I am going to indulge in living in the past here, so get ready for your Luddite barbs.

A world without physical objects is a world devoid of soul.

Unlike some eastern religions and philosophies, I don't believe we are better when we rid ourselves of all worldly possessions. I believe some of those possessions define us and make us what we want to be. The photo above is an art piece I spent some time pondering over last year. I don't remember what it is called. What struck me was what it meant, without asking the artist. I like art to mean something to the individual. In this case we are confronted with a library of blank books.

What does this mean? My friend had a differing view to me. She felt it represented the modern age of digital and the death of the book and library. For purposes of this blog, books and games mean the same thing (to me). I, on the other hand, took a view that it was meant to be us, our minds. We start with nothing and now we spend a lifetime filling it.

Either way, this brings me to why I believe in the physical object. When we go digtal, this is what we have - an empty room. We have nothing to show for what we find important in our lives. I have a large library of games, over 1100. I also have a large library of books. I also have a large collection of vinyl records. I don't play all of them, I don't read all of them and I don't listen to all of them. Hell, I have Tolstoy in Russian and I can't read Russian. I like to feel, I like to smell. I like to immerse myself in what I do. I am a collector.

When we go digital, we lose a part of ourselves, a part of who we are. Sure, digital is convenient. Sometimes it is cheaper. It is better for the environment. But it is cold and sterile. It also puts people out of work. It is a completely unhuman way to live. It keeps you in your home and it avoids human contact and interaction. It is not the future I want to see.

I may be living in a quaint world and be out of touch, but it is what I want and I fear for the future many of you are racing enthusiastically towards. Support retail games. Support paper books. Support vinyl records. You will be a better you for it.

Go easy on me, clearly I live in the past. Come and join me. I am the Contrarian.

I agree, I love physical books, games, movies, everything. There's something about having that item for show, no matter what it is. Soon you'll be seeing people build LEGO sets online, lacking a proper physical representation of the object.

There's no soul anymore!!!

I'm totally on your side. Great read!

@Contrarian said:

It is a completely unhuman way to live.

@Contrarian said:

You will be a better you for (living according my standards and preferences).

You can fuck right off with that kind of nonsense.

@Soapy86 said:

@Contrarian said:

It is a completely unhuman way to live.

@Contrarian said:

You will be a better you for (living according my standards and preferences).

You can fuck right off with that kind of nonsense.

That's a bit harsh isn't it? It is just a simple and completely subjective philosophy for life, that comes from my heart. It isn't like I am seriously trying to change you or force compliance. I express what I feel.

I fear that with how quickly technology will begin to advance, a small counter-culture of tech-opposed will emerge. It took years for our grandparents to get left in the dust as technology ventured forth. Maybe someday it'll only take months if you aren't keeping up. As someone who dreads touch screens, smart phones, and the increasing ubiquity of the internet and Facebook, I believe I may be among them. And I'm twenty fucking three.

@Contrarian said:

@Soapy86 said:

@Contrarian said:

It is a completely unhuman way to live.

@Contrarian said:

You will be a better you for (living according my standards and preferences).

You can fuck right off with that kind of nonsense.

That's a bit harsh isn't it? It is just a simple and completely subjective philosophy for life, that comes from my heart. It isn't like I am seriously trying to change you or force compliance. I express what I feel.

Calling people who think digital media is preferable to physical media inhuman seems rather harsh to me.

@Soapy86: I think he meant that the medium itself is inhuman. Mechanical. Intangible. And our dependency on it begets a movement away from a certain "soul" known to humans since the dawn of our existence.

@mikeeegeee said:

I fear that with how quickly technology will begin to advance, a small counter-culture of tech-opposed will emerge. It took years for our grandparents to get left in the dust as technology ventured forth. Maybe someday it'll only take months if you aren't keeping up. As someone who dreads touch screens, smart phones, and the increasing ubiquity of the internet and Facebook, I believe I may be among them. And I'm twenty fucking three.

I actually love tech. I embrace it and buy what I believe is useful and can afford (I am the go to guy for tech at work). What I believe though is that technology should serve us, not the other way round. It should be simple and useful. It should enhance our lives, not take over. I can still leave my iPhone home and not feel that I might be missing out.

