The 'Right to Repair' Movement
- Thread starter kalibex
- Start date
yeah, I know that, some years ago, the DVD reader/recorder of my PC was broken. OK. It's very easy to change it no ? NO ! I never managed to remove it, all was mended ( ? soudé). Even if some more years ago I've been able to do it very easily, and several times and for others people too. So I have to buy an external one (instead of a new PC of course, just for the reader), and now that i've buy a new PC, I took without DVD reader because I've already have one (It was only possible because I buyed it in a small shop, where I have the choice to ask what I want)
Parallel to that, in France, there is a movement against the "planned obsolescence".
Again, I see that like a lack of respect of all things; that have been build, that are available to us ; furthermore of nature in itself - just for greed, greed, and greed.
Parallel to that, in France, there is a movement against the "planned obsolescence".
Again, I see that like a lack of respect of all things; that have been build, that are available to us ; furthermore of nature in itself - just for greed, greed, and greed.
Maat said:
Yeah, that movement against planned or programed obsolescence has become somewhat global and the "right to repair" seems similar to that one, but if people keeps buying that kind of disposable and restrictive technology, the manufacturers and corporations will not stop producing them. For them is a win win situation, they program or design technology with an expiration date, difficult to repair, along with all their manipulative marketing that encourage a senseless consumerism, then the consumers find "better" and "easier" to buy the new product - with attractive no interest monthly payments :P -; it's a very profitable negative feedback loop here. I mean they produce new models of cellphones and TVs every 6 months, and people buy them like crazy.
The consumer has a lot or responsibility in this matter, if there were more awareness of a different kind of technology maybe there would be more demand and different alternatives, but well, that's a distant ideal given the actual state of affairs. There are indeed alternative options now, as modular technology, but hasn't been too attractive to enable mass production, so it's a no no for big manufacturers, plus, their actual production system is very profitable for them, so it's hard to think that it will change anytime soon.
TetrahedronJourneys
The Force is Strong With This One
" Our enormously productive economy demands
that we make consumption our way of life, that
we convert the buying and use of goods into
rituals, that we seek our spiritual satisfactions,
our ego satisfactions, in consumption. The
measure of social status, of social acceptance,
of prestige, is now to be found in our
consumptive patterns. The very meaning and
significance of our lives today expressed in
consumptive terms. The greater the pressures
upon the individual to conform to safe and
accepted social standards, the more does he
tend to express his aspirations and his
individuality in terms of what he wears, drives,
eats- his home, his car, his pattern of food
serving, his hobbies. "
----This quote comes from the 1955 Journal article "Price Competition in 1955" by Victor Lebow Marketing Consultant, President, Victor Lebow, Inc. http://www.gcafh.org/edlab/Lebow.pdf
I read that he is the mastermind behind our current modes of consumption. In order to consume more products, the ones that we have need to become obsolete, need to break, need to make us feel as if we are some how subordinate because we do not have the latest up-to-date gadget, or become irreparable as mentioned above. Many of the products that we consume are simply "designed for the dump". There is a great short video about 22 mins long called " The story of stuff" it can be found on you-tube. I share it with my students every year in our environmental science class. Its impact-full, bias however, but none the less sheds light on the golden arrow of consumption that drives many of the our mind controlled citizens. My students and I will not be a part of that... take the time if you have to view the video and to read the Article by Victor Lebow. The whole plan was stated for all to see. Consumption was simply an economic strategy to keep the economic alive.
that we make consumption our way of life, that
we convert the buying and use of goods into
rituals, that we seek our spiritual satisfactions,
our ego satisfactions, in consumption. The
measure of social status, of social acceptance,
of prestige, is now to be found in our
consumptive patterns. The very meaning and
significance of our lives today expressed in
consumptive terms. The greater the pressures
upon the individual to conform to safe and
accepted social standards, the more does he
tend to express his aspirations and his
individuality in terms of what he wears, drives,
eats- his home, his car, his pattern of food
serving, his hobbies. "
----This quote comes from the 1955 Journal article "Price Competition in 1955" by Victor Lebow Marketing Consultant, President, Victor Lebow, Inc. http://www.gcafh.org/edlab/Lebow.pdf
I read that he is the mastermind behind our current modes of consumption. In order to consume more products, the ones that we have need to become obsolete, need to break, need to make us feel as if we are some how subordinate because we do not have the latest up-to-date gadget, or become irreparable as mentioned above. Many of the products that we consume are simply "designed for the dump". There is a great short video about 22 mins long called " The story of stuff" it can be found on you-tube. I share it with my students every year in our environmental science class. Its impact-full, bias however, but none the less sheds light on the golden arrow of consumption that drives many of the our mind controlled citizens. My students and I will not be a part of that... take the time if you have to view the video and to read the Article by Victor Lebow. The whole plan was stated for all to see. Consumption was simply an economic strategy to keep the economic alive.
