The Tamagotchi Gesture
In a 1999 essay called My Obsession, William Gibson wrote about his fascination with mechanical watches and something he called the "Tamagotchi Gesture." The idea is that certain objects are comforting precisely because they require our attention and care.
I understand this perhaps a little too well.
I enjoy photography, computers, electronics, old machinery, and technology both ancient and brand new. But it isn't necessarily about having the best equipment, getting the perfect photograph, or finding the most efficient solution to a problem. A substantial part of the pleasure is in the process itself.
Photography encourages me to slow down, look more carefully, and notice things I might otherwise miss. Tinkering gives me an excuse to understand how something works, discover why it doesn't, and occasionally convince it to cooperate. Both reward curiosity, patience, and a willingness to spend an unreasonable amount of time on details that nobody else will ever notice.
I have absolutely spent four hours solving a problem that a $20 purchase would have eliminated. I've also spent entirely too much time researching equipment, experimenting with settings, or maintaining something that a more sensible person would simply replace.
But buying the solution, taking the automatic route, or replacing the troublesome object would have deprived me of much of the enjoyment.
There's something satisfying about developing a relationship with the things we use and the world we observe. The attention we give them changes how we understand them, and sometimes how we understand ourselves.
Besides, there's a decent chance I already own the $20 solution and simply can't remember where I put it.
