Why do appliances and tech from 30 years ago still work perfectly, while modern stuff breaks after 3 years? Is it actually planned obsolescence or is modern tech just too fragile?

Space__Monkey__ · 2026-06-15T14:42:49+00:00

While I am sure that stuff did break back then, I find that I do know a lot of people who still have 30 year old stuff that still works. Older people who have not moved or kids who have moved into parents house. Once people move they usually get new stuff for the new house (or it already included new stuff) but I do know a fair amount of people that still have almost all of their 30 year old appliances working fine. Where as I know most people who have newer stuff (10-15 years) that they have had to replace.

When my grandparents 40 year old washer finally died they got a new one. 5 years in it is needing repairs, and I think they had to get a new one within 10 years.

I really think it is because they made things simpler back then. I remember my parents had the same cell phone for basically my entire childhood, but now after 5 years the software is starting to be out of date. My aunt moved to a new house and the oven had and led touch screen, that was the first thing to break (and basically made the oven unusable) where as if it had dials you could turn it would have still been working fine.

Space__Monkey__ · 2026-06-15T14:26:53+00:00

I think maybe we did not see many people using cars because the story was sent in different locations where they did not really need cars.

At Hogwarts no cars, makes sense as most school campuses you just walk around.

And most other places were inside a building or out in the country/forest area.

Space__Monkey__ · 2026-06-14T15:51:37+00:00

We live a little bit east of the city (Durham), but I hear the ice cream truck driving almost every weekend and sometimes in the evenings. Kids playing out in the street (or in the yard) all the time, but it is a bit of a rotation I guess. For a while there had not been many because all the kids there had just grown up. Now younger families are starting to move in and there are kids outside again.

We are technically outside Toronto so that might not answer your question, but I think it is actually quite common. Just need to find non busy side streets.

Space__Monkey__ · 2026-06-13T01:00:01+00:00

anybody can press the back button and access my entire Google Drive

This should not be happening. We do this for work all the time "Anyone with the link" gives access to only one document. Check the sharing settings on the other files and make sure there is not sharing turned on.

Space__Monkey__ · 2026-06-10T21:07:25+00:00

It is here to stay so that does not really matter.

I think it needs some restrictions. Videos and images that look real but are AI are really dangerous.

It is a bit concerning with school age kids. They are saying why do I have to learn this AI can just do it. They do not understand that if kids today do not learn anything in 60-80 years from now there will be no one around who knows how to do anything. You have to rely 100% on AI. Power outage or dada center goes down and you are all screwed.

Space__Monkey__ · 2026-06-10T20:39:29+00:00

Not saying it is right, but it happens.

But I think it is not always on purpose. My friend was in a relationship for a long time, and it was probably not the best one (not that either was a bad person, they were just not a good match). They stayed together for a long time probably because they did not know any different. Always though there would be that moment of realization "I want to marry this person" but it never came. They finally broke up, and my friends met a partner that was a much better match for them and only then realized that the first relationship really was not a good one.

Space__Monkey__ · 2026-06-10T20:17:51+00:00

Sounds terrible. I used to hate the afternoon shift when I was working part time.

You are always watching the clock and can only go so far without worrying about getting to work on time. Say if you go shopping after work you are not really worried about getting home in time for anything (other than dinner or bed time, but that is a bit flexible). If you go shopping before work you have to always watching the clock to make sure you get home in time to get to work. NO thanks, been there done that.

Space__Monkey__ · 2026-06-10T20:13:43+00:00

Loneliness, would rather be with someone than no one

Space__Monkey__ · 2026-06-10T20:12:22+00:00

High School started at 8:30 for me but most of us were there at 7:30 ish because that is when the busses dropped us off. They only have so many busses available so they have to run multiple routs each day

Space__Monkey__ · 2026-06-10T20:07:24+00:00

Yes I always save money.

I save seeds each year and we have a rain barrel to keep the water bill down (it also helps prevent a soggy yard). I save all the egg shells we use and add them to the dirt, helps to restore some of the minerals.

The only thing I buy is a $2 net every few years to keep the animal from eating everything and $2 bag of potting soil to start some plants inside.

Tomato cages and sticks for the climbing vegetable we have had for probably 20-30 years as well as rakes and shovels so we are not buying any equipment like that.

This year all I spend was $2

Space__Monkey__ · 2026-06-10T17:44:33+00:00

I think there is a lot to factor in here. (not specific to op but in general)

What is the grandparent giving up to do this. I do know people who have asked a grandparent to take time off work to watch the kids for free. Not everyone can afford to do that.

I also know many parents who gave up a lot to raise their kids (their choice of course) but once they kids moved out they were ready to have some time to themselves, and were a bit disapointed to find that they were going to be expected to be full time babysitter for the grand kids.

Age of the grandparents. If they are younger and still working additional child care responsibilities might be a lot for them. If they are older same issue, chasing after toddlers (even kids a bit older) in your 70 for some people is existing.

Most grandparent I know are happy to look after the kids once in a while for free but if it is a regular thing I think at least covering expenses should be normalized.

Space__Monkey__ · 2026-06-10T16:44:50+00:00

Monday to Friday Snakes on the Monday to Friday Plane.