TetrahedronJourneys said:
Yes, we just need to see countless example of historic architecture, when people built things that were able to withstand the test of time for centuries! And they were also so beautiful and creative. And now, there are even entire prefabricated houses that one can buy and construct them in IKEA style. Here's one example. In such a case, no one would invest too much in the house, or make it truly unique if they know that they can just buy another one if it "wears out".
PerfectCircle
Jedi Master
That is also true for fridges, washing machines etc. I remember the time when you could have easily used electronic devices for 10 years or more.
curious_richard
Jedi Master
I vote for repair! Recently, our clothes dryer stopped turning. I searched for probably causes, and bought new rollers and a belt. I took it apart. Two of the old rollers were stuck and were badly worn from the dryer tub rubbing against them. The belt was okay, so I have that as a spare. Some years ago, our washing machine stopped and gave error codes about the motor. I found that the motor wires were cut because they were rubbing against another part. I fixed the wire problem and the problem was solved.
Right now, I am repairing wood stairs and platform for a mobile home. The old wood was rotten and unsafe. So I removed the bad wood and I am replacing it with good wood. When I am done, it will be strong and safe. Work .. is ... work. I don't like the sweat, but it I like to see a good outcome.
Right now, I am repairing wood stairs and platform for a mobile home. The old wood was rotten and unsafe. So I removed the bad wood and I am replacing it with good wood. When I am done, it will be strong and safe. Work .. is ... work. I don't like the sweat, but it I like to see a good outcome.
Always like taking things apart and sussing out the problem, and yet as said, this is getting harder with the inlay of electronics/plastics. One often will see people throwing away perfectly good stuff because of a small fault and others, with determination, will find ways to either fix the fault or remedy the fault so that the repair works well. Even well back in G's earlier time, either people fixed things themselves or they brought them in to people like G (who had set up shop for repairs - some were very amusing repairs at that).
Concerning planned obsolescence, yes, there is a great deal of stuff people buy that is pressed out with little though, often breaking within a year; you can't even really fix it it's so cheap. I must say though, not living in the country of the United States, that some very good things were once (and some still are) made in the U.S. that actually can last last decades if not more. Other countries are good at this also, making lasting things that need little repair.
We had a freezer that was within, luckily, 364 days of use that stopped working. The repair guy checked it out (by hooking up gas) and than said, they will have to give you a new one and throw this away. Why? All the tubing that zigzags for cooling use to be copper and was now steel. The moisture can create pin-pricks in the steel tubing and the gas is released. To fix, it's far to expensive - what a waste.
Concerning planned obsolescence, yes, there is a great deal of stuff people buy that is pressed out with little though, often breaking within a year; you can't even really fix it it's so cheap. I must say though, not living in the country of the United States, that some very good things were once (and some still are) made in the U.S. that actually can last last decades if not more. Other countries are good at this also, making lasting things that need little repair.
PerfectCircle said:
We had a freezer that was within, luckily, 364 days of use that stopped working. The repair guy checked it out (by hooking up gas) and than said, they will have to give you a new one and throw this away. Why? All the tubing that zigzags for cooling use to be copper and was now steel. The moisture can create pin-pricks in the steel tubing and the gas is released. To fix, it's far to expensive - what a waste.
The "Maker" movement is also kind of cool. (And intimately related).
Public shops set up, not just to share tools and collectively own very expensive equipment a single person couldn't reasonably afford or make efficient use of, (a laser cutter or a kiln, for instance), -but also to share knowledge.
There are initiatives popping up all over, and it's a good idea to familiarize yourself with those networks.
I think it's also important to teach children how to use basic tools; how to swing a hammer correctly and how to use wire cutters. Simple construction and electronics principles. -That the bones and blood of our high-tech society aren't really that scary or difficult to understand after all.
Once you know how to fix your own lamp or replace planks on your deck, for instance, you start building up the confidence needed to engage life at a new level. Every little bit of skill and knowledge one gains reduces our reliance on the Authorities. -The fear that we might be 'abandoned' to fend for ourselves. Carlos Castaneda similarly described becoming a "Hunter". This is similar.
Even a laptop circuit board is not so terrifying once you know the basic parts and characteristics of the materials used. A 10 year-old circuit board can be cleaned up and made to work like new with some basic knowledge.
