Technology – Story Quest Decoded

Consumer Chaos: Cost of Christmas

Though the Christmas music started plaguing us weeks ago in stores, it is officially holiday season. The Thanksgiving turkey is still settling in our stomachs. Family is lingering around our homes, poking into our things and prodding into our personal lives. And the sparkling advertisements have exploded across every device (along with some aggressive campaigning from Michael Bloomberg…which seems very forced).

But this Christmas is a little different…things have changed for myself and others who are tuned in to environmental issues, clashes of rampant consumerism, and the mass commercialization of just about anything. But after years of reflection and study, I have created order from chaos. Outlined before you are three primary considerations that are crucial in navigating the chaos of Christmas gift giving.

Life, Post KonMari

Last year, I engorged on the philosophy of Marie Kondo. If you haven’t heard of her, you probably still have some sanity left. She’s a Japanese cleaning consultant who sparked a revolution by publishing books on tidying clutter and how it can change your life. She compares customs in Japanese culture, engages with Buddhist influences, and encourages everyone to only keep things that bring you joy.

Books falling from towering piles. Clothes crumpled and stuffed into dark corners. Jewelry still in packages. Gifted candles covered in dust. Games still wrapped tight in their packaging. My brain reeled: TOO MUCH STUFF. So naturally I tossed off everything of value to the Goodwill and the rest in the garbage (I suppose contributing to the earth crisis…but more on that later).

How much stuff do you need? How much of it brings you actual happiness? When buying for others, consider how your present will impact them. Are you just buying something that the recipient will most likely dispose of when they return home? And most importantly, did the person ASK for the gift you are giving?

“The Earth is Dying, Yo”- Everyone

You couldn’t ignore this message if you hid under a rock. It’s impossible to escape the message that we (mankind) have killed the earth and every single individual is responsible for it. At least, that’s what we’re programmed to adhere to.

While I doubt my carbon footprint has intentionally killed the planet beneath my feet, myself–times millions– makes up a good percentage of damage to the environment. By watching how many single-use plastics I consume and how much plastic waste I produce and purchase, I have a better idea of the crisis at hand. If only the mega corporations contributing to the crisis could do the same…

Evolving from KonMari’s “throw-everything-you-own-in-the-trash phase”, I took it one step further: thinking about what I use BEFORE I buy it. If you want a fatter wallet and a more secure bank account, this is definitely the way to go. It also applies to the mass consumerism that comes with Christmas.

We are encouraged to purchase multiples of similar items without considering their future use or how disposing of them may effect the environment. Since a majority of the items we use everyday are created with plastic…you get where this is going. Plastic = bad. Lots of plastic that is discarded ends up in a landfill or the ocean or the stomach of a sperm whale. If you have kids, look at their toys. How many of them are plastic? How many are actually used? What happens when they are thrown away?

Facebook Knows What You Want. So Does Instagram. And Everything Else.

Perfectly curated advertising experiences were a gift that no one asked for. “Gee, I wish the ads I viewed are more relevant to my viewing experiences”. Someone in a boardroom must have suggested that a lonely consumer uttered these words with his last breath as his mouse hung listlessly from his arthritic hands…

Now we all must suffer the online cookies and interconnected advertisements linked with our viewing history. This has a few drawbacks for us peasants. Young social media users are increasingly unable to identify when products are being geared towards them. They also can’t differentiate between fake news and legitimate sources. This is the exact position that companies want their customers in: slightly overwhelmed and pleased with the idea that they can purchase something.

So you steer away from the ads and read an attractive article on a product that interest you. Surprise! It was an ad too! Companies pay several thousands of dollars to entice journalists to create advertisements disguised as a written piece. So…the real question is did you want that item before you saw an ad for it? Before it appeared in your feed or a smiling micro-influencer or a fond celebrity recommended it?

Another recent ad development is the rise of software created to track your eye movements. This information would be used and sold to companies in order to evaluate what ads you are viewing and why. Then probably used to berate you with more ads. The future is fun!

Long Story Short…

Will I have to dispose of this gift later, after it outgrows its use?
What kind of impact will my product make on the environment once it outlives its use?
Did I want this product before I saw an ad for it or was I possibly tricked into thinking I need it?