@Soapy86 said:

@Contrarian said:

@Soapy86 said:

@Contrarian said:

It is a completely unhuman way to live.

@Contrarian said:

You will be a better you for (living according my standards and preferences).

You can fuck right off with that kind of nonsense.

That's a bit harsh isn't it? It is just a simple and completely subjective philosophy for life, that comes from my heart. It isn't like I am seriously trying to change you or force compliance. I express what I feel.

Calling people who think digital media is preferable to physical media inhuman seems rather harsh to me.

@mikeeegeee said:

@Soapy86: I think he meant that the medium itself is inhuman. Mechanical. Intangible. And our dependency on it begets a movement away from a certain "soul" known to humans since the dawn of our existence.

Correct. I used the term "unhuman", because I associate "inhuman" as a bad thing (an inhuman act of cruelty, where "unhuman" is against what we are deep inside, a tribe who communicate in an organic way (if that makes sense). I certainly don't think someone who craves digital only is a bad person. I just think they are risking losing something that makes us as humans, special.

While I love tech in many ways, there's nothing like hitting someone with a book to get their attention over using a kindle or some other piece of expensive technology.

@fox01313 said:

While I love tech in many ways, there's nothing like hitting someone with a book to get their attention over using a kindle or some other piece of expensive technology.

I have been thinking lately about the Kindle (or any other e-Reader) and what I concluded was that they are boring, dull pieces of plastic which have no soul. I am not against e-Readers, as I think they can be convenient, but not a replacement for real books. But I thought was how much it needed a makeover. Think a little Steam Punk perhaps, I would more likely buy one, even at much greater cost, if it was a leather bound book with 2 screens. When I opened it, it would feel like a book as I looked at 2 pages. It would feel nice as it had some weight and had a classic look and feel to it. More and more I paint myself as quaint and out of touch.

It's all just atoms, either way. What I value is the content, not the medium it's being conveyed to me in. I'm just glad it's getting easier and easier to get access to this kind of stuff because it's a huge hassle for me to bus to the mall every time I want a video game or book. But with digital distribution, I can just get it faster and more conveniently than ever before. Cold, sterile, and inhuman? Just because I don't have to go to the store to purchase it doesn't make it cold. There's no fundamental difference between the video game I buy at Gamestop and the one I buy from steam other than the Gamestop one taking up space I don't have and involves me putting up with the worst service from people who just want to sell me pre-orders. Put's people out of jobs? I honestly couldn't care less about the people that aren't my friends and family. Why do I need to be a better person? All I want out of life is to enjoy it. I'm never going to lower my enjoyment for people I don't love just to be a "better human." I have about 50-60 years left in life, if I'm lucky, and I'm sure as hell not going to waste it on doing things that make my life less pleasant for no actual gain.

@mikeeegeee said:

@Soapy86: I think he meant that the medium itself is inhuman. Mechanical. Intangible. And our dependency on it begets a movement away from a certain "soul" known to humans since the dawn of our existence.

I disagree. The "soul" of humanity, if there is such a thing, is filled with the desire to press onward, to innovate, to always be looking into the future. If that wasn't the case, then we'd all still be living in caves banging rocks together. Not implying that you are, but I'm so thankful that most people aren't frightened by technology or progress.

@Contrarian said:

I just think they are risking losing something that makes us as humans, special.

Nothing makes humans special. We're simply the product of random chance producing life on this planet and that life evolving into a myriad of different creatures, including us. Some beings survive on strength, others on speed. Just because we can utilize our superior intelligence to create technology and dominate the planet doesn't make us special. It just makes us really smart compared to the other organisms on this planet.

fuck physical things i only want digital. Also they need to start selling loss less songs on itunes.

@Aetheldod said:

@Contrarian: You will be happy with me , with my 100+ cds , 100+ DVDs , around 30+ Blue rays etc ..... :D altho digital distibution of vidja games works best for me (due to abailability in my country and costs). I really like your interpretation of that pick. I would say tho that what kills us is the boxlike buildings and edifices we currently live in D: weres my gothic style damn it!!!

Oh man, I like your view on architecture. I can walk around all day looking at gothic buildings. I want to tour Europe just to look at the churches and I am an atheist. That shows what we are capable of. Those cookie cutter glass towers show what we have become.

