B2 – Upper Intermediate
If you’ve owned antique or vintage furniture or appliances, there’s a good chance you’ve noticed how durable these old items are. And when compared to modern devices, the difference is night and day—newer technology breaks and bends as easily as paper, while older stuff sometimes feels as durable as tanks. But how can it be possible for newer items to be worse than older ones? Shouldn’t newer technology create better and more durable items? But in reality, most of the appliances, furniture, and tools being sold to us now are specifically designed to be weak and frail.
To find out more about planned obsolescence, watch the video below.
Vocabulary Questions:
- What is a “fringe idea”? “Now, this might sound like a wild, fringe idea, but people were clearly afraid of being put out of work by technological progress and products that were too good.” Use this term in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
- What does “overnight sensation” mean? “In the 1940s, the synthetic nylon replaced silk in stockings and it was so durable that the products became an overnight sensation.” Use this expression in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
- What does “to get one’s hands on something” mean? “There were riots when women tried to get their hands on the synthetic nylon stockings.” Use this idiom in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
Discussion Questions:
- Why have companies made their products intentionally worse even though technology has improved?
- Discuss the pros and cons of planned obsolescence.
- What is your opinion about dynamic obsolescence?
- Have you noticed examples of planned and dynamic obsolescence on some products around you before? If so, give details on what you’ve noticed.
- Share your thoughts on this statement, “The only type of obsolescence we should support is technological.“
4 replies on “Why We Can’t Have Nice Things”
1. Why have companies made their products intentionally worse even though technology has improved?
The companies wanted to obtain more benefits with the products society needed. This occurred with a lot of products as bulbs and syntetic nylon stocking.
2. Discuss the pros and cons of planned obsolescence.
I find it difficult a company can survive selling things that have a life cycle huge. But I think the amount of waste that are caused by obsolescence is enormous. The number of materials that are extracted of the earth to develop things is impoverishing the earth and leaving it without resources. From my view it is necessary to reconsider how to develop the economy. Lineal economy based on extract, manufacture and dispose is not possible anymore. I think we have to think twice about circular economy models.
3. What is your opinion about dynamic obsolescence?
When I listened the concept and understood I think it is a very good term to define something that I see very interesting. I want to obtain the same shirt because the colour is different. I think we don´t think in the right way this and we spend more conscientiously.
4. Have you noticed examples of planned and dynamic obsolescence on some products around you before? If so, give details on what you’ve noticed.
Yes, clothes ar a very good example, cars are a very good example as well, but nobody buy two cars because the colour is different.
5. Share your thoughts on this statement, “The only type of obsolescence we should support is technological.“
I like this statement. In this world where the speed of change is so rapid, this is the most important type of obsolescence.
Your responses work well as they are. With only a few adjustments, its clarity and style could be improved.
You’ve expressed your points well. The version below just makes the sentence flow more smoothly:
Stay consistent, stay positive, and remember that every day of practice brings you closer to your goal.
Vocabulary 1. At first, the proposal was dismissed as a fringe idea, but later it gained wider support
Vocabulary 2. The singer became an overnight sensation.
Vocabulary 3. can’t wait to get my hands on the new book.
Discussion Questions
Discussion 1. Mostly for two reasons:
1. To increased their profit margins because the cost of components came down and the cartel kept prices virtually unchanged
2. To keep selling their products
Discussion2
-PRO Perhaps it’s a way to generate employment
Rest of the reasons are CONS
Discussion 3 – Related to the current world of consumption and the needs created by companies
Discussion4
The difference between planned and dynamic obsolescence is that the former is a planned weakness in the product that renders it unusable, while the latter is when the product simply becomes unattractive. Examples of planned obsolescence include the lifespan of batteries, and of dynamic obsolescence, clothing and its seasonal changes.
Discussion 5 – Related to point 3
Your dedication to practicing your writing skills is admirable.
You could rewrite the answer to Question # 3 in a clearer and more complete way like this:
Great job staying committed to writing practice!