A to Z – Reliability

Reliability used to mean something in this world. If something or someone was reliable then it was desirable. Now, things aren’t reliable. We live in a disposable world and, from what I see in the news even the people are disposable now. For my A to Z Challenge letter R I have chosen to talk about some reliability issues.

When I was a kid even the McDonald’s toys were pretty decent, granted they had lead in them but still, they were well made. I had Matchbox cars that were detailed, cap guns that lasted forever metal parts and all. Need proof, when I was a kid I had a cap gun it looked something like this.

I’m not sure when, but I lost it in the yard. I couldn’t have been more than 8 when it happened, I dont think I played with toy guns much after that. Thirty or so years later I found it when I was digging out an old way overgrown Yucca bush. After getting off all the plant particles and dirt I went to the store, got some caps and played with my gun again, that’s reliability.

Now though, Everything has an expiration date, they are made to break. Land fills are filling and have been for years. TV’s, Appliances, Cellphones, Computers, Clothing, and even, cap guns… all have a time they are built to wear out in. Cell phones, battery life, 2 years right when your “contract” will be up, that’s not a coincidence. Furniture is made out of presswood now, its garbage, all of it. I went through multiple bookshelves because the shelves would bow. I’m sure we call all relate to the horrible dresser drawers when the bottoms come out of the grooves.

I shop at yard sales now, especially for furniture. Office chairs, the one I am sitting in now is making my butt numb. It’s just over a year old, cost $149.99 and was great for about a year. One Year, and now I need a new one, so what happens to this one? You see the cushioning, is worn out… so I feel like I’m sitting on a hard surface. For a while I will put a pillow on it, but eventually… anyway let me go get a pillow. You can’t re-stuff a chair, I’ve tried. you can spend more money and get a nice seat cushion, anywhere from $99-199 from what I’m looking at.

I want things, and people, and everything to be reliable again. Maybe I should just be Amish, I bet they make good bookshelves.