In Western society, people have graves, and so do products. We enjoy the idea of ourselves as powerful, unique individuals; and we like to buy things that are brand-new, made of materials that are “virgin.” Opening a new product is a kind of metaphorical defloration: “This virgin product is mine, for the very first time. When I am finished with it (special, unique person that I am), everyone is. It is history.” Industries design and plan according to this mind-set.
