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Washington Post: Why do we carry so much around?

Burdens of the Modern Beast

What’s in my bag: Yes, I will cut you.Washington Post on the growing amount of crap people carry around (present company very much included).

The increased quantity of carry-on items for our flight through life, he says, reflects "the tendency of our society to dispense with sources of shared stability -- the long-term job, neighborhoods, unions, family dinners -- and transform us into autonomous free agents."

The Walkman, introduced in 1979, Hine says in an e-mail, "probably set the precedent; it allowed people to be physically in a space, but mentally detached. The plethora of 'communications' devices we carry are also tools of isolation from the immediate environment. And, in the words of the recruiting ad, we each become 'an army of one' carrying all our tools of survival through a presumably hostile world."

It's the perfect posture for the Age of Insecurity. We fret about our jobs, families, country, manhood or womanhood, ability to be a good parent. We believe someone is out to get us. And to get our things. So, like the homeless, we carry our stuff with us. Just in case something, or anything, happens.

[ via Joe Ganley on The Google Group ]


So what should you carry, hmmm?

If you're looking to shed (or, perhaps, more efficiently augment) your on-board crap pile, check out these fun pages from the 43F wiki:

jif's picture

funny this topic came up...

funny this topic came up as i had recnetly had that same discussion with a friend who carries everything he owns in his wallet.. a big cellphone with a case and keys to gods know what with him...just seeing him makes me unfomfortable... over the years i have tried to carry less and less and ive got to tell u..once u get used to it..nothing like it... at first it seems difficult to cut down with all the stuff but eventually u realize u dont need eveythng everday... i am reduced to smallest cellphone, my car key doesnt have a keychain... and my wallet is now a card holder... holds 3 cards license and some cash...perfect... when u dont have space in your wallet ur forced to leave stuff like reciepts, calling cards at home

 
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