@Soapy86 said:

@mikeeegeee said:

@Soapy86: I think he meant that the medium itself is inhuman. Mechanical. Intangible. And our dependency on it begets a movement away from a certain "soul" known to humans since the dawn of our existence.

I disagree. The "soul" of humanity, if there is such a thing, is filled with the desire to press onward, to innovate, to always be looking into the future. If that wasn't the case, then we'd all still be living in caves banging rocks together. Not implying that you are, but I'm so thankful that most people aren't frightened by technology or progress.

I don't think he is afraid of technology and I have pointed out how much I love it. There is a difference between being afraid of it and a desire to see it not change our lives for the worse.

@yoshimitz707 said:

@Contrarian said:

I just think they are risking losing something that makes us as humans, special.

Nothing makes humans special. We're simply the product of random chance producing life on this planet and that life evolving into a myriad of different creatures, including us. Some beings survive on strength, others on speed. Just because we can utilize our superior intelligence to create technology and dominate the planet doesn't make us special. It just makes us really smart compared to the other organisms on this planet.

I agree we are just a product of random chance, but what we are capable of, both through humanity and technology does make us special, in my view.

i agree, i want to keep my physical copies. it's going to make gamestop, and other game stores out of business, unless they make digital codes. they are going to lose at a lot of money as they are just going to sell consoles.

@iam3green said:

i agree, i want to keep my physical copies. it's going to make gamestop, and other game stores out of business, unless they make digital codes. they are going to lose at a lot of money as they are just going to sell consoles.

Near as I can figure, Gamestop lack soul as well. I assume it is the same as EB Games here. I personally hate the stores, but not because they sell used games at a high price (I just don't buy them). Rather, they seem to offer terrible customer service. Like developers, they need to understand the consumer better and offer a better product and better service. I inport a fair bit (maybe 10% of my purchases), but that is because they offer me a better range at better prices. Most of the games I import, I have never even seen the product in store (I just imported 3 Wii games I have never seen locally). They should offer a better range - why not order it at the store at a decent price?. If websites can do it, how the hell does a store like EB Games get it so wrong?

While I was pondering the meaning of the whilte library, I also saw this pondered this display below, The Wall of Vaginas (about 120 plaster casts). My thoughts weren't quite so esoteric, but let me say, I prefer my vaginas real, not digital. Can we agree on that?

Gallery

The physical objects have no merit whatsoever, it's the ideas and concepts attached to them that make them valuable.
 
Give up your stupid pennies, old man.

@Brodehouse said:

The physical objects have no merit whatsoever, it's the ideas and concepts attached to them that make them valuable. Give up your stupid pennies, old man.

NEVER! You will have to pry them out of my cold dead hands!

Ideas and concepts without a physical compliment are still void of soul. One without the other lacks value..

I have sentimental feelings for physical products as well and I prefer them to digital versions but at the moment my life does not seem to support physical media. Increasingly small shelf space and constant travel means I can't hang on to a lot of physical stuff. As a result I'm slowly embracing digital content. I've discovered that when we go digital we do not lose ourselves, as you say, but I believe we remain the same. The content is still there and that is what enhances or colours our life. The DVD case or paper book is just a conduit to the content inside. I enjoyed playing Shadow of the colossus, the plastic packaging it came doesn't matter to me. I don't remember the manuals or the receipt but the experience I had climbing the colossi. The value is in the content not the physical item. The physical items only help you to remember the impact of the concepts inside the medium, when I look at a DVD case I remember the film not the plastic and a similar effect can be achieved with a screenshot or image on an Ipad or on PSN/XBLA.

I understand your sentiment but I'll have to politely disagree.

@yoshimitz707 said:

Just because we can utilize our superior intelligence to create technology and dominate the planet doesn't make us special.

Education is the most important thing in my life, so I'm biased on this topic, but I have to disagree. The level of human intelligence compared to the nearest animal is so vastly superior that it absolutely makes us special. The principal quality that places humanity head and shoulders above the animals of the world is our intelligence; our ability to learn. It's a quality unique to us that took millennia to occur. It's a quality that bears with it the responsibility to become stewards of this Earth. We have the unique ability to change the world as we see fit: whether that be to destroy it or preserve it for all life is up to us, but regardless I view that as a special quality.

