Progress Marches On...

so, this past weekend was Feast of the Hunters' Moon. one night while i was poking at the campfire that i had started with a modern lighter, i thought about matches and tinderboxes and flint and steel...

in this day and age, many people are opposed to technology such as cellphones, computers, microwave ovens, dvd players, whatever. these people aren't necessarily AFRAID of such things, not afraid for their safety mind you, they just don't like them and where they feel "society is going" with such innovations.

i wondered if people felt the same about the technological advancement that was the strike-match.

sulfur strike-and-light matches were invented in the 1800's (okay, i looked around online, and i guess people were already trying to invent the match earlier, but they became common in the 1800's). in that day and age, people were VERY reliant on fire for cooking, heating, and even light, even if the flame was contained in an iron stove or a gas lamp. it was still flame and it still had to come from somewhere. most homes kept some sort of flame lit at all times since starting a fire with flint, steel, and tinder was time consuming.

but did anyone feel that the strike and light match was a lazy alternative to flint and steel? was the match seen as social demise? hmmm... things one thinks about while poking at a campfire...