Recently, I accidentally dropped my iPhone while I was getting out of the car. It landed smacking directly on the ground, quite a few battle scars to the black back of my phone. Strangely, the Apple logo was spared. Those scars would would look good on the faces of Kenshin and Sousuke, but definitely not on my phone.
The instant my phone dropped, my expression was a toned down version of this image
For the first time, I picked up my phone, checked it was still functional, and moved on without giving it much of a second look. From past experiences, I would remain flustered for some time after any gadget of mine gets physically damaged, thinking of ways to try and reduce the damage marks.
Something has changed, slightly. And it’s not only my attitude to the condition of phones, but to other stuff too.
Not to long ago, back when I was trapped in the figurine whirlpool craze, I took a really long time to choose each time I bought a figurine. I would often request for a few to choose from and try my best to spot even the smallest of flaws. Sometimes, even after all that choosing, I still end up with some figurines possessing flaws.
When I bought manga, I would often check the book for any physical defects, even the minor ones, as though I was a detective investigating a crime scene. When I bought CDs, I would pick and choose so that I could avoid getting cracked CD cases. As usual, luck isn’t always on my side, and some of these that I purchased had external physical defects.
All this made buying stuff a really irritating process which frequently ended up with me getting upset.
Upset like this, without the jagged teeth
Eventually, after going through almost 2 years of self-torment each time I bought something that wasn’t ingestible, I came to realise some things.
I’ve always been trying to look for stuff in perfect condition, and if I received something that was slightly flawed, it would bother me. Also, even if I managed to get something in perfect condition, it will eventually degrade and have some flaws, be it due to natural occurrence or my carelessness. The paint will eventually fade of figurines, the manga’s pages will eventually age, I might accidentally drop a gadget and cause physical damage etc.
What’s the point of tormenting myself over such foolish matters such as the perfection of the physical appearance? As long as it functions and looks alright, I should be fine with it. It’ll just be better to accept that.
I feel foolish. Demanding to get something in perfect condition is simply unreasonable. Obviously, it would be great to get something close to my ideal of perfect, but I don’t really see the point in placing so much emphasis on the finer details of physical appearance of whatever I possess.
All of this, it doesn’t really matter anymore. Or at least I want to believe so.
Question: Anyone similar to whatever described?
What the fuck? Thats an epic failure. You shouldve held your Iphone tight. Very tight.
hahahaha, I know how you feel!!! Anything that I get and think of as precious, I will semi-instantly break! I manage to crack the case of any CD that doesn’t go right on the shelf. When I first bought my GBA SP (a special edition one) I banged it up by it falling from my pocket within like a day. Everything I own is bound to break at some point. I pretty much gave up long ago on m shit looking good. I’m just glad to own it
Poor fellow….. I will never let my Iphone drop!!! (yes, I say so…But not sure if it really will…)
Yeah, I tend to react badly the first time something happens to tarnish something I value, but after that it doesn’t matter.
The first time I drop a new phone outside, I get really upset about the scratches. My perfect phone has been defaced! I even went through the trouble of buying protective covers for it, but they ended up inhibiting its functionality so I took it off and during this moment my phone suffers damage that could have been prevented.
After that first time, it just doesn’t matter anymore. If I drop it again a few months later, I pick it up and keep going. I’m that way with everything I own. I would love it if everything were in perfect condition, but once it happens the first time, as long as it serves its purpose I’m okay.
I am exactly like you when buying things. I’m also at the point to where I’m starting to not give a sh** anymore when I buy stuff. I mean, who cares if the manga has one of those security patches inside of the cover. If it doesn’t cover anything up, it doesn’t detract from the manga itself. But no, I have to go and be all anal-retentive about it…
Like you said, I feel foolish when I think back on it. But I have the hardest time escaping that shopping habit.
Gadgets are supposed to be used and eventually abused. I hardly use any protective covering on my gadgets unless it came free with the bundle. Scratches and dents don’t matter unless I’m putting it back up on the market. It just means I’ve fully utilised the gadfet.
Don’t be a Yui and let Ritsu pull off that protective mindset.
that is why avoid buying too expensive gadgets with me. if i have one, i am paranoid – i keep it in my bag, even if it is a cellphone when walking around.
apple hardware users are most likely to get a heart attack when their i-gadget falls down to the floor/pavement etc. because it’s damn expensive.
i’ve recently read almost the exact same story when somebody had their ipod fall out to the ground when he was walking out of the bus. pretty much the same reaction, except that for him the whole situation looked like it was in slow-motion.
as for me, when my mp3 player breaks – i check if it works (it usually does, actually), reflash it (it needs a reflashing ~2 times a year) and … keep using it.
when it dies – i buy a new one, since it is actually quite cheap.
oh, and i do not go for “perfect look” things. if it has a few scratches – it means that it has seen a lot. weird, i know. my nokia and my psp are really scratched, but i like them that way.
For me, it’s books. I try to keep them in perfect condition, but if something happens to them, I suddenly stop caring about them.^^; Don’t really care about my gadgets though.
Your iPhone is a Sousuke.
dude relax , at least it didn’t break ya ?
Perfection isn’t always the best idea, sometimes the flaws are what makes them perfect.
Is the display ok?? if not, then start to worry…
I dropped my cell from the stairs. It bounced a couple of times but it was still functional.
Oh, dear, double, you perfectionist freak. Enjoy the flaws of a person (or an object): the world isn’t made round (it isn’t, by the way).
I think you shouldn’t be too materialistic, double. Sooner or later all good things must come to an end. Enjoy your iPhone while it still works.
P.S.: (insert promotion of against buying touchscreen phones: if the screen fails, how are you going to make a phone call?)
Sojourner > I need my Arbalest/Laevatein.
TP > If your keypad fails, how are you going to make a phone call?
I can relate to what you’ve been writing. Whenever I choose a book, a manga, a CD or any other anime-related stuff, I have to waste time trying to buy them in a flawless condition. I know they do degrade, but truth be told, I’m also really careful with all of my anime/manga shit so… it’s worth buying them in a good condition. Most likely they’ll stay that way for some time. Perhaps it’s foolish, but I doubt I could change that about myself. (>.>)
Ah, but when it comes to phones, i-pods, clothes, or anything that’s not related to my Japan-mania, I don’t give a damn. (^_^)’ I dropped my phone not only on the street or in my home, but also in a WC once… so go figure.
I think almost all people who like to buy nice things have to learn to outgrow obsessive-compulsive tendencies regarding them. Now I don’t usually bother that sort of carefulness, frequently referencing and wearing down old novels I would have never thought of being less gentle with then a landing butterfly in the past.
When you’re young the things you want are rare. Once you reach around 18 or so you realise ‘if this breaks, there will be a more awesome version I want soon enough anyway’. In regards to manga, CDs and things, once you’ve been buying things like that for long enough it’s impossible not to realise that nothing remains perfect.