Optical drives disappearing from computers, bookstores closing down, no more large record stores, and there haven’t been video stores in quite some time. I guess the only place left to purchase media is online in digital format. While I don’t have an issue with this, and have purchased quite a bit of music, literature, and movies online myself, there is great loss that does not seem to be realized yet – The Experience.
Going to a bookstore, or a music store is an experience for the senses. Walking into a music store, browsing the shelves as you look for that one cd. Music plays in the background as you actually browse with, and maybe even speak with other people. The cover art is just that – art. It is the collaboration of designer and musician coming together in an effort to portray to you – the fan – the message behind their album. To be able to hold the CD/album in your hand, to see it, read the song titles on the back, to feel it. It’s real, tangible, and when you purchase it, you will be able to take it home, put it in your cd tower among your collection. It’s yours, it belongs to you.
To walk into a book store and browse the shelves. Pausing occasionally to read the synopses on the back covers. The rough texture of the pages against your finger tips, The aroma of the paper as you riffle through it. Perhaps the low hypnotic sounds of classical music waft through the air. And just as with the CD, you get to take it home, and place it on the bookshelf among the rest of your treasured library. Once again, it’s there, it’s yours, and you can hold it when ever you want.
Ownership of these items, actual physical ownership, is like wealth. Money in the bank is just numbers. It can be lost, taken, or arrested. But when you own gold you can touch it, hold it. It’s yours. It’s wealth is tangible.
All of these things, these ideas, these concepts are lost in the digital age where society merely wants instant gratification. If I want it, then I want it now. No waiting, no looking, no JOURNEY!!!! What will happen to waiting for hours to have your favorite musician autograph your CD, or a popular novelist sign your book. Where will these events be held? Likely, they will not. Or perhaps you can just meet them via Twitter. That way you can avoid the crowds, and heaven forbid – GASP – socialize with other people!!! Maybe even make a new friend!!!! OMG!!! Who has ever heard of such a thing!!!
And the sad part is, that we didn’t even know what we had. These small experiences seem so trivial, until they no longer exist. And what’s worse, is that so many people don’t even care. They gladly sell off these tiny jewels just so that they never have to peel their ever-growing rears from the sofa. They can have Netflix streaming across their widescreen TV, while the laptop sits open on the arm of their couch browsing the latest in digital music and literature on iTunes. They don’t even need to go out anymore to socialize. They can accomplish this with Facebook, and texting on their cell phone. Who needs actual people skills, right? Not when you can be Mr. or Miss popular with over 500 Facebook friends. So what if you’ve never actually met most of these people.
I weep for this new younger generation, if only because not only will they miss out on these small, yet oh so enjoyable experiences, but they won’t even know such experiences ever existed. They will continue to hole themselves up in their homes, never speaking face to face. Never experiencing the world. Never exercising their senses.
Again, there is nothing wrong with downloading music, literature, and entertainment, but only as a supplement to the real thing. Most bookstores are gone, as are most large music stores. Time has about run out. I would like to implore you not to let the sun set on this experience, but to fight. To encourage these businesses to keep their doors open by patronizing them. However, I fear it is too late. I think it is human nature to get caught up in the next big thing – to follow the rest of the sheep. Society has already sold out. Or have they?
I suppose I will just have to sit around and remember the way things use to be, when you actually experienced life, as opposed to watching it.
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