The Existent Appeal of the Notional Bluetooth (or vice-versa)

Existent: "actual: presently existing in fact and not merely potential or possible;"
Notional: "Existing only as a concept."

Everybody loves Bluetooth; even if they pretend they don't. I know that because I used to pretend I didn't love Bluetooth. I would look at people using Bluetooth and have "anti-bluetooth" thoughts about them. I even got in a fight with my own Mom because she's had one for about a year now, she thinks it's really cool, and likes to wear it in her ear more often than she needs to. For instance, one time she put it on her ear when we got in the car and she was the passenger. The following conversation ensued:

"Mom, don't put your Bluetooth in your ear like that."

    "Why?"

"Because it's not cool. Dont' do that."

    "I think it's cool, plus we're required to used these in California when we drive."

"Yeah but Mom, you're not DRIVING!"

    "Well, I like it."

"Yeah, but it's not cool. Stop it."

    "Be quiet Danny. It's my Bluetooth and I'll wear it if I want to."

"Arrgh"

This is reminiscent when my mom used to get me clothes I didn't like and, when I complained, would tell me that it's fine because "it's the style"; the style which she of course had no knowledge or concern of.

But in her defense I can now see the desire to always have the Bluetooth in the ear. Yesterday I was in staples and I saw that Bluetooth earpieces are only $30 now. So I grabbed one and set it up with my iphone and was immediately struck with the non-negotiable desire to put it in my ear and just leave it there; just in case somebody called. This to the fervent dismay of my buddy Ryan who profusely and loudly told me to take it out or he would stop the car and kick me out of it. Basically the same conversation I had with my mom.

So I realize now that my mom, and every other Bluetooth earpiece wearing person is not actually trying to be cool by doing something markedly un-cool, but instead they are just drawn in by the technological ease and simplicity that these earpieces seem to offer.

That combined with the uncanny perfection of marketing a standard with a really catchy can cool name (note "Bluetooth" doesn't actually mean anything. It's a name that somebody made up to refer to a standard that speaks to a certain class of wireless devices. Technologically, there's nothing special about a "Bluetooth", it's just a wireless earpiece with a cool name and a few simple rules that it has to follow in order to make it compatible with cell-phones) has led everyone to experience a bit of Bluetooth mania at one point or another, and made us all just a little bit more geeky – if not a little bit better at driving our cars.

So now that's me. I have a little lame Bluetooth earpiece and I wear it for phone conversations and sometimes when I don't need to and it doesn't actually make me any more cool. But it makes things more convenient and so I like it.

This is a weird pattern in my life. Sometimes I find myself liking the thing most which I once criticized the most fervently; see also the iphone, brand-name clothing, um… ...Canada, T.I., and a bunch of other things. Who knows, maybe one day I'll be a fan of Macs over PCs and Mark Driscoll's preaching style…

...but I doubt it.

Gratuitous Photo Posts

the little guy and his (charging) case.

in the case charging. Kind of like a little baby. Irritating that you have to close the case to charge though.

profile view. Man I'm a geek.

Bonus Story

To make things even more interesting. This morning after I got into work I was distracted by my Bluetooth and various other thing. In the midst of these disctractions (one being putting the Bluetooth into it's charging cradle) I somehow took a swipe at my open coffee mug and knocked it toward the floor. I literally saw a giant gelatinous-like gob of coffee leave my cup and splatter onto the floor next to my desk. I picked up the mug, which still had a bunch of coffee in it, and placed it on my desk. I then contemplated how to deal with the recently spilled coffee and – reaching for a napkin – knocked my mug (still open) over AGAIN; this time all over my desk.

I then stood there while Jenny (my in-office mom substitute) saw that I was basically frozen with confusion, and ran off to get me some towels.

I always like to think i'm not a clutz, but unfortunately the body of evidence surrounding my life has a different opinion.

But I'm happy this happened because, if for no other reason, I got to use THIS bad boy to clean up the spill:

Extreme power duster-buster something something. It's sick. You want one.

Dan.