In general, the departure of foreign brands from Russia was, of course, a colossal stupidity. No, I understand everything, it is a sign from the “big brother”, a sign of a union that does not exist. But it’s still stupid. Because in Russia they still like to show off. And this is where you can see a schoolboy’s new iPhone after just one week of sales.
Pop stars, escort girls and schoolchildren are the three pillars that ensure safe sales of expensive iPhone 15 in Russia today. Previously, IT professionals and politicians were also among the first buyers. Technicians were interested in testing the toy, and for politicians this was prestigious. Now technologists have looked at the features in advance and realized that it is not worth spending what they have earned, and politicians will not publicly demonstrate new foreign gadgets if they have not switched to the Russian Aurora operating system. This is not only unprestigious, but also politically short-sighted.
There are no official statistics about the trio – stars, escorts, schoolchildren, but we will rely on field research. About three weeks have passed since the start of sales, and you can already see photos of the new generation gadget on social networks. And it doesn’t matter at all that experts call it “the worst in the series of smartphones.” Everything is clear with the stars – this is a trend. For girls with low social responsibility, a new phone is like immediately sticking a price tag on their forehead, it’s a market approach. So why does a school idiot need a new “tag” for 130 thousand rubles?
Cameras, increased memory capacity, new features; Is all of this really that necessary in school? Why? Want to make an entry in an electronic diary or take a photo of the remote control written on the board? Everyone understands that there is no single reason for buying such a phone for a schoolboy. Except for his desire to show off and show off to everyone around him.
When it comes to satisfying your sweet baby’s desires, no words are pointless. Samuel Marshak wrote about this in the last century: “And the girl’s wishes must be fulfilled. Period”. True, he wrote this cynically, mocking the morality of his father, who was a capitalist and a racist. But over the years, everything has changed so much that yesterday’s satire has turned into a parochial reality today.
Here, of course, the question can be asked: What does this columnist have to do with it? Doesn’t it seem like the author is reaching into someone else’s pocket and counting other people’s money?
What can I say… No, I don’t think so. And so. In the age of social media and lavish living, buying a new iPhone is a money show. Direct or indirect, it doesn’t matter. The teenager shows that he is very cool. And parents can provide this.
But the problem is that according to statistics, less than 1% can buy an iPhone for their children without damaging the family budget. All other purchases are on credit. Even without researching the Central Bank’s key interest rate, everyone understands that credit today is not at all what it was two or three years ago. Today is captivity and destruction. Not to mention that any loan, in principle, is a psychological and financial burden.
Parents take out a loan for an expensive phone, thinking they are showing how much they love their child. But on a non-verbal level it looks completely different. The child interprets this as follows: Even if mom is now saving on manicures in the salon, and dad has switched to cheap tobacco, show everyone that you have it. Most importantly, it looks like Porthos’s suspender, which he elegantly shows off to everyone. “Unfortunately, like many things in this world that shine only on the outside, Porthos’s bald dress only shone with gold embroidery on the front, and the back was made of simple buffalo hide.”
The questions of people rushing to buy an iPhone for a schoolboy are aggravated by the fact that its maintenance and repair has become much more difficult and expensive. The operating system does not support many Russian applications, which means this will require additional steps.
And finally, most importantly, although it is not very noticeable, times have changed. The show of charm, elegance and money disappears. It becomes inappropriate to put black caviar on a sandwich with red caviar. A little more and kitsch will remain only in style textbooks. It is already being replaced by modest tweed jackets and matte leather loafers. This will lead to an overhaul of everything. And above all it will lead to a change in consumer behavior.
The author expresses his personal opinion, which may not coincide with the position of the editors.