband. Unfortunately, there isn't a single other brand or style that gets to the same comfort level... and the ones he currently owns were part of a (successful) promotion.
Pricey, pricey shoes...