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Responding to Mencia About "Outdated" Technology

I wasn't planning to write this, but a quick segment on Mind of Mencia made me want to say something about his piece on tonight's show. It was a rerun, of course, but I don't get to watch the show regularly, although I am a fan.

Carlos Mencia blasted some technologies he deemed as outdated and berated anyone who still uses them. I normally enjoy anything he does, having been a fan since before his currently popular show. However, I just had to say something how much I disagree with him on all but one of these technologies.

  • Corded Phones
    Yeah, I can't go without a cordless phone in a large-ish two story home, but sometimes you can't beat a five dollar phone that you can't loose between the couch cushions.
  • Nintendo 64
    Retro gaming. I don't have to say more.

  • Fax Machine
    I hate fax machines, but the gas company won't let me e-mail them forms because, like it or not, its still easier than e-mail to get from deadtree to deadtree across long distances in a few minutes.
  • Pager
    I've actually considered getting a pager instead of a cell phone. There are times you must be reachable, but must not be interupted. A device that takes away the desire to answer it, because you can't, can be a limitation from more than technology (its limitations original source) to a limitation for convinience. Technology can be a burden, and sometimes we must dial back to reclaim our lives.
  • Cassette Tape
    The one thing I'll agree on. I probably have a few tapes left laying around, but if you dont replace or migrate the content soon, they'll degrade and be lost anyway, so its time to leave them behind.
Technology moves forward at ever-quickening paces, but if we turn our back on it, we loose more than just brick-sized car phones.

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