A few months ago David told me about an online trend called unboxing. Initially I thought maybe unboxing was some new “go green” movement that encouraged people to give a gift without first putting it in a box (which would be a super-fun conversation to have with Martha, by the way, because she would think that not putting a gift in box is crazy! that’s just crazy! why would someone do such a thing? and what about the wrapping paper? the wrapping paper wouldn’t look nearly as good! not to mention the bow!), but that’s not what he was talking about at all.
Because as it turns out, unboxing is when people, some of whom might be classifed as a smidge geeky (and I mean that in the MOST POSITIVE SENSE OF THE WORD, OH YES I DO) take pictures (or video) to document the process of removing a new piece of electronic equipment from its box.
And then they post those pictures to their blogs.
Don’t believe me? Consult Ye Olde Google.
I’ve thought a good bit about this whole unboxing phenomenon for the last couple of weeks, and after trying my best to understand it, I’ve decided that it has to be a mostly-guy thing. Because from my decidedly female perspective, the process of unboxing, say, a new camcorder or a new cell phone is as far up on the thrill-o-meter as watching a two-day marathon of Hardcastle & McCormick or being forced to listen to a monotone lecture on car maintenance and repair.
But guys are different about that kind of stuff. I know this because my husband still has the boxes for every video game console he has ever purchased, including each individual piece of styrofoam that surrounded the actual console as well as the cellophane that was wrapped around the instruction manuals AND the twisties that corralled all the cords.
And do you know what? I’m sure that hanging on to all those boxes is completely worth it in the long run, because if someone walked in our house right now and said, “Quick! In order to diffuse a bomb that’s right outside your door, you have to pack up your Xbox so that it looks exactly like it did the very first time you opened the box,” MY HUSBAND COULD TOTALLY DO THAT, Y’ALL.
It’s no wonder that I feel so incredibly safe here. As I’m sure you can imagine.
Well.
This morning I opened up the pantry and spotted an item that I picked up at the grocery store yesterday. And when I saw that item and realized that it was still unopened, I thought, This, THIS is worthy of unboxing documentation. Forget the electronic stuff. This is WAY better.
And so I grabbed the camera and got busy.
You may want to take some deep, cleansing breaths to prepare yourself for what you’re about to see.
It is very special.
Breathtaking, isn’t it?
I suspected you would agree.
May 17th, 2008 at 9:45 pm
Mmmm, mmmmm, good. That’s my kind of geekiness right there.
May 17th, 2008 at 10:02 pm
Yes, that is way better. And I’d bet they taste better than styrofoam.
May 17th, 2008 at 10:06 pm
Oh how I long to have an unopened box of that cheesy goodness in my pantry. Is it too late for a Wal-Mart run?
May 17th, 2008 at 10:14 pm
Beautiful. The only problem I see is that your “full” bowl picture isn’t quite filled enough. i mean, really, who can eat just that small amount of Cheez-It goodness?
I should have done this with the King size box of Junior Mints I just inhaled.
May 17th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
Oh my stars!!
I trepidaciously (yes I had to look up the spelling on dictionary.com) asked my husband if he had ever hard of ‘unboxing’.
How big of a nerd am I married to, I wondered…
“Oh sure, I’ve heard of it. I’ve never done it, but lots of guys at the office do.”
He then proceeded to tell me the origins of unboxing, but all I could hear was the Charlie Brown schoolteacher – wa wa waaa, waaa waa waaaa…which is what my mind does when he starts talking ‘techno babble’.
You crack me up again, Boo Mama!!
May 17th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
I read this outline for Husband because:
A. I knew he would knew what unboxing was (he did).
B. I wanted to laugh out loud at him because he knew what it was (I did).
C. We have every every piece of cellophane and twistie ties and styrofoam for all of his items, yet my boxes are just “taking up space.”
BWAHAHAHAAAAAAAAA!
May 17th, 2008 at 10:33 pm
I personally don’t care for Cheez-its, but I am pleased to learn that the two flavors are mixed together in the Duoz box. I had been imagining that they were bagged separately.
Remember how Ruffles potato chips used to have two smaller bags in the big bag? I though the Duoz were like that.
Now I know.
May 17th, 2008 at 10:35 pm
My husband (who ranks pretty high on the geek-o-meter which is one of the things I love about him) hasn’t heard of this. BUT we do have all manner of boxes for electronic equipment. And don’t get me started on the out-dated equipment he refuses to get rid of – including an old PC (from 1998 people!) that he cannabalized.
May 17th, 2008 at 10:47 pm
Ok, call me a geek, but I TOTALLY like to unbox stuff. I’m not gonna make a video of it, though. My husband and I fight over who gets to unbox stuff. For real. Yes, we lead sad, boring lives. Ok, not really, but it really sounds like we do. We are actually fun, happy people.
And just so you know, my Publix (Overton Road, Mtn Brook) has the Duoz Cheez-its in their “Buy one get one free” bins. Yes, they do. It might be worth a trip over to get them.
You know, because I’m looking out for my 459 friend.
