Unboxing – Is That Even a Word?

We love our tech in this gadget-driven world, but a fad that’s occurring on many tech podcast is the infamous ‘unboxing.’

‘Unboxing’ – is when the host of some tech show or blog, walks you through the process of taking some cool new tech toy out of the box.

‘Unboxing’ is that even a word?

The term ‘unboxing’ is even listed on Wikipedia – so it must exist. Wiki says the act of videotaping the unpacking of tech toys and uploading these videos to the Internet has been around since 2006, and has been nicknamed “geek porn.”

That’s it. It’s an unboxing, not a full review. Occasionally you may learn some of the main specs on the tech, but typically the toy is removed from the layers of plastic bubble wrap, brown paper, and once shown, that’s all she wrote.

WTF?

What purpose does it serve to show us what a product looks like in the box?

I raised this question on Google+ once, and received numerous messages back explaining how it lets us live vicariously through the ‘unboxer’ – so that we can share in the experience.

Another person told me it allows us to experience the act of getting something which we may otherwise not have.

The experience of ripping open a box?

Really?

When I was a kid, sick in bed, I never had anyone ‘unbox’ my friend’s birthday presents so I could share in the experience of the birthday party I was missing because of my cold.

Have we really sunk so low in our society that we need to be entertained by people opening packaging material?

What’s next, virtual bubble wrap, so as the ‘unboxing’ occurs, we can immerse ourselves in the physical experiences as well?

Isn’t the stuff INSIDE THE BOX more important than the box itself?

When I first got my iPhone, I was impressed with the slick box it came in. But after I got past the box, and there, sitting on my desk was my brand new iPhone, I quickly lost interest in the box. My interest in the packaging lasted all of two-seconds – if that.

Most of these ‘unboxing’ podcasts last at least 10 minutes. Ten minutes reviewing the packaging material!

Really?

Maybe the tech isn’t so hot, if the best part, is the box it came in.