I took my last ride in my 1977 Datsun 280Z today. I’ve sold the car, and the new owner is picking it up tonight.
On this last drive, I patted the dashboard and said something like, “Sorry I have to sell you.” Which made me think about how some objects in my life are things I have relationships with, and some are just things.
I can’t even imagine what it must be like to have to give up a pet, or a baby, when I feel sad about just seeing my car go.
I really don’t want to own it anymore—it just doesn’t serve my daily needs—but on a deeper, emotional level, I have a warm feeling towards it, and something significant is going on around giving it up.
This feeling about my Z is totally different from the way I felt when I got an iPhone, which was nonetheless strong as well. I woke up early the morning the contract with my old provider expired and drove right to the Apple store. This was like a consumer electronics booty call. Object lust.
But now my phone is just a thing I use. I feel more emotion about my Swiss Army knife.
And I never felt a thing for my computer, even though I probably spend more time with it than anything–inanimate or animate–in my life.
What’s up with that?
Actually, I’ve got some pretty good ideas about why all of this is the way it is, but I’d rather hear your comments about things you
- love
- lust after
- hate
- feel indifferent about
Tags: 280Z, apple, car, Datsun, design, emotion, emotional design, iphone, love, object lust, objects, swiss army knife, Z Car
Hi Dan,
Comment by Matt 05.16.09 @ 2:55 pmStandard-issue desktop PCs and laptops struggle to inspire attachment, but I did come to love my Tablet PC, and wrote about the loss when it expired. You might also consider the story of Iceland’s IBM 1401, as told in music by Johann Johannsson.
Regards,
Matt
Matt, I read your post on your departed Tablet PC, and interestingly, many of the things that endeared you to that machine–its limitations, tactile qualities, and animate nature–are what made driving my old Z-car a unique experience.
The IBM 1401 story and musical piece are lovely. Have you seen this project by Darren Solomon?
The spirit feels similar to me…
Comment by Dan Soltzberg 05.18.09 @ 5:00 pmI stopped naming my cars after having emotional break-ups with them when selling them. Did you ever name your Z? Cars represent so many things – mile driven, trips taken, laughter with friends on journeys short or long – ah – - what a ride this thing called life.
Comment by kiki beach 05.19.09 @ 2:37 pmNo, I never named my Z. I’ve actually never named any of my cars, even though I have really strong emotions about them. Hmmm.
Comment by Dan Soltzberg 05.28.09 @ 7:52 pmFunny, this came up with our research participant last night. They weren’t interested in naming objects, even cars, but eventually it came out that a previous car had a name. But the car was used and they decided to keep the name, it was a very cute name (via a 4 year old girl).
Comment by Steve Portigal 05.29.09 @ 6:30 am