Obsolescence

I was thinking the other day about obsolescence. Everything eventually wears out or becomes obsolete, but are we doing that faster now than in previous generations? I think so. The throw away generation of 20 years ago has become the 'throw it away faster' generation of today. You doubt me? Then look at your computer. It will be obsolete before you can even think about its being no longer worth keeping. We plan things to be obsolete. First the makers of goods did it, and now we individuals have been trained by advertising and the economic engines that run the economy to think that we must constantly change our products or risk becoming outdated ourselves.
That computer you have and are using right now is made cheaply because it is supposed to be replaced shortly so the manufacturer can make a bigger profit and continue making more of them. Really, anything that is profitable today seems to be obsolete oriented. If it lasts a long time the maker can't make the maximum profit off sales of it. Just try replacing components of a 10 year old computer! It's almost impossible to find an replacement parts because the 10 year old computer was made to quickly become obsolete.
Fifty years ago people didn't have computers. They had typewriters, and typewriters often lasted as long as the human who owned it lived. If it was broken it was repaired, and plenty of parts and repair people would fix it inexpensively. But now in the age of 'throw it away faster' (Ok, I made up this stupid name for the generation....you are welcome to forget it faster if you want) we have exchanged typewriters that last 75 years for computers that last about 4 or 5. Is it really necessary to make an entire new computer when only a few components change? Surely, computers could be made more adaptable to accept new innovations in components...but that would be less profitable for the computer industry.
I use the illustration of your computer as an a example but there are many more obvious ones, automobiles being the most noticeable. How many years do people keep their cars before disposing them (trading in or buying a new one)? It's not much longer than the life of the computer. I know people didn't trade in their horses in the days before the automobile. They got rid of that horse because it was worn out, not because it was no longer stylish looking enough for their transient tastes.
The point is that we live in a throw away economy that encourages waste in favor of impulse and greed. No wonder the world resources are shrinking. It's probably why we adopt so many crazy trendy theories like "global warming". They assuage the guilt we have from using up the world's blessings so quickly. "I'm going to waste a lot today, use paper plates instead of reusable stoneware plates and then throw them away... I will leave the TV on all day, drive my car to the store around the corner, buy more new clothes to look sharp even though my closet is full...but I am against 'global warming' so I am not really wasting." That's the mentality of many today. They claim to "save the planet" to be "environmentally responsible" et all...but in their daily lives they follow the same obsolescence path of the people they criticize for not bowing to silly causes like global warming that they trump.
Just a thought today from my somewhat obsolete brain. I know...I should probably throw my brain away and get a new one that works better.