discussion Video exposing children laboring for cobalt in the Congo goes viral

[GraceRandolph]

This is absolutely disheartening. I’m glad I have had the same iPhone since 2017 at least. I feel awful for contributing to this. 

[Apolonio ₃₄]

I feel bad but I need my iPhone 15.

 

Sorry. 

[ugo]

people don't care it's too hard to give up on phones/laptop/rare beauty/fenty beauty it's easier to put a flag on a social media profile or tweet a hashtag 

[helpthomas]

it's awful, but it's not on us regular people to give up these things. these objects that capitalism has forced us to buy for a normal living standard. it's not our fault everything has shifted towards smart devices. we're merely puppets trying to live our lives, and it's the corporations who are at fault. their greed and their power is at fault.

 

i feel bad, because i am not a psychopath, but i also know this is beyond me. this is beyond me not buying a new phone. the phone was already produced. this is late stage capitalism, and its consequences. 

[Gov Hooka]

It’s horrifying. 

[GraceRandolph]

27 minutes ago, Rogue said:

I feel bad but I need my iPhone 15.

 

Sorry. 

 

21 minutes ago, ugo said:

people don't care it's too hard to give up on phones/laptop/rare beauty/fenty beauty it's easier to put a flag on a social media profile or tweet a hashtag 

 

13 minutes ago, helpthomas said:

it's awful, but it's not on us regular people to give up these things. these objects that capitalism has forced us to buy for a normal living standard. it's not our fault everything has shifted towards smart devices. we're merely puppets trying to live our lives, and it's the corporations who are at fault. their greed and their power is at fault.

 

i feel bad, because i am not a psychopath, but i also know this is beyond me. this is beyond me not buying a new phone. the phone was already produced. this is late stage capitalism, and its consequences. 

We can become more than mindless consumers and try to make conscious choices when possible. This self defeating attitude is just not it. 

 

[HEAVYONIT]

NPR did an entire Throughline episode on this several months ago…child labor in cobalt mines in Africa has been going on for awhile 

[helpthomas]

43 minutes ago, GraceRandolph said:

 

 

We can become more than mindless consumers and try to make conscious choices when possible. This self defeating attitude is just not it. 

 

oh i always do! i just want to highlight the fact that truthfully all of our collective conscious choices won't have any impact because the responsibility lies in the hands of the corporations. i am very ethical with my consumption, but i am okay with the fact that i won't change the world through them

[ugo]

50 minutes ago, GraceRandolph said:

 

 

We can become more than mindless consumers and try to make conscious choices when possible. This self defeating attitude is just not it. 

 

as you use a MacBook and write on ATRL 

 

1 hour ago, helpthomas said:

it's awful, but it's not on us regular people to give up these things. these objects that capitalism has forced us to buy for a normal living standard. it's not our fault everything has shifted towards smart devices. we're merely puppets trying to live our lives, and it's the corporations who are at fault. their greed and their power is at fault.

 

i feel bad, because i am not a psychopath, but i also know this is beyond me. this is beyond me not buying a new phone. the phone was already produced. this is late stage capitalism, and its consequences. 

no one forces you to buy digital devices

[GraceRandolph]

2 minutes ago, ugo said:

as you use a MacBook and write on ATRL 

[helpthomas]

10 minutes ago, ugo said:

no one forces you to buy digital devices

you're not dumb and i'm not dumb and that is enough reason for both of us to understand that we aren't literally forced to buy these devices, but the modern society is now built on them. i am a person just like you, i go to work every day and i have my hobbies. all of the things i do include multiple devices. i am not forced to work either, if you want to go that far, but i am smart enough to do it and not become homeless. it's deeper than just dropping everything, but i at least know this and won't pretend like i could change my entire life around or the world for that matter. come on

[SmittenCake]

1 hour ago, Rogue said:

I feel bad but I need my iPhone 15.

 

Sorry. 

What an absolutely disgusting and insensitive response to such a serious issue. Its proven that these iPhone 'upgrades' are nearly nonexistent and are solely a thing for people to flex upon each other. You can always get refurbished phones that work for a long time.  

 

1 hour ago, helpthomas said:

it's awful, but it's not on us regular people to give up these things. these objects that capitalism has forced us to buy for a normal living standard. it's not our fault everything has shifted towards smart devices. we're merely puppets trying to live our lives, and it's the corporations who are at fault. their greed and their power is at fault.

 

i feel bad, because i am not a psychopath, but i also know this is beyond me. this is beyond me not buying a new phone. the phone was already produced. this is late stage capitalism, and its consequences. 

You are right. But there's solutions to come up with to push pressure such as not buying these new phones at all and sticking with older/refurbished phones. 

 

 

[SmittenCake]

Another viral video 

 

I'm furious