The Correlation of Convenience and Satisfaction

Today, through the use of ever-present technologies in our lives like computers, smartphones, tablets, etc., we are able to get just about everything we could ever want by utilizing the internet. Want to read a book? Get it on your Kindle for a reduced price. Feel like catching up on a previous season of your favorite television series? It's just a few clicks away with a Netflix subscription. Hungry for a pizza? You can just order one of those online too; no need to pick up a phone, oh no, that's far too much effort! Living in a society that emphasizes convenience, it's easy to get caught up in the mantra. After all, easier is better, right?

Of course, I am by no means saying this to make some sort of "back in my day..." curmudgeonly statement about how these services are rotting our minds and turning us into socially-deprived screen junkies, I'm just trying to make a point and put this whole convenience-is-the-ultimate-goal thing into perspective.

I'll make a little anecdotal confession here: I have in the past acquired some software and games for myself through the means of filesharing. At one time, I'd amassed a collection that I was quite impressed with. However, I'd found an interesting correlation between my state of mind and all this "stuff" I had. I feel that the ease at which I acquired them was indirectly proportionate to the amount of interest I had in them, and my enjoyment I had with the ones I played. I had no investment with these intangible products; bits of data I had on my computer that I'd gotten by opening a torrent file. I didn't run to the store to spend my hard-earned money, waiting in line for a midnight release getting hyped with my friends. I didn't come home afterwards to tear my fingernails off trying to pry that damn adhesive strip off the case, pop in the disc and revel in the glory of my accomplishment. No, I just clicked on a link and got what I was after. Simple as that. No effort, instant "reward."

This question has been asked a million times before, but I feel it is completely relevant to the subject of our class. Is the getting of the reward really of the utmost importance? I say partially, but only when combined with a meaningful experience leading up to said reward does it become truly satisfying.