Have we come to trust them? Perhaps not. But we’ve come to accept that this is how it is and we don’t have the strength to resist. How, then, does it affect our ability to love? This deep question struggles its way around my mind as I consider the onrush of Valentine’s Day. The day when humans are thrust into one of three temporary categories: love, lust, or loneliness. Also: Delight DYIers: These interesting gifts are perfect for those who make and fix things I was spurred to this after a PR representative had insisted that Shokz headphones were the perfect Valentine’s gift. That couldn’t be right, could it? Headphones? Headphones whose bone conductivity suggests it’s hard to get things into your lover’s skull? I searched “Valentine gadget” on the world’s premier shopping site and goodness did the machine have answers. Answers that disturbed me beyond reason. Note the detailed lexicon. For men who have everything and, um, women. There are no women who have everything? There are no handywomen? Also: This has replaced my multitool for a fraction of the cost Oh, please go away. “Darling, I love you so much I bought you a screw holder.” Romance at its finest. Please don’t worry. The sexism rolled right on. Even though I’d not specified whether the Valentine’s gadget was for a man or a woman, the algorithm was sure it knew. Seriously. Your man needs a glove that says love. A glove that has flashlights on it, so that he can see where he’s going. The algorithm clearly doesn’t believe love is blind, then. Also: 24 of the best Valentine’s Day tech gift ideas for anyone you love (starting at $40) As I meandered depressively down the page, I finally came to a suggestion that seemed, possibly, to be aimed as a gadget gift for women. It was, hold your breath now, the “Eartim 5Pcs Valentine’s Wooden Spoons Utensils Set, Non-Stick Cooking Utensils Carve Burned Bamboo Spoons Slotted Spatula Kitchen Cookware Gadget Funny Valentine’s Day Christmas New Year Present.” So women get the wooden spoons, eh? To give you a flavor, these spoons are embarrassingly kitsch things, with phrases such as “Cutie Pie” and “Cuter than Cupid” emblazoned on the handles. They’re so versatile that they can be personalized for “Valentine,” “Autumn,” “Grandma,” “Halloween,” and “Mother.” What do those five have in common? Please tell me. It’s not pretty. And it’s most certainly not lovable.