And *everybody* should own a pair of pliers, a good screw driver with multiple tips (and a selection of wood screws) and a good knife. Of all the power tools you can own, a drill is hands down the most commonly useful.
A soldering iron, roll of solder, a multi-meter and roll of electrical tape can also come in handy.
After that stuff, the best advice I was ever given about owning tools came from my Dad. -Don't try to anticipate. Wait until you need a tool, then go out and buy it. That way you won't own any tools that never get used.
Public shops set up, not just to share tools and collectively own very expensive equipment a single person couldn't reasonably afford or make efficient use of, (a laser cutter or a kiln, for instance), -but also to share knowledge.
There are initiatives popping up all over, and it's a good idea to familiarize yourself with those networks.
I think it's also important to teach children how to use basic tools; how to swing a hammer correctly and how to use wire cutters. Simple construction and electronics principles. -That the bones and blood of our high-tech society aren't really that scary or difficult to understand after all.
Once you know how to fix your own lamp or replace planks on your deck, for instance, you start building up the confidence needed to engage life at a new level. Every little bit of skill and knowledge one gains reduces our reliance on the Authorities. -The fear that we might be 'abandoned' to fend for ourselves. Carlos Castaneda similarly described becoming a "Hunter". This is similar.
Even a laptop circuit board is not so terrifying once you know the basic parts and characteristics of the materials used. A 10 year-old circuit board can be cleaned up and made to work like new with some basic knowledge.
And *everybody* should own a pair of pliers, a good screw driver with multiple tips (and a selection of wood screws) and a good knife. Of all the power tools you can own, a drill is hands down the most commonly useful.
A soldering iron, roll of solder, a multi-meter and roll of electrical tape can also come in handy.
After that stuff, the best advice I was ever given about owning tools came from my Dad. -Don't try to anticipate. Wait until you need a tool, then go out and buy it. That way you won't own any tools that never get used.
Woodsman said:
All good advice. Being handy with tools and having a rudimentary knowledge of how things work will come in handy in the future as well as the here and now. Repairing and making-do is so much more practical and creative.
My husband is a Maker and belongs to a Maker "Shed" as they call the warehouses or home workspaces devoted to teaching, fixing and just plain figuring out things with like-minded individuals. Lots of tool sharing and the guy who hosts the meetings is a former sheet-metal worker with the requisite gear.
One of the more recent projects I suggested to the Makers was making one of my electric sewing machines self-powered like the old treadle models from the 1800s. The end result would use no energy but my own, was good exercise and might come in handy during a lengthy power outage. The group came up with an awesome plan. The treadle fixture was portable, fit neatly into a bag, and could be easily dissembled and reassembled onto a flat surface. Thus far I made curtains using the treadle and mended some jeans. One of the Makers is into steam-punk culture and designed a very-tricked out treadle sewing machine with a bronzed finish, ornamental rivets and working gears for his partner to use when they do exhibitions. A bit much for me but cool to look at.
One thing is, abuse of copyright. When i buy a Apple computer, it's my computer, i think. But they own the copyrights, and i am not allowed to change anything of it.
Other thing, when i wanted to know some part of my old Mercedes, i could ask a copy of the workshopmanual on that particular part. Especially in Germany, thats impossible now, and the forum will kick you out for even asking, as it threatens their existence. A whole book would still be ok to buy or sell. All in all, fixing is getting more difficult fast, very old is easier then newer, dealers don't have stocks anymore, and they don't have to sell parts for models, older than 10 years.
Where i live, there are do-it-yourself garages now, and often they have some(angel)body hanging around who likes to help people with specifics.
I used to run a bicycle do it yourself shop, and it hit me, how most people rather use something shiny, than something of quality, me i'm more of the zen school of repairs, function before fashion.
With laptops, me and some around me stick with old Thinkpads (stinkpads), for many parts are interchangeable, and they can be made pretty secure with ubuntu.
Other thing, when i wanted to know some part of my old Mercedes, i could ask a copy of the workshopmanual on that particular part. Especially in Germany, thats impossible now, and the forum will kick you out for even asking, as it threatens their existence. A whole book would still be ok to buy or sell. All in all, fixing is getting more difficult fast, very old is easier then newer, dealers don't have stocks anymore, and they don't have to sell parts for models, older than 10 years.
Where i live, there are do-it-yourself garages now, and often they have some(angel)body hanging around who likes to help people with specifics.
I used to run a bicycle do it yourself shop, and it hit me, how most people rather use something shiny, than something of quality, me i'm more of the zen school of repairs, function before fashion.
With laptops, me and some around me stick with old Thinkpads (stinkpads), for many parts are interchangeable, and they can be made pretty secure with ubuntu.
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