Do you ever wonder what it would be like if suddenly everyone woke up and experienced life for the first time? How excited everyone would be? How much we would talk with one another, in person? Maybe we wouldn't sit wordless, surrounded by fascinating new people on the subway. Maybe we would enjoy each other's company rather than avoid it. Spontaneous conversation, inherent interest in those around you. A sense of wonder we lose somewhere along the way. Children of the world illustrate this reality to me every day.

IF digital distribution, storage capacity and reliability would work as one would hope I wouldn't mind giving up book shelves of junk. As someone said previously, it's not the physical object that matters. Why the physical object matters to me is because so far that's the most reliable way for me to enjoy it. I have a big dresser in the living room packed with DVD and Blu-Rays, I wouldn't mind if all of those were in a tiny box by my TV instead (but I am not going to sit down and rip them all, I'm not that crazy). I could use the space better than a big movie storage unit. Same with games. It would be nice to lose the clutter. I do like collector editions and such, and those might be the only thing that sometimes make the physical object worth while (if they're good).

And there are a ton of ways to show off your own likes and dislikes by the interior design choices you make. It doesn't need to be a wall of games that is a hassle every time you move.

But as said, I'm philosophically pro all-digital. But practically, I'm not sold on it just yet. Too many variables for comfort these days.

I think you're crazy.

@ajamafalous said:

I think you're crazy.

That's pretty much how I feel.

Funny thing, the stuff on my desktop doesn't actually exist, there are no actual folders, no trashcan etc, but the icons themselves still seem physical to me.

On steam or on my PS3 all the games I have downloaded have icons, that's where I see them existing, I don't even know what my harddrives look like. So these menus/folders etc, despite being places that don't acually exist, have a space in my mind, are rooms in my mind. It may not look all that special looking at it from the outside, but to me they exist, to me they have a place. And that's why I'm not concerned for a digital future, because that space will always exist within us, y'know like our souls or something.

Steam could use another way to look at your collection, maybe something like a "digital shelf" like GoG have, but otherwise I'm fine with things like they are, I see my games and I know that they're there.

The problem with physical stuff is that it takes up so much space.

I like having physical pieces of media. However, I also like being able to download a book, game, movie, or album at 2 in the morning on a whim. It is more convenient and, in many cases, cheaper. Only the best gets to be displayed on my shelves.

For example: I have the Augmented Edition of Deus Ex on PS3. I downloaded the full game again plus the Missing Link DLC on Steam. Now I can play said DLC, and I have the full game on the go, all for 15 bucks extra. And I also have the slick Augmented Edition chilling on display at my domicile.

All things in moderation.

That... now that... is an awesome image. I agree with you in certain respects. For me, it's not so much that I want physical things, I just want fewer physical things. Maybe I keep a few novels around at a time that I read, or games, or music CDs. I don't want to fill my wall up with the stuff, but a few select meaningful physical things are what I want.

I really like the header to your write-up. Also, I agree with you.

@mikeeegeee said:

@yoshimitz707 said:

Just because we can utilize our superior intelligence to create technology and dominate the planet doesn't make us special.

Education is the most important thing in my life, so I'm biased on this topic, but I have to disagree. The level of human intelligence compared to the nearest animal is so vastly superior that it absolutely makes us special. The principal quality that places humanity head and shoulders above the animals of the world is our intelligence; our ability to learn. It's a quality unique to us that took millennia to occur. It's a quality that bears with it the responsibility to become stewards of this Earth. We have the unique ability to change the world as we see fit: whether that be to destroy it or preserve it for all life is up to us, but regardless I view that as a special quality.

Do you ever wonder what it would be like if suddenly everyone woke up and experienced life for the first time? How excited everyone would be? How much we would talk with one another, in person? Maybe we wouldn't sit wordless, surrounded by fascinating new people on the subway. Maybe we would enjoy each other's company rather than avoid it. Spontaneous conversation, inherent interest in those around you. A sense of wonder we lose somewhere along the way. Children of the world illustrate this reality to me every day.

