Kudos go to my hubby for giving me the idea for this blog post – after I explained to him my experience at a local Apple Store at the mall. I suppose I should first define technologism, in my own view, of course, since the word doesn’t appear to exist – the blatant discrimination against a person who uses an electronic or technological device that has been upgraded and enhanced and is almost obsolete.
Now, continuing with my story…I decided to make a longer trek to a fancy mall to show my 2-year-old son something different. He was excited once he got there (he kept yelling ‘Mu, mu, mu’ (translation: mall) in the car knowing that I was clearly driving in a different direction than we usually head for our regular mall outing.)
So, as I just purchased a refurbished iPod mini, which is ironically not really mini since newer and slimmer versions of the iPod exist, I wanted to go to The Apple Store to find a better case for my new gadget. A pink case did come with the mp3 player but I wanted something different.
I finally find the store in the mall (which has no name on the outside, just the Apple symbol – how clever), I look around at all the cases available. After about five minutes, I realized that cases for my mini are not displayed. So, I ask the employee there, “Do you all have cases for the iPod mini?” She looks at me and then looks at the wall o’ cases, smiles and says, “No, we sure don’t,” and then she laughs! Not a gut-wrenching, belly-busting a laugh, but more of a snicker, like what I had asked was funny.
I kindly thanked her and left. I was however a bit shocked at her response. I mean, I understand that the iPod has evolved over the years, as does all technology, but that doesn’t mean everyone who has ever received or bought an iPod must discard their “outdated” equipment for something newer. I am actually quite happy with my mini, even though I bought it used and refurbished. It’s my first iPod, it works well and does the job I wanted it for.
So, I believe I was a victim of technologism – discriminated against by a perpetrator who was surprised to find someone still uses the mini. Maybe if Apple and other companies could come up with some sort of trade-in program, for example, donate your old ipod and we’ll give you a 10 percent discount on a new one, then more people like myself would be willing to spend money on updated products. In any case, I will be keeping my mini, thank you very much, and trying to find a case elsewhere. Anyone have one to sell? 
