How you treat your hardware and software

[Bloodwych]

I know exactly where you're coming from – I feel and act the same way towards my stuff and always respect others with maximum care.

I can't understand why people disrespect their own and other people's property. Their own it's up to them, but there is no excuse to treat someone else's belongings so carelessly and without thought. The annoying thing is,as you said, people brush the issue aside as if it's nothing, and you are the one being unreasonable by being so fussy and protective over your stuff. Unbelievable.

The majority of people do have a wasteful mentality, having a kind of disposable attitude and being carefree about most things. I think it comes from being spoiled as a child combined with being brought up in a privileged western society allowing us to take things for granted - never having to cherish items that in some parts of the world are impossible to come by or afford. The marketing "buy now" culture where newer is always better adds to this attitude I'm sure.

I'm very grateful and happy for my stuff, using it until I'm forced to replace it for a good reason so I look after it with due care. This attitude is in the minority however. For instance, I'm still on single core CPUs because I have no reason to get dual core given my computer usage patterns. Everywhere you look we're being told to upgrade, but my well looked after PCs are still doing the job so why create waste?