Why does it bear responsibility? What do I as a person owe this planet? Sure, we can change this world. But do you know how many other planets are out there? "The Milky Way is a barred spiral galaxy 100,000–120,000 light-years in diameter containing 200–400 billion stars. The galaxy is estimated to contain at least as many planets, 10 billion of which could be located in the habitable zone of their parent star." That's 10 billion planets that have the potential for life in our galaxy alone! And there's estimated to be billions and billions of other galaxies out there. It's pretty ridiculous number. Once I understood how utterly meaningless and insignificant life was, it let me actually enjoy it on my terms.

And no, I've never wondered that. But I imagine it would be pretty difficult for me. I already have to remember to emote, maintain eye contact, and make small talk about things that bore me. That took a lot of practice and I wouldn't look forward to redoing it all. And it's one of the most tiring things for me, personally, that I need a lot of downtime between extended socializing. Sounds pretty horrible to me. And it's sad you've lost your sense of wonder. I'm still awed by so many things I learn every day, in school, and I'm excited for a day where I get to discover new things on my own simply because I find it all so fascinating.

I feel really bad for wanting, this but I hope this thread devolves into a bloody mess cause I just got done reading through a thread of such messiness...

OT: I like physical media because there is more control over what I can do with it and generally speaking it lacks always on drm, which I think is likely to become widespread when everything goes all digital...

Once I can convince the Giant Bomb crew to come to my living room a do live quicklooks for me each day, that will be the day I go back to believing in physical media; until that day, I'll be perfectly happy with my digital possessions.

@Cloudenvy said:

@ajamafalous said:

I think you're crazy.

That's pretty much how I feel.

Crazy like a fox.

I only want digital media. It is not fun having to haul physical media around with you.

I don't think digital stuff is practical yet

I have a horrible mix of physical and digital downloads for all of my music, movies and games. And I'm all right with that.

@Contrarian said:

Ideas and concepts without a physical compliment are still void of soul. One without the other lacks value..

Steam would like to have a word with you.

@Contrarian said:

@Cloudenvy said:

@ajamafalous said:

I think you're crazy.

That's pretty much how I feel.

Crazy like a fox.

No, crazy like a crazy person. You keep saying that the loss of physical items is a loss of soul, and saying that digital items have no soul. Well guess what, neither do physical items that you buy. You just have a sense of attachment to what you buy because you paid money that you worked for to buy that specific items. That feeling of soul you are talking about is a sense of ownership, and honestly it means shit. I used to be against going fully digital, but after my experience with services like steam and kindle, I welcome the change.

There is nothing like finishing a book in a series and being able to instantly download the next book before you can even make a cup of tea. The ability to never have to worry about breaking CD jewel cases, or losing my CD keys for my PC games is a god send. Yes, I am being a little dramatic, but they are great innovations. And also what are you talking about loss of human interaction? Have you ever been into a best buy or grocery store in your life? You aren't treated like a human there, you are nothing but a number to those people. You go in, they say hi to you because they have to, not because they care. Then when you are looking around they offer to help simply to get you to buy something as soon as possible. If anything digital purchases save you time so you can go out and get some actual human interaction. Also jobs will be lost, but there will plenty of more made to support digital purchases. Its not like amazon won't need customer service reps, warehouse workers, and people to maintain servers.

I feel what you feel about this digital shift is purely nostalgic. You are seeing a way of life change and its just weird to you.

Hold the fucking phones yo.....

That picture is NOT art.

@Tesla said:

I like having physical pieces of media. However, I also like being able to download a book, game, movie, or album at 2 in the morning on a whim. It is more convenient and, in many cases, cheaper. Only the best gets to be displayed on my shelves.

For example: I have the Augmented Edition of Deus Ex on PS3. I downloaded the full game again plus the Missing Link DLC on Steam. Now I can play said DLC, and I have the full game on the go, all for 15 bucks extra. And I also have the slick Augmented Edition chilling on display at my domicile.

All things in moderation.

I have never argued that one is paramount the other is the spawn of satan. I do use digital downloads where I feel it is appropriate. It is more about the loss of physical objects is detrimental to who we are. They can co-exist, but unfortunately too many wish to see the end of one and I am totally convinced that companies want you to go digital, as it is a great tool for them to control the market. DLC is perfect for digital. So are small games. So are old, out of print games.