Think wisely about what you are purchasing and where you are purchasing it from. How is your purchasing affecting others? Will you have to do without something in order to pay for exorbitant Christmas expectations enforced by social media and television? Does everyone’s Christmas HAVE to involve Apple products? Does every child HAVE to have at least two dozen presents of assorted prices and sizes tucked aesthetically under the tree for the ‘gram?

Suggestions?

If you’ve read this far, congratulations! You haven’t felt too ashamed to finish reading. I’m not trying to shame anyone. In this day and age, we can all accept differences and rejoice in the joy that others find in their own decisions. If something in this article resonated with you, that’s great! Below are some of the things I’m personally changing this holiday season in order to help my millennial budget and the pathos associated with modern consumption.

Instead of costly, trinket-like gifts: donations to charities. Seems cheesy but hopefully the recipient will be thankful that you donated for their sake. I will be looking at a few animal organizations for smaller family gifts.
Instead of purchasing cheap Amazon gifts, make something! Handmade gifts are sweet for many people! (So cheesy to say out loud but so true…)
Instead of buying gifts at all, sponsor a child in another country or your own. I use Compassion International but there are plenty of awesome organizations out there that let you write letters to who you are sponsoring. This would be a good option if you have kids and want to teach them writing skills and about kids in other parts of the world.
Instead of excessive amounts of single-use wrapping paper, try using newspaper that can be recycled afterwards. Or try reusable gift bags. They’re not as aesthetic but it will make you feel better to know you’re not contributing to the growing pollution problem.
Instead of shopping aimlessly, try making a list of the things you need to purchase prior to actually heading out. Don’t feel compelled to go shopping just because everyone else is shopping. Save gas and stay home to play video games.
Instead of buying clothing for the guys in your life, try asking them what they want first. Men rarely wear gifted items and they will have to be donated later on (probably…just from my experience).
Instead of excessive gifting for significant others, focus on gifts that involve spending time with them. Creating memories at a museum with purchased tickets or perhaps a weekend in a nearby beach town (I live near the coast) would make a greater gift than a gaming console that will be updated in a few months.

Note: There is no sponsored content within this article. All suggestions mentioned I have personally used and enjoyed.

Want to feel stupid? You could have been reading!

When your days are filled with the tops of teenagers heads, staring down into Snapchat, something inside you dies. While I hold fond memories of hiding books under my desk during my own high school classes, these kids will barely let go of their phones long enough to say a complete sentence.

But when I get home, I realize that I am just like them. After a long day, I just want to mindlessly thumb through pictures of all my friends and family who are out traveling, having kids, etc. It doesn’t make me feel very good but it seems like the only thing to do. Play some mobile games and melt into the mind-numbing boredom of corporate advertising. Or…

Enter: The Omni Life Calculator

The Omni Life Calculator is an epic site where you can calculate a ton of different variables in your life like comparing pizza prices, a weight loss calculator, and even how long it takes to boil the perfect egg. What impressed me the most was the site’s ability to redirect the wasted time spent on social media to determine how many books you could read in a year.

I thought this feature was definitely the most intriguing. After tallying up my score, I could have read 136 books a year had I simply redirected my time wasted on social media. However, social media isn’t only a waste of time.

Not-so-social Media

The Omni Life Calculators warns of addiction to social media on their site with several helpful links. They don’t include many studies but I’ve done some of the work for you below if you need any more reasons to re-purpose your wasted time.

Social media addiction or continuous usage can lead to…

A conclusive assessment of social media would result in far more cons than pros, with many signs of social media addiction resembling the same behaviors as those who suffer from substance abuse. *sigh*

But it’s not all doom and despair with this handy calculator. The site has several useful suggestions for cutting back social media time by deleting useless apps, uninstalling frequently used social media apps and only visiting through an open browser (the Facebook app alone uses an enormous amount of storage and I have since deleted it from my phone), disabling notifications (regaining control over when you visit these sites), and calling someone instead of texting them, therefore depriving your body of that brief, addicting dopamine rush.

If you choose to follow this zen path of self-reflection through abandoning social media, I would encourage you to use that empty space to install a reading app like Kindle on your device.

Reading and Relaxing and Rest for your Brain

The prospect of reading for many people is daunting. Others may find it rejuvenating and refreshing to choose whatever you want to read whenever. While the Omni Life Calculator doesn’t explicitly encourage reading to fill in the time from social media, there are several benefits to spending your time diving into an online book or a paperback you stuff into your bag during a commute.

