Robert on the Red iPod
Mike's Note: Robert's been ruminating on the iPod...
When I first heard of the red iPod campaign, I was all over it. Infact, if you recall, I was hoping to get one for Christmas but gradually, something about it started to bug me.I couldn't put my finger on it but something about the idea of buying an iPod to assist the less fortunate rubbed me the wrong way. I wasn't sure why it seemed wrong to me, it just did. It took me a few weeks but I finally figured it out.
On the surface, it sounds like a great idea. Buy an iPod, send money to Africa. What could be wrong with that? Seems like heaven. I love the iPod. It's one of the great products of our time. Helping Africa is also pretty big with me so you figure, combine the two and Robert should be all over this like a fat kid on a Smartie. But here's the thing. You're not donating anything. You're buying an iPod, just a somewhat cooler one. Apple is foregoing a small part of the profit it makes on an iPod and figures the increased volume will make up the $10 it is giving up.
It's all quite cynical if you think about it. Almost insulting, if you think about it.
Our society has become so obsessed with consuming, so insatiable about acquiring "stuff" that do-gooders like Bono and Oprah figure they need to wrap aid for the less fortunate in an iPod wrapper to get us to participate. How about asking people to help even if it involves a little sacrifice? No, we need to wrap philanthropy in a Tiffany box or we can't get excited. Here's how it should have been done: Apple should have ADDED $10 to the price and matched our donations so that a total of $20 would have been donated. That way, you are getting your iPod and actually making a donation as well. So, since Apple flubbed it's chance to allow you to participate in a good karma (or pro-Jesus) exercise (as the case may be), we have come to the rescue!
It's all quite cynical if you think about it. Almost insulting, if you think about it.
Our society has become so obsessed with consuming, so insatiable about acquiring "stuff" that do-gooders like Bono and Oprah figure they need to wrap aid for the less fortunate in an iPod wrapper to get us to participate. How about asking people to help even if it involves a little sacrifice? No, we need to wrap philanthropy in a Tiffany box or we can't get excited. Here's how it should have been done: Apple should have ADDED $10 to the price and matched our donations so that a total of $20 would have been donated. That way, you are getting your iPod and actually making a donation as well. So, since Apple flubbed it's chance to allow you to participate in a good karma (or pro-Jesus) exercise (as the case may be), we have come to the rescue!
Donate the same $10 you SHOULD have been giving Apple to our Stephen Lewis Campaign! Guess what? There's absolutely nothing in it for you! It is an opportunity to be completely altruistic. We have complete faith that we don't need to dress us a generous act because we believe that people are basically good and that good people will do the right thing when presented with a bad situation.
Help prove us right.
After all, we are the people we've been waiting for.
Help prove us right.
After all, we are the people we've been waiting for.
People are basically good? Prepare to be disappointed.
I do agree with your assessment of the silliness of the red ipod. Nicely put.
Posted by: eric | November 26, 2006 at 07:46 PM
This article on Relevant just happened to catch my eye after reading your post... just another person exploring the celebrity/social justice phenomenon.
Posted by: jocelyn | November 27, 2006 at 12:46 AM
I also want to purchase ipod but as we all know this ipod cost huge amount of money. I just felt that I could buy tons of thing on that amount or at least help other people on that money.
Posted by: lowest ipod prices | December 28, 2008 at 08:55 AM