The Grand Illusion
The other evening, I was watching a news show, and a commercial came on. Fancy that.
But that commercial stunned me, because it was about shoes, and it began by saying how much trouble it was to have to bend over and put on or tie your shoes. Then it went on to suggest that these new slip-on shoes would save you from the drudgery involved in footwear.
Oh, the work and effort involved in putting on shoes!
Now, while I realize that putting on shoes can be quite an effort for people with physical limitations, this commercial was aimed at prosperous and quite physically able individuals and pictured them as well.
But then, I’m definitely dated. I not only wear footwear, usually boots, but I also keep them moderately well-polished, another habit that appears to have vanished.
Hasn’t the sloppiness and comfort at any cost movement gone far enough?
We already see tank tops and flip-flops on commercial flights, in grocery stores, in many restaurants, and I’ve even seen them in theatres.
Is it such a trial to wear actual clothing these days?
Well… perhaps it is. Perhaps actual clothing has become as passe as actual facts.
Flip-flops/slip-ons on flights have a very good reason these days! Having to take shoes off at security and then put them on again, while keeping tabs on 1-3 carry-on bags and the rest of your party… and the pressure to hurry, hurry, hurry! Well, all I can say for that is that you’d better have some very good balance or someone to act as a stabilizing point.
For the rest though I agree, although I’ve seen some pretty dressy-style flip-flops in the past.
Without knowing the product I obviously can’t speak for sure, but most products “Marketed at normal people” that seem overly lazy or made for people with disabilities… They’re made for people with Disabilities. But it’s harder to market that product so they don’t.
The Snuggy is a blanket for people confined to bedrest or who have difficulty with motor function.
That pasta strainer that hooks on the sink? No one ever really thought some goofball was balancing a collander and a 3 gallon pot of pasta in boiling water. But imagine that product for those with physical weakness, or missing a limb.
In general, whenever you see a product and go “Why are you marketing like that?” It’s a very likely thing that it’s because selling it for what it was built to do didn’t earn enough profit to make sure they could continue. Or selling them to regular markets means they can subsidize them for people who need them.
Is this shoe that type of product vs something else? Don’t know, but it very well could be.
Mr. Modesitt Jr.,
You made me laugh with this comment. I loved it. I love your books also, and Thank You for many delightful hours reading them.
One of the things I noticed in your writing, is the description of meals eaten by your protagonists. I truly enjoy them. It calms me down when I get internally ‘wound up’ from the story. Again, Thank You Sir for enriching my reading life. Brilliant works. Cheers.
On describing meals, Jack Vance was very good at that as well.
I never wear flip flops or sandals on a flight, after the
time a person ran over my toes with a heavy luggage cart. Ouch!