@Brodehouse said:

@Contrarian: Absolutely incorrect. Use Socratic questioning. If an idea, concept or philosophy exists only as thoughts or ephemera, does it inherently lack value until expressed into a physical object? No. Do the materials that these thoughts are expressed into have meaning before used as human creation? Is there human art within a tree before it used for canvas and lumber? No. Are the ideas that the creator imbues within the materials inseparable from the tools he uses to make it? Is the nature of the idea expressed by the creator dependent solely by brush length, instrument, lathe, camera? No. Attempting to draw divisions where there is none is nonsensical. 1984 written on stone, written on paper, written in data or read aloud does not alter the nature of the creation in itself. Fugue and Toccata does not lose its meaning when played on speakers from disc, to played on speakers from data, to being performed in front of you. There is no great solemnity to analogue equipment, it's merely a step in technology in human history. Standing with disc-based media against solid-state media is parallel to those who stood with magnetic tape and cut vinyl.

Now I have no intention of going into a deep philosophical debate with you or anyone. Whilst those concepts are true in the broad philosphical realm, they do not negate the reality of what I say at a more personal and micro level. Vinyl has never died and is increasing in popularity. One of the reasons is the warm, more organic feel to the music that some people say they experience. There is also the art that surrounds it, being the sleeve. People relate to it, they feel part of it. Whilst there is no technical loss to a game as such, people still relate to having the object. It means something to them. What you have said doesn't change anything.

I will take a physical copy of War & Peace any day. You cannot fully explain why it feels right, it just does. That isn't to say I would aslso supplement it with an e-Reader, despite it feeling cold and sterile. It is convenient in certain circumstances. What should happen is buying a real book gives you a digital copy for your e-Reader. The best of both worlds. What is wrong with wanting something tangible? The problem is rushing to a future where the physical object no longer exists. That is a great loss to our humanity. Just because you can't "feel" what others do, does not negate those feelings. It has little to do with age, more about the individual.

Great read, if a bit narcissistic, but i agree, what you're veering towards are existential and more specifically phenomenological considerations, read people like juhani pallasmaa, heideigger, and if you can stomach him, sartre, the first two are architecture related so unless you are familiar with the field it might be overwhelming but 'eyes of the skin' by pallasmaa should be read by everyone, it will make you re-think many aspects of life

i think the idea of removing possessions, seen in eastern religions, is to rid yourself of the temptation to exist in the life human beings are naturally inclined to live; basically life scares us (more so than death; which is at least a known quantity from this side) so much because all we know is we are born alone, when alive the only truths we really know are the sky above and the ground below and then we die alone; and there is a temptation to make something of that time, and the way you do that is to give yourself an existential identity to combat this; and the way this is done is to cultivate - like you said, you are a collector, i think there is a middle ground, its impossible not to have ephemera of life build up around you, its why corbusier's idea of the house as the machine for living doesn't work, because we need 'things' around us to give us a sense of reality and identity, even distraction - but i think the idea of removing these in aid to reach 'nirvana' etc is a salient point in that yes you can have these things, but don't let them define you, your 'collection', if they were destroyed by fire etc, how would you feel? what are you outside of these possessions?

its an interesting subject, i wrote my dissertation on a similar topic, memory/experience/identity in architecture, and the writers above are great for gaining a sense of perspective on life - not to be too glib but; have possessions but don't let them have you

if you're into or getting into this kind of philosophy another good read is emil cioran, he's pessimistic but its spun in such a way that its actually quite humorous, after having read him 'real' life can seem quite inane; it helped me realise that life is frivolous whereas i thought it was futile, i.e. its all stupid so just have fun, but don't be a dick (i paraphrased the first part and added the last bit) - and if you don't want to read the above then listen to the recent albums by the New York Dolls; the lyricist/singer David Johansen references a lot of cioran's work and ideologies

as rebgav said above if you let the digital define you then of course you lose a part of yourself, as you do when you let anything / a 'real' / inanimate object define you; however, personally, i must agree i prefer the physical over digital, but i'm not averse to it; for example i prefer the feeling of books, i've tried to use a kindle but personally i just prefer the feeling of the page and the thickness of a book and the progression through the book as you read; its a bit lofty or dumb, or even an affectation, but thats how i feel about them, or at least why i would prefer physical copies over digital, but in regard to movies and music i actually prefer digital, just for the convenience, i'm getting into streaming of movies and thats even more efficient and even pleasant; the sight of reams of DVDs just doesn't make sense any more to me, similar to CDs, there are some possessions in particular, some rare box sets that i enjoy having as an artefact but i'd still listen to them on the computer, and i consider the music on my hard drive my 'collection' over my CD collection, as its more regularly listened to and better kept, so i don't think its an either or, its just whatever you enjoy but try not to let it run your life - or be finite / preachy about it