May 17th, 2008 at 10:48 pm
Why do our men do that? We have that too! Here all this time I thought we were the only ones with TV boxes in our attic. Go figure!
On to Cheez-It’s–I’ll unbox with you anytime. Love me some savory snacks!
You crack me up BooMama!
May 17th, 2008 at 10:52 pm
Much better than the guy/geek version!
May 17th, 2008 at 11:03 pm
Five years later, David to Sophie:
HON? Do you think it’d be safe now to get rid of these Duoz boxes you’ve got stored up here in the attic?
May 17th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
OK…well…should I say this? Men simply are motivated by um…well…the opening of packages. There I have said it.
The fashion industry is glad for it.
BTW, the Cheez-it Duos look marvelous!
May 17th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
Sophie back to David:
“Way-ell, I guess since I’ve got the unboxing pictures from all of them… Okay.”
May 17th, 2008 at 11:10 pm
My DH has watched some YouTube unboxing of things like baseball cards, etc. I sat there and stared in disbelief that someone would a.) care to tape it b.) care to upload it online or c.) actually search for and WATCH it.
And my DH has all the boxes and styrofoam even from old PS games. “Just in case he ever needs to return it.”
Hm.
May 17th, 2008 at 11:23 pm
Ooh! I loved Hardcastle and McCormick! Thanks for that 80’s throwback…
May 17th, 2008 at 11:30 pm
The empty bowl made me laugh out loud.
Honest.
May 17th, 2008 at 11:54 pm
We are soul-sistas, that’s my kind of unboxing. Unfortunately, I am married to a man who is the other type of unboxing, he’s a “smidge geeky”– but he gets paid for it. So I guess it’s ok.
May 18th, 2008 at 12:02 am
Well, ain’t you just tray fayn-cee! You used a bowl for your Cheez-its. I have to admit that I’m a total redneck because most of the time I just eat ‘em by the handful, straight from the box.
Now you done flung a cravin’ on me for Cheez-its, and I haven’t tried those new ones yet.
May 18th, 2008 at 12:15 am
[wiping a stray bit of drool from my lower lip] DUOZ. Sigh. Sniff. Sniff. They are clearly not on the Weight Watchers Core Plan on which I have embarked. And for good reason, I tell ya. During our recent move, you’da thunk my arm had been severed from the wrist down and replaced by a box of Duoz..sharp parm and Zesty, thank you.
Sigh…………….thanks for the memories, Boo. Perhaps I’ll just pull up your unboxing log and pretend I’m eating them every day. The salty, savory, cheesy goodness and licking my fingers and…and…
I cannot go on.
May 18th, 2008 at 12:18 am
I haven’t laughed so much in ages!! This has serously got to be a boy-thing :)
May 18th, 2008 at 6:03 am
So my husband isn’t the only one who holds on to every.box.he’s.ever.opened. I thought it was bad that our walk in closet is half filled with empty boxes. I’m pretty sure my husband could pack everything up to look like it came from the store too. and can we put the boxes in the shed? oh no! they might get some dampness or something. Despite the fact that there are some things I seriously love in the shed right now. but don’t let that box get damp!! he he. Weird men.
May 18th, 2008 at 6:13 am
Just hopping in the comments to say that I’ve just stumbled into your blog and from the looks of this post I’ll be here to stay.
Can’t add my husband to the ranks with this one as he’s more the anti-clutter minimalist type. But thanks for the tip on one more way I can drive him over the edge next time he’s bugging me.
May 18th, 2008 at 6:25 am
Like PBSKids says, if it comes from the heart, it must be art. LOL!
May 18th, 2008 at 6:41 am
Whew – just googled for unboxing – oh my goodness Sophie you may have made me sad! While I completely enjoyed and vicariously have a salt rush from your presentation of a cheezit unboxing – filming opening your techno stuff is kind of scary. Keeping the packaging and the boxes so if you move or have to return a product just makes practical sense – but filming it as if it were a birth video – hmmm a bit on the over the top side.
May 18th, 2008 at 6:43 am
My husband recently stored WITH GREAT AND METICULOUS CARE the Guitar Hero box.
Because, “Someday the kids will be thrilled that we have all of the original packaging.”
Mmm-hmm.
Right.
(Glad we’re not alone.)
May 18th, 2008 at 7:06 am
I read your blog all the time and you never fail to amuse me (to a whole ‘nother level, sister!)
May I kindly dub you the “Seinfeld of the blog world” — in that you can write an entire hilarious post about pretty much… um….. nothing?
Keep up the good work, knowing you’re spreading joy and smiles! God bless.
May 18th, 2008 at 7:52 am
So now, not only have your photojournalism capabilities completly enthralled me – as I am on the edge of my seat in your unboxing of the Cheez-y goodness that is now two sided and, thus, twice as delectable – I am also, quite understandably, very hungry.
And, apparantly, a new found fan of the horrendously long run-on sentence.
Thanks for that by the way.
PS – our garage is chock full of the “orginal packing material” of a multitude of elctronic fun-ness.
