Riding on the Brandwagon

I couldn’t have said it better myself: branding humanity. That is what has been keeping me up this past week. I’ve been trying to sum all of my thoughts in a statement and, lo and behold, the guest speaker did it for me. It’s what annoys me about social networking and makes me antsy about “supporting” a cause in the digital format. There are certainly benefits to being able to support a cause in the digital age. It’s certainly easier to voice your opinion to a far broader audience. Web videos can be played again and again, links can be copied and pasted, emails forwarded etc. However, just because the visibility of a cause is increased doesn’t mean that the social problem is being addressed any better.

It’s disconcerting, to say the least, that some people view my generation as apathetic. I don’t think that this is an accurate description whatsoever. I do think, however, that my generation is pathetic and just doesn’t know it. It’s so much easier to “support” a cause when there’s no accountability for any physical or future support. While the web has generated many more avenues to gain support and create awareness, it has also created this world in which apathy comes disguised in a click of a button, a t-shirt, a bracelet. What do these things really say anyway? It’s not that we don’t care – we just don’t care enough. We want to find the cure to cancer, but we don’t volunteer, we want the hungry to eat, but we don’t want to feed them. Isn’t this a more accurate description of what’s happening in our society?

There’s more social interaction, but face to face interaction is weakening. We live in an age where we don’t have to know our neighbors or even co-workers to be successful. Technology has allowed us to network with millions of people while simultaneously allowing is to be selective about whom we have contact with. We insist on being connected on this massive scale, and yet, we refuse to commit out of fear of being restrained. The result is that of compromise. I think we’re settling because we’ve convinced ourselves that it’s ok to settle when in reality, I believe we need to commit one way or the other in order to make progress. So, in short, I it’s not our decisions but our indecisions that make us appear to be apathetic.

Below are some links to some sites that address breast cancer in different ways. It’s October!!!!!

http://apps.facebook.com/pinkribbon/?re=636209318
https://breathingroomfoundation.org/Home_Page.php
http://www.komenphiladelphia.org/http://www.savethetatas.com/

http://www.savethetatas.com/

Made To Order

This weekend my friends who run an orphanage in Guatemala came to visit, and I came across an interesting thought. We were ordering lunch and every single one of us changed something that we ordered. You know, the “I’ll have the turkey wrap without the bacon” type of alterations that almost everyone is accustomed to making here in the United States. I do it all the time.

It was only when my friend began to share with me that you can’t order your food like this in Guatemala that I began to really think about what this “custom order” mentality means in terms of the digital age. We are truly catered to as consumers in this country. The marketability of products depends upon our demands. And, to a point this is a good thing. We see a need, and there are people out there who make it their life’s ambition to fulfill that need (more like make a profit off of it, but whatever). On the other hand, I feel spoiled sitting across from this woman who has committed her life to caring for these orphaned children, living her life without many of the comforts that I take for granted. I feel like I’m endangered of becoming too engaged in technology and of being disengaged from the needs that I see around me. There’s a big difference between seeing a need on TV and actually getting out there and helping people. Life’s tough…get a helmet. Go out and make a difference.

Customer Disservice

11:30am – I place a call to Toys R’ Us. I’m put on hold, of course. By the time I actually get to speak to another human being I’m beginning to forget why I called in the first place. I manage to explain to the gentleman on the other end of the line that I’m calling to find out if they carry the classic India version of Parcheesi (It’s a birthday present I assure you). I’m put on hold, again. Of course. I remain on hold for over five minutes…5 MINUTES!!!... only to here this: “Mam, I’m sorry. What were you calling about again?” I am so infuriated that I can hardly speak. I respond with a prompt click, putting an end to this complete and utter waste of my time.

So, what is so hard to get, people? Customer Service. SERVING customers. That is your job. It boggles my mind as to why 90% of the customer service people that I come in contact with either don’t do their job or are completely miserable while doing it. Why is this tolerated? Even I have come to accept the fact that I’m going to probably have to deal with a completely wretched human being if, God forbid, I have to exchange a shirt or return some jeans. Granted, it’s not the most glamorous job on the planet, but neither is watching kids who pick their noses and don’t wash their hands after they use the bathroom. It’s no excuse to not do your job. Life’s tough….get a helmet.