I’m a gadgetarian. I don’t even know when the word was invented, or by whom. But I like the sound of it, it aptly describes one of my enduring passions. I’m a tool-using animal like many species of mammals, humans included. But my thing is, you guessed it, gadgets. A person can be a centenarian, a vegetarian or even a Mandelorian; as for me, I’m a gadgetarian.
Terms like “gadget freak” or “gadget addict” smack of mindless, wacko-tinged obsession with 21st century tools, and do not really describe me. I’m a smart kind of tool user, which makes me a wily gadgetarian (finally, I get to that part). Others may be anal, acquisitive, wallet-emptying gadgetarians, but I belong to the thoughtful sub-species that buys only what it actually needs – and goes for the good but (relatively) cheap options.
The world is full of choices, and the tech world similarly so. It is awash in electronic innovations that seduce the senses (as well as our bank accounts), usually made more desirable by marketing gimmicks aimed at swiftly milking techno-fools of their finite cash. It is true that no one is totally devoid of the creepy compulsions of obsessive shopping, including me. But I’d like to think I’ve managed to keep mine at a safe level, just a notch below that of a techno-fool.
Lest I be accused of being a cheapskate, I would like to clarify that I do shell out a bit more cash for better quality gadgets whenever the situation and my budget allow it. I don’t buy junk, for that would sorely tarnish my self-image of being wily. It is never smart to save for saving’s sake; a proper balance must always be struck between quality and quantity. That is true with life, but even more so with gadgetarianism.
Before you open your browser to Google that word, let me first assure you it does not exist. It’s not good English; in fact, it’s not even a word. But it does sound cool, yes?
