Printed Tags

originally published on November 3, 2020

As I start writing this blog, the first topic that occurs to me is a matter of surely little importance but one that I’m reminded of almost daily. These writings will at least sometimes tackle important topics, such as concern for the salvation of souls, the feeding and caring for the world’s teeming billions, and the care of the Earth and its animals. Indeed such topics as these are important and are worthy of reflecting on often. But today, right now, I want to discuss something genuinely trivial and get it off my chest. And what then is that, you rightfully and impatiently ask, dear reader.

I’m talking here about how technology, which generally makes our lives easier, sometimes oversteps itself and works against us. (Actually it probably does this all the time.)

I’m sure you’ve noticed these days how the “tag” inside a T-shirt is now printed onto the fabric instead of being an actual cloth tag sewn into the shirt. Well this is wonderful! No itchy tag to scratch the back of our necks! The onward progression of manufacturing processes! A better world for all!

Not so fast, I say, not so fast! Try to take this same T-shirt and pull it on in the dark. Surely you can’t see the printed “tag”, and surely you can’t feel the printed “tag”. So you have a 50-50 chance of getting it on right (assuming there are no other affordances, like a pocket). Now if you guessed right, yay! You can proceed unhindered to your next task. But otherwise, you have to take it off and reverse it. Yay for the absurdities of too much technology in our lives!

And one more thing about printed tags: They wear off! Yes, all this fancy printed tag business does a lot of good if the freaking tags wears off so that it’s not visible even in good light.

Now, some people call me a Luddite and maybe I am, but I think that too much technology, too much innovation, too much interference with the mechanics of basic life, tear life down, as evidenced even in this small example. The point is, we don’t need T-shirt labels printed onto the fabric. The printed tag worked fine the way it was and should stay that way! Don’t the companies working on printing tags onto the fabric of T-shirts, have other, more helpful things to do with their time to benefit humanity? I, for one, think so!

I can think of another example of technology intruding into our lives that has only been a disaster if you ask me, and you might know to what I’m referring! Yes, cell phones. These dastardly inventions from the pit of hell have ruined society, our youth (due to pornography and social media), and generally caused a coarsening of our behavior. I would gladly go back to the old phone plugged into the wall and sitting on a table in the hall. If only I can get my time machine finished and make my grand escape. I’m working on it, believe me!

To do justice to this immense topic of cell phones, that is, I will need to do another post someday.

Meanwhile, thank you, dear reader, for reading to the end. May your time be rewarded (somehow).