Laptops on the MAX train
More and more, I’m seeing people on the MAX whip out their laptops to type away and maybe grab some city wifi. I’m usually stunned by this — somehow it’s a more overt display of wealth than the now-ubiquitous ipods and phones that everybody’s got (and I wonder about the mental health of someone who can’t be away from their computer even on a relatively short ride home or to work)– and my mind immediately goes to a place where I think about how easy it would be to wait for a stop, snatch somebody’s computer and jump off the train. Or, if wanting to avoid the MAX line cameras, to wait for someone to get off and then mug them.
I’m not in any way advocating this, I’m just saying that’s where the small evil part of my mind goes. I don’t know about anyone else, but my life is on my computer. If somebody stole my ipod, yeah, I’d be pissed, but it wouldn’t affect my life all that much. But if somebody grabbed my computer, on which I receive e-mail, bill notification, have personal information, et cetera, I’d be in some serious trouble.
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You’re stunned by this? That’s surprising, I ‘ve become fairly used to it… I see it no different than reading a book on the MAX. At my local bakery Ken’s Artisan, it is rare that I dont’ see at least one person with their computer.
Also, I do not see it as an overt display of wealth in any way what-so-ever. Poor college students have them, grungy hoodie mississippi fresh pot cafe types have them, traveling salesmen have them… they’re everywhere. In fact, regarding wealth it’s rare that I see the well-heeled of the west hills toting their computers about with them. So go figure.
I do understand your concern about theft and highlighting how integral personal computers have become in our lives, but the preamble is horseradish from my viewpoint.
It’s been a long time since I rode MAX, I ride the NYC subway more frequently than I do MAX but I would prefer people not horde their belongings in fear on the MAX. I like the idea that people feel comfortable enough to go about their business on the MAX. Being aware of your surroundings is important of course but living in fear is no way to go about your day.
I think Atlas pretty much summed everything up in his/her response.
atlas: thanks for the comment. you’re right that living in fear is no way to go about your day, and that wasn’t the point i was trying to make, though i see how it could read that way. and as for the “wealth” part, i probably could’ve given that a pass, though from a worldwide viewpoint, having a computer, much less a laptop (and hey, in most cases i see, it’s an apple, which is kind of the cream of the crop) is a sign of great wealth. though i guess it’s just a sign of the diversity of classes that ride the max — some because they can’t afford a car, some because it’s more socially responsible, etc — to have people both begging for change and writing e-mail in the same traincar.
just for some added snark (or perspective, depending on your mood), here’s a link to kind of what i was thinking about in terms of wealth:
http://hope.journ.wwu.edu/tpilgrim/j190/globalvillagechart.html
If the earth’s population (over 6 billion now — 9 billion by 2050) could be shrunk to approximately 100 people and yet retain existing human ratios:
8 people would be Africans
14 people would be North and South Americans
21 people would be Europeans
57 people would be Asians
70 people would be of color
30 people would be white
70 people would be non-Christian
30 people would be Christian
70 people would be unable to read
66 people would never have made a telephone call
40 would not have electricity
80 would live in a developing country
80 people would live in substandard housing
50 would suffer from malnutrition
47 would live on less than $2 U.S. per day
6 people (ALL U.S. CITIZENS) would control 50% of the village wealth
1 person would have a college education
1 would own a computer
I don’t know how absolute these numbers are, but it’s useful to gain some perspective sometimes in terms of what “they’re everywhere” means.
“but my life is on my computer”. Do you see anything wrong with this? Society is really going in the sh!tter.
wow, MJ, way to latch on to an off-hand generalistic comment. i just meant that business is done on my computer– and for a long time, i worked freelance off my computer, so in a way — IN A WAY — my life was on my computer because i wouldn’t make my rent or be able to eat without it. but you’re right, i wouldn’t DIE or anything if somebody ripped off my computer, but it would be a huge inconvenience and expense.
My life is on the computer, not because I don’t know any flesh-and-blood people, but because it is a convenient tool to keep track of information and my schedule.
I’d measure using one on MAX as not wealth, but obligation: when I leave my job, I don’t have to take it with me (because I’m just support staff, not because I’m important or wealthy), and the truly wealthy don’t have to, either.
Interesting stats of “if 100 people represented the population” up there… but I find it hard to believe that of the 6 people who control all the wealth, 5 of them wouldn’t own a computer…
I swear I’m going to stop feeding this thing, but I guess didn’t mean “wealth” as in “look at this rolex I’ve got on my wrist” so much as “wealth” as in, like Atlas commented above, “look at this valuable and expensive thing that ‘everyone’ has that we take for granted.” I may not have gotten that across in my post, but that’s more what I was aiming for.
wow! just goes to show you how different we all are and how we process statements and ideas. and here, on this open ended forum of sharing information with one another, we still get people attacking one another. i think the blog entry was just the writers’ way of describing things the way it was seen at that particular time, place, etc. i think having a laptop is a sign of wealth. wealth to mean, the ability to own and have the means to own an laptop. you can vary well rent a laptop these days, ever heard of the payment plan. but anyways, i’m just stunned at the wrong turn that took place here. there is much truth to the fact that there are still ’somepeople’ that will try and steal you laptop just like that. i’m going nowhwere this now. :)
Natty, I re-read all the comments and want to note something. You perceive that in these comments “…we still get people attacking one another.”
I don’t see it that way at all. In fact, if jonashpdx feels anything I mentioned to be an attack, I extend a sincere apology. Now I recognize that occasionally pdx metroblogs has some strong opinions about this or that and sometimes the comments turn a bit rude, but by and large this site and those who post/comment on it are fairly reasonable and tend to keep it pretty clean.
I see this thread as an interesting exchange. I don’t read any one of the comments as an attack on jonashpdx or on another comment. I hope I’m not alone in that assessment.
not feeling attacked in the slightest — well, maybe the very SLIGHTEST by MJ :), but glad for the discussion and very appreciative of all the comments and interest.
maybe i shouldn’t have used the word - attacked. ;)
Personally, I try to avoid going through life constantly evaluating whether some item I have on my person will be considered a “display of wealth” by someone else. That’s an entirely subjective conclusion reached in the mind of the other person. Heck, some people may consider me to be “flaunting my wealth” by wearing socks.
I’m not about to pull out my laptop on the MAX, though, because some punk kid would probably grab it and run off.
man, you can afford socks!
A laptop costs 3-4 times what a desktop computer costs. It’s not that huge of an expenditure. If its really too dangerous on the MAX to carry a computer we should be calling very loudly for more security.
My commuting life was spent on the Metro in the DC area - clean quiet and no fear. I very commonly did work or read (books and paper - it was pre-laptops) on the ride in to and home from work.
I’ve only used the MAX a few times here in Portland. Being primarily above ground and on city streets its very slow and not convenient from my home.
It was only a year or two ago that a man with a laptop was mugged by a couple of guys as he stepped off the MAX at the Rose Garden. However, the gun jammed & didn’t fire, and the two guys did the mugging did it in front of a couple of cops, so they skipped their turn and went straight to jail.
Still, it is illustrative that it can happen in Portland… though it is quite rare.