These benefits include…

Larger vocabularies
Better writing skills
Deeper emotional experiences
Heightened empathy
Increased intelligence in whatever subject you’re reading
Making you sound more intelligent
Increased self-esteem
Boosts your creativity
And so much more!

If you need help finding a book that you’ll like, just search for ‘books about_______________’ and fill in the subject that interests you. Can’t afford some online newer books that interest you? Check out the library. Still want to try out online reading? With Kindle, simply type in ‘free kindle classics’ and you’re bound to come across a classic work that is free now because of the copyrights.

The overall quality of your life is affected by what you spend your time doing. Scrolling through hours of social media will only make you feel worse, I promise. Try to go a few days without it and you will definitely notice a difference. Life is much too short to waste your time on something that is as damaging as social media.

This is not a sponsored post.

Is the Internet Going to Storm Area 51?

Airplane ticket to Nevada for September 20-23? Check. Duffel bag? Packed. Aluminum foil cone hat? Firmly secured. What am I packing for you may ask? Well apparently the internet has decided it would be a good idea to “attack” Area 51, over number the military guards present, and take some aliens home to play with them or something.

A Facebook event coordinated by a shitposting page (a page that is designed for specific online communities for the purpose of mockery or meme functioning) has proposed that the American every-man should band together to attack Area 51 and…free?…the aliens and expose the government’s secrets. At the time of this article, over 500k people support and plan on attending this event which could be the event of the year for those who sit at home making memes all day.

While it is supposedly a prank and hoax, the organizers are also proposing that if everyone runs as fast as and like Naruto that they can evade the military’s bullets. Good luck…I think?

Some people propose bringing the aliens home as pets or even marrying them if they look good enough (what about alien consent?). As a fan of Area 51 conspiracy theories, I’m interested in seeing how far this goes or if the government will get involved to quench the thirst of these avid alien hunters. Hopefully any attempts will be livestreamed for those who will be unable to attend.

I guess the real question is…what are you gonna name your alien?

Lites, Camera, ACTION! Nintendo introduces the new Switch Lite

A few days ago, Nintendo dropped a new console that is cheaper, lighter in weight than the Switch, and offers an alternative to the “dated” Nintendo 3DS. While Nintendo believes this will be a cheaper alternative to the pricey Switch, many Nintendo fans have expressed apprehension in dropping several hundreds of dollars more for the Lite when they already own a Switch. What can the Lite offer that would warrant the price tag?

Personally, the Nintendo Switch was a huge disappointment. While many claim it has revolutionized gaming with more playing options, multiplayer modes, and sleek controllers, I had a much different experience. The screen was too large, the controls too tiny, and the size seemed bulky and uneven. While younger audiences seemingly adore the Switch’s versatility, I’m sure parents will not be eager to drop an additional $199 for the smaller Switch Lite.

“Dedicated to handheld play…the system for gamers on the go”

The Lite is offering a handheld gaming experience which may, unfortunately, bring up the subject of the competition of mobile gaming. How can Nintendo compete with what many view as the ultimate mobile gaming device: the phone? Though I’m apprehensive, I’m curious to see how the reviews roll out for Nintendo’s new baby when it hits the market in September of this year.

Tech Meets MLM: A Relationship Made in Hell

So… there’s a person on Facebook. Or Instagram. Or a Snapchat. They’re typically in between jobs. Perhaps its a new mom who’s trying to work from home. Maybe it’s an unfortunate soul that you attended high school with who spends too much time online. Their posts look strikingly similar though. They say the same things while smiling into the camera: “join me, let me know if you would like to purchase, sign up for a free program, be a part of an exclusive group, LOSE WEIGHT!” I click through them without reading them anymore. Like old memes, I push them aside.

But after awhile, I realize that they’re everywhere. My inbox is jammed–overflowing!–with people trying to sell me makeup, hair products, services, homely crafts, joining a small business. What is going on?