May 18th, 2008 at 7:53 am
Learning something new every day on the internet! Unboxing, huh?
I’m with you Boomama, unboxing a worthy FOOD ITEM is so much more exciting than electronics! There’s the anticipation, the mouth-watering sensation of knowing something good is about to pass your lips and make you happy, happy, happy.
I needed that giggle this morning. Thanks :-)
May 18th, 2008 at 7:57 am
I knew it, I knew it!
Before I even read the line about the unopened item in the pantry I knew it was going to be a box of cheezits.
The only thing that would have made it even funnier would be to watch you crack open and pour over a mountain of ice a bottle of Diet Coke.
Happy Sunday, BooMama! :0 )
May 18th, 2008 at 8:03 am
I’m a girl. That said, I do feel a bit of a rush taking new things out of their boxes – not just electronics. But I have never had the urge to document it. Does that keep me girly?
May 18th, 2008 at 8:18 am
okay, that was hilarious and the best unboxing I could imagine…I am going to have to go get some of those today!!!!
May 18th, 2008 at 8:27 am
Okay, we have way too much time on our hands.
Remember when the kids were little and the best part of Christmas was playing with the box?
Well, now men have devolved into children right before our eyes again. Next thing you know they’ll be laughing at fart jokes. Oh, wait…
Visit To Love, Honor and Vacuum today!
May 18th, 2008 at 8:49 am
Breathtaking! :)
May 18th, 2008 at 9:13 am
Oh I am so very glad that mine is not the only husband in the world to save every box and twist tie from every electronic gadget he’s ever owned! I am also very, very disturbed to hear that the symptoms could get worse.
I like your unboxing and must look to see if those Cheezits have made it to Canada yet.
May 18th, 2008 at 9:14 am
I’m so glad that my husband isn’t the only one who feels the need to keep his Xbox box.
May 18th, 2008 at 9:23 am
I hang on to boxes. Mostly out of fear. Fear that the Kitchen Aid mixer will need to be shipped off for repair and I’ll never again come across a box to hold it, without paying lots of $$$ at a shipping place. Granted a Wii or XBOX would be a lot easier to find a box to fit, but there is security in knowing that it is packed in the foam designed for it, so if it gets damaged further in shipping you can blame the manufacturer – I used YOUR STUFF to ship it!
May 18th, 2008 at 10:02 am
Hilarious. I usually don’t laugh out loud at stuff I read. I made an exception in this case.
May 18th, 2008 at 10:25 am
You are awesome!!!!!
My husband often watches the videos or looks at the pictures of the “unboxing” of new Apple products. I think yours beats all the ones that he has watched.
May 18th, 2008 at 10:49 am
BooMama, You NEVER fail to make me laugh–out loud even!!
May 18th, 2008 at 11:03 am
I think I welled up a bit.
May 18th, 2008 at 11:18 am
Now I have to go unbox some Cheese crackers too!! OH HOW FUNNY YOU ARE!!!
May 18th, 2008 at 11:19 am
I unboxed my iphone and posted it to my blog. My 5 year old said “Oh Mama…it’s beautiful.”
May 18th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
I usually just lurk, but today I must comment.
I totally thought my hubby was the only one insisted on keeping boxes for every electronic device we have ever bought. I mean who needs a box for a 10 year old printer? Apparently we do.
And I love the unboxing of the Cheez-Its- but who really only eats that many Cheez-Its. Please tell me I am not the only one who eats most of the box in one sitting.
May 18th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
I thought my life was complete until I discovered this topic of unboxing. Now I must buy things and photograph their removal.
And I must have cheez-its. Thanks for that.
May 18th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
LOL that is some great unboxing doc right there
Now you have me a bit hungry :)
BTW: my hubby also takes pics of things for unboxing
when he did his brakes on his car he also took pics to make sure he put his car back together properly – which is totally important when it comes to a brakes on a car!
HAve a great sunday
Kim
May 18th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
Oh Boo, you do make me laugh. Could you come live with me for a while? I have a spare room. Well actually it’s our school room, but we’re about to wrap it up for the summer, so we wouldn’t bother you much. Just a few times a day when I need to laugh so I won’t cry. That wouldn’t be too much trouble would it? You could totally bring Alex and he could help my kids collect bugs and play cars and run in the house and drive me to drink, I mean stress me out. ;)
May 18th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
I’m not asking my husband if he’s heard of this, because then I’ll have to explain that yes, I was reading blogs again, yes of people I don’t know, and we’ve had that conversation WAY too many times.
And dang, I was hoping for a picture of a Popeyes box of chicken…
And in case you are actually a fan…you should enter their video contest: http://www.bonafidechicken.com/
May 18th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
I unboxed my wonderful De Brand Mother’s Day Chocolates on my blog – - – and that was before I even knew there WAS such a thing as unboxing.
I think I’m chick and trendy!!!!
May 18th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
Oh, thank you for sharing this new experience! I was kind of disappointed that the Cheez-its were mixed together in one bag; was kind of hoping for a divided bag as the box hints… But anyway, the laughter was good medicine! Thanks!