@BigChickenDinner said:

Hold the fucking phones yo.....

That picture is NOT art.

Why? I was very impressed by it.

@rebgav said:

@Contrarian said:

When we go digital, we lose a part of ourselves, a part of who we are.

No, you lose a part of yourself. If you define yourself by the accumulation of physical objects then of course you're going to lose your mind when your world is smashed into bits.

I would like you to talk to people who lose all their possessions in a disaster like flood or fire. Try telling them their possessions mean nothing. It spoke to who they are. Some things can't be replaced and part of that person was involved in the accumulation of what mattered to them.

@SSully said:

@Contrarian said:

@Cloudenvy said:

@ajamafalous said:

I think you're crazy.

That's pretty much how I feel.

Crazy like a fox.

No, crazy like a crazy person. You keep saying that the loss of physical items is a loss of soul, and saying that digital items have no soul. Well guess what, neither do physical items that you buy. You just have a sense of attachment to what you buy because you paid money that you worked for to buy that specific items. That feeling of soul you are talking about is a sense of ownership, and honestly it means shit. I used to be against going fully digital, but after my experience with services like steam and kindle, I welcome the change.

There is nothing like finishing a book in a series and being able to instantly download the next book before you can even make a cup of tea. The ability to never have to worry about breaking CD jewel cases, or losing my CD keys for my PC games is a god send. Yes, I am being a little dramatic, but they are great innovations. And also what are you talking about loss of human interaction? Have you ever been into a best buy or grocery store in your life? You aren't treated like a human there, you are nothing but a number to those people. You go in, they say hi to you because they have to, not because they care. Then when you are looking around they offer to help simply to get you to buy something as soon as possible. If anything digital purchases save you time so you can go out and get some actual human interaction. Also jobs will be lost, but there will plenty of more made to support digital purchases. Its not like amazon won't need customer service reps, warehouse workers, and people to maintain servers.

I feel what you feel about this digital shift is purely nostalgic. You are seeing a way of life change and its just weird to you.

The items have no independent soul, the soul is what you attach to them through what they mean to you. It isn't ownership. It isn't about nostalgia. I love technology. I embrace technology. I crave technology. I am the master of technology, not a slave to it. The world will not be a better place for this shift to digital. It will only be better for it being a practical use to us, to supplement our lives.

How anyone cannot see the beauty in the physical object saddens me. I love libraries. I would love to have a mansion with a full and dedicated library. It has beauty and soul that cannot be found in digital. The sight of the wonder and excitement in a childs eye when they get a new book or game, how they feel and explore it, is a gift of life. I won't apologise for seeing beauty and soul in so much around me. That is how my brain processes what my eyes see. I wouldn't deny you going digital, just encourage the death of something that many people love and enjoy.

@Contrarian: I understand where you are coming from by seeing beauty in a library. When I got my first job when I was 16 I used to go to a Borders down the street every month or so to get books to read when work was slow. Everytime I went in there, without fail, I would spend over an hour looking at different books and I never left with only one. It's a feeling of being surrounded by history, stories, and just pure entertainment. It is a fantastic feeling, and if I was rich I most likely would invest in buying all books physically.

With that said I still get that same magical feeling with my kindle. The idea of having thousands of books whenever I want is simply stunning. To me the feeling comes from ownership, and the simple appreciation of what a good book is. Its not the smell or feel of the books, its what is in it that brings that idea of magic.

@Contrarian:

It looks like someone went on MS paint and put a big white rectangle in the middle of a picture. I cant see the art in that.

Calling that art is kind of an insult to artists who you know, have skills of some sort.

EDIT: OH SHIT BRO I GOT IT NOW