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Anyone else notice how tech nostalgia seems to play a weird role in environmental sustainability discussions? I'm thinking specifically about how people romanticize older,often simpler gadgets and technologies,sometimes arguing they were inherently "better" environmentally than modern tech.
It's tempting to look back at, say, a well-built, easily repairable radio from the 1950s and contrast it with today's cheaply made, disposable electronics. But hasn't mass production also made many technologies far more energy-efficient? We often forget the environmental cost of the materials and manufacturing processes involved in those older technologies, too. Plus, the older devices were often not powerful enough to do what we want or would need many more to accomplish what one modern device does today - increasing the overall environmental footprint.
Does this kind of nostalgia prevent us from having a realistic conversation about the true environmental impact of our tech consumption? Or is there something valuable in appreciating the longevity and repairability of older designs that we can bring to modern manufacturing methods? I'm curious to hear other people's thoughts on this.