Difference between revisions of "325--2011--Week 12 Questions/Comments"

While I can't speak much about Maine's choice of social camouflaged technologies, she makes a very sound point. The example that comes to mind for me is mentioned at the beginning of her article when she mentions the cigarette rolling papers. Today, stores are legally allowed to sell all sorts of devices for smoking tobacco, though the majority of the customers of these stores use these items for smoking pot. Maine discusses how the vibrator was marketed as a "professional medical instrument", which allowed it's continued production at a time when masturbation was strictly frowned upon. Building on my example from earlier, some smoking devices market their pipes as medical devices for people going through cancer therapy. This keeps the public from getting up in arms about their production since they have a base in the medical field, just like the vibrator did.  Though masturbation was frowned upon, many people regarded it as a victimless crime, in much the same way many people view the consumption of marijuana. By socially camouflaging their devices under the guise of "medical instruments", companies can get away with marketing socially unacceptable items.  - Will D.

While I can't speak much about Maine's choice of social camouflaged technologies, she makes a very sound point. The example that comes to mind for me is mentioned at the beginning of her article when she mentions the cigarette rolling papers. Today, stores are legally allowed to sell all sorts of devices for smoking tobacco, though the majority of the customers of these stores use these items for smoking pot. Maine discusses how the vibrator was marketed as a "professional medical instrument", which allowed it's continued production at a time when masturbation was strictly frowned upon. Building on my example from earlier, some smoking devices market their pipes as medical devices for people going through cancer therapy. This keeps the public from getting up in arms about their production since they have a base in the medical field, just like the vibrator did.  Though masturbation was frowned upon, many people regarded it as a victimless crime, in much the same way many people view the consumption of marijuana. By socially camouflaging their devices under the guise of "medical instruments", companies can get away with marketing socially unacceptable items.  - Will D.