Post AbOzDyIHepufcWSxpQ by edwiebe@mstdn.ca
(DIR) More posts by edwiebe@mstdn.ca
(DIR) Post #AbOzDnx076wlXcQpGa by straphanger@urbanists.social
2023-11-02T13:18:59Z
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When General Motors made fast trains!Everything you need to know about the GM Aerotrain, launched in 1955, including the story of the "Crapshooters' Special," whose maiden voyage into Vegas featured Liberace waving from the cab.https://www.trains.com/trn/railroads/history/five-mind-blowing-facts-about-the-gm-aerotrain/?utm_source=acs&utm_medium=email&utm_email=mike%40londonreconnections.com&utm_campaign=News0_TRN_231010_000000_0000000000&eid=mike%40londonreconnections.com
(DIR) Post #AbOzDp7JmEnH9uGZzE by SallyStrange@eldritch.cafe
2023-11-02T13:29:07Z
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Images in post above: 1. The aerodynamic nose of a shiny new chrome-colored locomotive, with windows high up and a red stripe down its side. A white man stands on a short wooden platform to its side and a white woman in a dress and pearls is smashing a bottle of (presumably) champagne on its front bumper as a few other men look on.2. Black & white photo of the spacious interior of a train, with ~20 white people seated, including some kids and a man about to light a woman's cigarette. A Black train attendant is putting a valise into the overhead compartment. #Alt4You #DescriptiveText #accessibility @straphanger
(DIR) Post #AbOzDqKpFVC0w5asgC by SallyStrange@eldritch.cafe
2023-11-02T13:34:42Z
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Also, wow: "Dating to the 1920s, planned obsolescence was developed by Alfred P. Sloan, GM CEO, and his associates. Many people believed that buying a car was a once-in-a-lifetime event. Such a consumer attitude dramatically slowed GM’s sales. GM’s goal was to get people to buy another new car — even if the one they had was not worn out — just to stay fashionable by driving the latest design. This is why automakers change models every year — another Sloan idea." fuck that guy @straphanger
(DIR) Post #AbOzDr3UZQvDAcUYIi by edwiebe@mstdn.ca
2023-11-02T13:59:19Z
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@SallyStrange Isn’t the actual problem that most people are fickle, selfish, vain, and, frankly, more than a bit stupid? The quote is describing fashion and culture, both of which were around long before cars.
(DIR) Post #AbOzDroHlSLtVkNvEm by SallyStrange@eldritch.cafe
2023-11-02T14:09:18Z
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@edwiebe so in 200,000 years of human history, something that was invented less than 200 years ago is probably human nature? Elaborate please
(DIR) Post #AbOzDsUpDINbdgHtXk by edwiebe@mstdn.ca
2023-11-02T14:17:16Z
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@SallyStrange Fashion, culture, vanity are only 200 years old?
(DIR) Post #AbOzDtDUXE6nsDBZAG by SallyStrange@eldritch.cafe
2023-11-02T14:19:18Z
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@edwiebe if the REAL problem is 200,000 years old then why did planned obsolescence take 199,850 years to manifest?
(DIR) Post #AbOzDtxvkZFuCEueY4 by edwiebe@mstdn.ca
2023-11-02T14:34:26Z
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@SallyStrange The car thing isn’t planned obsolescence, it’s fashion. Planned obsolescence is designing and building something with the intention that it be non-functional before it otherwise could be with a different design or material construction.
(DIR) Post #AbOzDuoObVDsoxSYKG by edwiebe@mstdn.ca
2023-11-02T14:35:57Z
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@SallyStrange selling a new car that looks different or is built differently doesn’t make the old one obsolete. It makes the old one unfashionable.
(DIR) Post #AbOzDvgHNAKBW4faJU by JessTheUnstill@infosec.exchange
2023-11-02T16:07:05Z
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Except for the fact that it does. There's no reason that cars are manufactured such that it's more economical to haul the whole thing to a junkyard rather than replace the mechanical wear components as needed. It's not like you bulldoze a house every time you need a new HVAC system or a new couch. Building cars as a whole atomic unit that are prohibitively expensive to overhaul was an intentional part of the design of them.@edwiebe @SallyStrange
(DIR) Post #AbOzDwUGNKJ6163VDs by edwiebe@mstdn.ca
2023-11-02T16:08:09Z
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@JessTheUnstill @SallyStrange There's an enormous used car market for cars that still work.Many people happily throw away kitchen cupboards that are fine to get a new look. Or they buy new clothes when they don't need them.