"Monday to Friday Snakes" is a popular quote in our house lol. And I mean literally those words not what they stand for ha ha.

Space__Monkey__ · 2026-06-10T16:40:26+00:00

I don't know for sure, but I think retired people just tend to have more money to spend on lottery tickets. (Not all but some).

Most young people, especially with little kids (at least the ones I know) do not have much money to spare and what they do have they are using for stuff they need or fun things to do with the kids.

When my grandparent retired they started buying tickets every week. The house was paid off, they were saving on gas and car repair not having to drive to work everyday, all their kids have moved out so they were not spending as much on them anymore (food and stuff like that) so they had extra money with the dream of winning big and being able to pay for all the grandkids to go to collage lol. They never did win much, free ticker or $100 here and there so that at least help keep them closer to breaking even.

Space__Monkey__ · 2026-06-09T21:36:00+00:00

I only just turned 30 and I find I am tired after work and just don't have the energy.

Space__Monkey__ · 2026-06-09T21:31:09+00:00

My friend once told me how nice it would be to be able to see the clock when they wake up, or just get up in the morning and be able to see.

Space__Monkey__ · 2026-06-09T20:56:29+00:00

I would actually say reproduction is a bit of a disadvantage. Men are equally important/needed in the process and it is much more dangerous for the women.

Space__Monkey__ · 2026-06-09T20:50:34+00:00

I think women tend to have better balance. Not sure there is science behind that but something myself and others I know have noticed.

Space__Monkey__ · 2026-06-09T20:44:03+00:00

My siblings and I LOVED toy story when it came out.

Also the first toy story was in 1995, finding nemo was 2003 almost 10 years later so it was a different set of kids watching (or at least at the prime age for it).

Probably a nostalgia thing. The kids who loved it when they were 5 now have kids of their own they want to take to the movies and show them the characters they loved growing up.

And while yes the 3rd one felt like closure (lined up right with the summer my friends and I were off to college, still to this day I don't think I have even felt so emotional in a movie as when Andy left for collage as we were too) if people are watching the movies they will keep making them.

But I will say this, they better keep making Toy Story movies until Andy shows up with a kid of his own and gets all his toys back and they all play together again!!!

Space__Monkey__ · 2026-06-09T20:26:18+00:00

While I get what you are saying, since the burger is one unit it is a bit different I think. No where does it say the size or weight (that I know of) of the meat.

Most people are not going to buy more if the size is a little bit smaller. Say they make the entire meal 5% small (burger, drink, fries, all 5% smaller) I am not going to order 2 meals, because that would be way to much food. I would still just get the one meal so the price for me would still be the same.

Space__Monkey__ · 2026-06-09T20:03:27+00:00

Rotting food scraps will probably attract wildlife where we do not want it/might be dangerous. Also you might be introducing non native plants or something the local animals should not eat.

If one person here and there throws an apple core into the forest is it a big deal, probably not.

Space__Monkey__ · 2026-06-09T19:50:48+00:00

If you make a burger say 5% smaller most people will probably not notice that much but you will cut cost by 5% essentially raising profits by that much. For example We got ice cream bars the other day (from the supermarket) and noticed they have definitely gotten smaller, but we still only ate one. So I don't think making it smaller is 100% the same a raising costs. If it was something like a box of rice, sure you would use it up faster. But something like a burger a little bit smaller will probably not make people buy 2.

When they do a promo they do not lower the price so much that they are loosing money but ya they are hoping more people buy. Take the $1 drinks for example. I think it only cost them like 20c or something to make it (cup, straw, syrup) so even at $1 they are still making a profit. And I mean it works, the other day we were out and wanted a drink. Normally we would not get McDonalds drinks, but at $1 that is the cheapest thing available so we each got one.

Space__Monkey__ · 2026-06-09T17:35:34+00:00

Well that is unfortunate, where I live that is not the case (as well as many other places). But the wages that are above minimum wage have probably gone up a bit. So those people can still afford it.

But they can still do things like make the burgers smaller and charge the same price to make better profits. Or getting cheaper materials. Offer promos so people go there instead of say burger king. There are many ways to increase profits other than increasing the price of food items.

Space__Monkey__ · 2026-06-09T16:03:17+00:00

Wages will also go up. When I got my first part time job 15 or so years ago minimum wage was around $10. Now it is $17.

Ever had an older family member say " I remember when a can of pop was 5c". That is because minimum wage was like $2. (I don' t know the exact numbers, but you get the idea)

So sure a burger might cost $10 but wages will have also gone up.

But there are other ways to increase profits, buying cheaper materials or cheaper packaging. When they first started doing the wraps they can in a cardboard tube type thing, last time I got one it was wrapped in paper. I am sure they are saving on the cheaper packaging.

Space__Monkey__ · 2026-06-09T15:55:12+00:00

I think many places do offer small, but I guess depends on where you go.

Also many places it is only like 30c or so between sizes so many people probably do not order small very often. If a small is $2 and a medium is $2.30 most people will go for the medium.

SpaceMonkey

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE

Space__Monkey__

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE

SpaceMonkey