MLM: Breakdown

For those who are unfamiliar with the term, multi-level marketing refers to the process of making money by selling through networking and word of mouth. According to the Federal Trade Commission:

” If the money you make is based on your sales to the public, it may be a legitimate multilevel marketing plan. If the money you make is based on the number of people you recruit and your sales to them, it’s probably not. It could be a pyramid scheme. Pyramid schemes are illegal, and the vast majority of participants lose money. “
Federal Trade Commission on Multilevel Marketing
https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0065-multilevel-marketing

Basically, if a majority of the income generated from recruiting and creating a ‘downline’ or group under a seller or ‘consultant’ instead of sale of products, it may be a pyramid scheme. While a lot of the ads you encounter may not be pyramid schemes, you should always be weary when it comes to selling things for other people. Especially when the company promises to get you quick money with nothing but your cell phone or computer, utilizing the network marketing techniques of working from home.

The Basics of MLM: Need to Know

A typically cheerful person approaches you. Offer you some overpriced products. You politely decline. They offer to help you make money with you working under them on the line. Maybe you need a small sum to get started…? $99? $500? $5000?

Your gut should tell you to run. Save your money! But for others, the unique proposition looks more like an investment. So you fork out a few hundred…or thousand. Next thing you know, you’re thousands in debt, attending conferences, maybe even cruises. Your online presence has grown. Your bank account may have too. But there never seems to be enough time.

With your family, friends. They don’t understand the business. They distance themselves from you. Your selling crew becomes a surrogate family. Your starting to get into debt. Your scared to tell your significant other about the debt. Maybe the company tells you that you have to spend money to make money. Maybe it becomes too overwhelming. Everything sounded too good to be true.

Though this may not be every MLM seller, a disturbing VICE video exposed the inner workings of one reputed MLM online clothing seller LulaRoe. The company in question offers variations of leggings, dresses, and other items. But you can’t buy them just anywhere. You have to get them from a special LulaRoe consultant who paid $5000 to get that privilege.

Other companies like Younique, Herbalife, Amway, JamBerry (now closed), Scentsy, Nu Skin and numerous others use the same strategies of coordinating chains of sellers. The people at the top get richer. The people at the bottom are doing the work. It’s not a bad strategy. If you’re at the top.

A Hellish Marriage: Armies of Influencers

With the rise of social media, the MLM scheme empire has been pumped full of steroids. Live videos of women opening clams, unpacking jewelry or clothing, or simply posing with items has enflamed the industry with those at the top becoming billionaires in some cases. Those at the bottom can feel manipulated and even exploited by their higher ups. Pressures to gain more followers, consultants, or products can harm those who have invested money (sometimes life savings) and their precious time chasing down friends to sell them beauty supplements.

Why Should I Care?

Odds are that you have encountered or will encounter someone trying to tangle you into something. With the rise of social media, people in MLMs have easy access to hundreds if not thousands of online profiles and emails in order to gain followers or those who need extra cash.

College students are especially vulnerable to the siren’s song of easy money and are willing to make small investments through purchasing a beginners kit. Instagram accounts portraying filthy rich millennials pouring champagne over sports cars while vaguely mentioning a product or company can entice even the most skeptical millennial.

The disastrous Fyre festival was one such event where Instagram influencers used their images and large amounts of followers to get participants to buy tickets to a music festival that would turn out to be giant scheme. Those who attended described hellish Mad Max style survival instead of a music festival of epic proportions. The musicians that were promised never arrived. Instead of models, there were ravenous stray dogs. And the promised luxury tents were actually flimsy emergency shelters. Though it sounds like a good time to me (practice for Survivor, anyone?), those who paid $5,000 to $250,000 weren’t so pleased.

So what does an MLM have in common with the Fyre festival? Both originated through social media and heavily followed influencers. Anyone who tries to sell you something that is too good to be true should be treated with extreme caution. Don’t be like the attendees of the Fyre festival.

If someone promises that you can pay off student debt, work your own hours, become a better you, spend more time with your family, or gain more followers, be aware that these are common manipulation tactics to entice you into purchasing beginner kits or becoming a part of someone’s “downline“. MLMs and other online scams can destroy credit, relationships, and even lives. Keep an eye out for people who rarely want to talk to you unless they’re trying to get you to purchase something. Beware even of computer ads that push the stay-at-home agenda of running your own business while working for a company. No matter what you’re told, it’s NOT your business. And maybe you will avoid becoming a cog in the machine of the 9-to-5 that you sought to escape.

NOTE: Looking up MLM related content will bring up MLM ads. Look at the formats and keep in mind that they want you to click on them if you’re interested. Be aware of your online surroundings, friends!