June 16, 2000
Have you ever tried net shoppng? I have not. I don't think it fits to me. I like internet. I like computer. I enjoyed myself a lot on recent IT world. But shopping via internet is something different to me.
I read some article written by bicycle shop's owner in Oregon on recent Newsweek which is stating same kind of opinion. It says, "On-line shopping is very convenient and effective but traditional shopping at retail store gives you conversation among people". I totally agree with him.
I like shopping and conversation with sales person. First of all, I want to see, feel and touch the goods before I buy. I watch and listen sales person's behavior and advice. I really enjoy myself on conversation with him/her. This evening, I went to super store to buy something to eat. (By the way, now I am temporarily single because my wife and son are in Osaka.) One sales person asked me to buy smoked poke and repeatedly recommended to try 1 piece. It was really good taste! But I was not in the mood to eat poke tonight but to get some deep fried fish or beef for curry with rice which I make myself. So I answered "No thanks". She said, "Thanks anyway", "I thank you!", I said again. Then she tried to ask same thing to other customers.
You know, this incident is nothing important. It always happens among the people any time any place as long as you live. In other words, to live is to talk to people, I think. I like it even if it's meaningless conversation. Shopping is one of the basic activities in order to live in the society. For example, above incident tells you one of the decision making, "Should I buy it?" or "Should not?" I don't want to talk about complicated thing but it was simple example but was actually difficult thing saying, "No thanks"to me.
Above bicycle shop's owner also says, "Conversation is one of the basic thing among the society of human being. The speed of communication has become so fast that many things would be done through internet, even shopping or conversation". I am concerned what's going to happen in near future. All the people would shop everything via internet or any other electronical commnucation method? It would be really convenient but people could start forgetting face-to-face communication and just type keyboard to give name, address and VISA numbers to the computer.
I don't think it's good shopping that the imporant thing is how quick, effective and convenient to buy anything. To commnunicate with people to decide to use my money or your money to get something and to feel personality and way of thinking of the people are more important process to live in the society.
Recent IT innovation creates lots of helpful and useful things for all the people and I like it very much too. But I strongly feel that the more internet gets popular, the faster everything would have to be done, i.e., to do my job, to decide anything, to make vacation plan, to watch movie, to have dinner at restaurant and even to relax! This is something wrong and strange. We had better slow down the pace somehow to enjoy the life as human being. How do you think?
Awaiting for your comments.
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