(DIR) Post #AbOzDxELbzAcK1cJ3Q by JessTheUnstill@infosec.exchange
2023-11-02T16:14:42Z
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Yes, but the fact that they eventually reach a point where it no longer becomes economical to repair isn't a fact of nature, it's a fact of an intentional plan by capitalists. There's no reason we couldn't have repair shops able to replace entire wear components of a car quickly, cheaply, and easily. For buyers like yourself, wouldn't you like a car that you could have a mechanic replace even an entire engine with only a couple hours of work because they're a standard unit and size, and simply bolt in place?@edwiebe @SallyStrange
(DIR) Post #AbOzDyIHepufcWSxpQ by edwiebe@mstdn.ca
2023-11-02T16:19:14Z
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@JessTheUnstill @SallyStrange Everything wears out eventually, depending on use and environment. There's always a trade-off between how much to spend when designing and building something versus how much people are willing to pay. My car was new in 2007 (Honda Fit) and is still fine. I've barely had to fix anything at all. It was a cheap car then. It was designed to last a long time. A lot of people want low cost, some want status. Manufacturers want profit.
(DIR) Post #AbOzDz6cdgBA8e1AI4 by SallyStrange@eldritch.cafe
2023-11-02T16:25:56Z
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@edwiebe @JessTheUnstill I notice that you've abandoned being wrong about the definition of "planned obsolescence" and started justifying/excusing the concept of planned obsolescence instead. Why is that?
(DIR) Post #AbOzE00HIkhMvG3c2a by edwiebe@mstdn.ca
2023-11-02T16:39:24Z
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@SallyStrange @JessTheUnstill Planned obsolescence is not the same as the difficulty of design challenges and compromises. You can't build a cheap car that lasts forever. You can't even build an expensive car that lasts forever. You build what can make you the most profit now. That means changing the look of the thing and adding fancy features. This works because enough people just want new things, even when they don't need them. This happens in many categories besides cars.
(DIR) Post #AbOzE0vLsYLtmGlC08 by Aviva_Gary@noc.social
2023-11-02T16:49:28Z
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@edwiebe @SallyStrange @JessTheUnstill True but I want to ask about the "you build what makes you the most profit now" bit. You don't think that would lead to Planned Obsolescence in cars? Or other products... why wouldn't they? Especially since there are few regs in place for stuff like this.I mean... I remember when cars and other heavy machines lasted forever (okay it just seemed like it) and these days they just don't... 🤔
(DIR) Post #AbOzE1BetvOcaqODQ0 by JessTheUnstill@infosec.exchange
2023-11-02T16:18:46Z
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Heck, you could even do the style and fashion bit - there's no requirement that the exterior design be integrated with the internal mechanics. If you have a common standardized underlying frame and mechanical parts, you could change up the look of the body panels, windows, even swap out the seats and dashboard - every year if you wanted to change to the latest color. It'd be done in an afternoon.@edwiebe @SallyStrange
(DIR) Post #AbP0BKzmtfIt777fY9 by edwiebe@mstdn.ca
2023-11-02T17:00:01Z
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@Aviva_Gary Some people are angry about capitalism, and they should be furious. However, those who profit from capitalism believe it's wonderful. Planned obsolescence is real, but not everything manufacturers do is planned obsolescence. Many manufacturing decisions are design compromises meant to lead to maximum profits. Many other decisions are just about offering something new for those who want it.
(DIR) Post #AbP3DxuVU12mFPb5UW by Aviva_Gary@noc.social
2023-11-02T17:34:24Z
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@edwiebe Well see... I want a flying car but like I don't see that need being filled in the market place...There are many "needs" too actually, especially since the companies will always prioritize money over what the customer wants (because they got "needs" too)...Which is to say sure not everyone is a dick who would but it is impossible to know since the regs are bad and there are way too many dicks who do the Planned Obsolescence... Since they only care about their needs...
(DIR) Post #AbP9h4Nl6EZaRUXad6 by SallyStrange@eldritch.cafe
2023-11-02T14:52:38Z
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@gemini6ice "Planned obsolescence is the convention of producing consumer goods that aren't built for longevity. Rather, goods are designed to become obsolete through the practice of frequent design updates, ceasing the manufacture of spare parts, or the use of materials not designed to last."https://www.treehugger.com/how-planned-obsolescence-began-4856701