MMMM....so meaty!

OK, kids. show of hands. How many of you actually know what every single button on your tv remote does? Or your cable remote. For that matter, what about your stereo/dvd/dvr/vcr/amp, etc remote? Nobody? I don't see anyone raising their hand...right. What the hell are all of those fucking buttons for? Does anyone have a clue? I use approximately 5 buttons ona regular basis. Menu, channel up/down, volume up/down, and the 15 second rewind button (god bless you, dvr!). The rest are pretty much a mystery to me, and will probably stay that way. I don't seem to be suffering from any lack of tv watching due to my ignorance of the function of these buttons. I am beginning to appreciate the appeal of those giant button geezer phones they hawk in AARP magazine that do nothing but call people (what a concept! a phone that does nothing but phone...) I can't imagine how confusing a universal remote would be to someone that can't quite grasp the all-too elusive text message (sorry, dad. I texted him one sunday to ask him a question and several days later he managed to call me back and explain that while he was aware that he had received a text, he has no idea how to read it, much less return it. go figure.) I consider myself somewhat technologically savvy...i buy things on ebay, I take pictures with my phone, I blog. I even maintain a pretty kick ass myspace profile. I can't hack the pentagon or anything, but I got my grandpa beat hands down. Nonetheless, i have three remotes in my basket o' remotes that have never, to my knowledge, had batteries in them, much less been used for something. It's a remote control epidemic in the piper house. anyway, just some thoughts.
holla.