Has
internet shopping changed our style of life? Is it one of the causes of
political discontent these days? Is
wandering without an aim or searching through a second-hand shop no longer
something that is done in our efficient, fast-paced society? If so, what have we lost, if anything?
I enjoy “mooching” just as much as Howard Jacobson describes it in his recording. I enjoy mooching off somewhere in the park, on the sidewalk or even in a shop for some prolonged time. I agree with what Jacobson argued because the whole argument is persuasive and coherent, however it felt just a little bit idealistic for my taste; a little too simple, bold. There is always something behind the door and the picture is not simply black and white. Yes, we do shop on Amazon, eBay or any other platform because we do not have time or rather we are lavished in luxury, thus we do not feel the need to go out and buy that skirt because we can simply order it and let it “arrive at our front door” as Howard mentioned. We live in a century where time is everything and disgruntlement is rising at alarming rates. You get a new iPhone, iPods, Nike shoes, get that cool fidget spinner everybody is talking about, but you always need something more, your hunger for satisfaction is never sated.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I would like to point out that this is not always the case. I, for example enjoy shopping time to time and “mooch” around not anticipating anything, not expecting anything, simply roaming through the city enjoying anything I encounter. One could argue that buying something from eBay is more convenient, but does internet buying give you experiences that you have while being outside and actually physically buying the piece of clothing? It’s not just the good feeling of experience, but also the things that accompany it. The smell, the sound, the sight of the environment, it all adds up to something more than just pressing a few buttons. Of course one cannot deny that we live in a time of technological innovation and constant adaptation is necessary whether we accept it or not, but a person needs to find a balance between “mooching” and unerring convenience.
I do agree with Tomáš and his opinion on “mooching”. From time to time, I even find myself wandering around the city, with no direct intention, just enjoying the surroundings and not thinking about having any particular purpose. Spontaneous ideas and going to random places just because you feel like it, really make the best memories. It is also true how Tomáš outlines the situation about the society having less time to shop in regular stores, simply because life is faster. However, I don’t think the reason behind the majority of people shopping online rather than in stores is the lack of time. Together with the current technological era, people generally spend more time on the internet. Online shopping comes hand in hand with this phenomenon, representing a more convenient option where you don’t have to stand in the line for 20 minutes, but simply purchase clothes via credit cards within a few seconds. Comfort is what most people seek for, and online shopping gives it to them.
DeleteTomáš’s approach towards enjoying regular shopping, mooching, and wandering around is something I couldn’t relate to more. It really gives you a different feeling, atmosphere, and even experience when you go somewhere physically. It creates memories you’re gonna remember, unlike when just browsing the internet. And the main benefit of course, is that you get to try on the clothes before you buy them and therefore spare some time with sending them back if they don’t fit.
As it is true for many things, also the destiny of mooching is dependent on various different factors. Though it is certain that the convenience of buying from home and letting packages arrive at our front door does contribute to the seemingly ever more tragic destiny of mooching, it is not necessarily only our chase after infinite comfort to be blamed. There are also absolutely justified reasons which render mooching (-in the sense when shopping) inevitably obsolete. For example, shopping online is most of the time cheaper and many websites provide detailed reviews and comparisons of products. If one wants to find what suits them best in some reasonable time, shopping online is the strategy.
ReplyDeleteOn the bright side, mooching is, and what I believe, will remain alive, as it is something natural to us. Although one could lead a complex discussion of whether Starbucks and similar corporate shops are gradually replacing "serendipitous junk shops", rewarding us with genuinely no "pots of gold at the end of our mooching rainbow", at least young people do mooch. We still go roaming through the city, visit places by chance and end up sitting in a music bar to listen to a band which no one has ever heard of. In conclusion, one can still go for a genuine mooch and even find a perfect place for it, even though these are sadly not as abundant as they used to be.
Thank you for your comment, Aďo!
DeleteUpon reading it I must say that I agree with your stance on this topic. To begin with, online shopping is probably more convenient but as you mentioned in your comment, people still have the desire to “mooch” even though they have the opportunity to shop online. Therefore, I too believe that mooching will remain alive.
On the other hand, I have listened to a podcast just recently that addressed this issue. The people mentioned that there are almost no people in the malls in the united states. Therefore the answer to whether mooching will remain alive might be uncertain.