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> Planned obsolescence is the entire backbone of the American economy

Your response to a comment about decades-old cars still working is to pitch a planned-obsolescence conspiracy theory?

Let me know if your 2011 car lasts 20 years.

So you're betting on Hacker News still being here in 2031? How come you're so sure this site doesn't fall under the great obsolesence plan?

I have to admit this thread is the first time Ive ever heard someone calling planned obsolescence a 'conspiracy theory'. I thought it was pretty well understood. Live and learn I guess, couldn't let the tinfoil hat folks have all the fun!

It’s a well understood phenomenon. But to claim it manifests at large across the American economy is to claim every producer is intentionally crippling their products. That’s a conspiracy theory by definition. It’s also unfounded. Yes, there are industries which promote fads to make their precious products less desirable. But that’s different from designing them from the start to fail early for the purpose of selling a replacement (versus designing cheaply for a consumer who doesn’t care for longevity).

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