Shown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Bazlo on July 1, 2003, at 20:05:14
After watching the short film Neverthought (its homepage is at http://www34.brinkster.com/bourquefilms/neverthought.htm ) my fear in technology overtaking humanity has been rekindled. I once had a very strong phobia for electronic devices and technology that prevented me from performing normal everyday tasks that others seem to have no trouble with. I avoided computers completely, but I had overcome this fear over a slow process of integrating the use of technology into my daily routine. Since watching Neverthought, I am still able to use some technology (obviously, this computer) but I am again deeply troubled by humankind's use of technology, especially in the future. Perhaps I fear the future more than anything because I do not know what is to come; technology is overtaking our lives more and more and I think it shall only get significantly worse than what it already has become. How should I deal with these feelings? I've read 1984 and Brave New World and many of these author's predictions are coming true. (I am rather reluctant to keep using computers; I am relying on this machine to provide an answer for the question that I have against it.)
Posted by Dr. Bob on July 2, 2003, at 18:57:37
In reply to Neverthought film rekindles fear of technology, posted by Bazlo on July 1, 2003, at 20:05:14
> I've read 1984 and Brave New World and many of these author's predictions are coming true.
I'd just like to plug the double double quotes feature at this site:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faq.html#amazon
The first time anyone refers to a book without using this option, I post this to try to make sure he or she at least knows about it. It's just an option, though, and doesn't *have* to be used. If people *choose* not to use it, I'd be interested why not, but I'd like that redirected to Psycho-Babble Administration:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20020918/msgs/7717.html
Thanks!
Bob
Posted by Eddie Sylvano on July 3, 2003, at 10:36:11
In reply to Neverthought film rekindles fear of technology, posted by Bazlo on July 1, 2003, at 20:05:14
> After watching the short film Neverthought (its homepage is at http://www34.brinkster.com/bourquefilms/neverthought.htm ) my fear in technology overtaking humanity has been rekindled.
-----------------Technology is mostly scary because it's gotten beyond the ability of the average person to understand. The wheel? Yeah, I get that. Typewriters? Ok, I see the levers pulling and moving. Makes sense. Light bulbs? Well, I couldn't build one, but it's pretty simple. Computers? Whoa. What's it doing inside there?
I don't want to labor the point, but you see what I'm saying. If you don't undersatnd something, it can be scary. How many people nervously wonder what makes an airplane fly as they sit in their cramped seat, taxiing to the runway? Technology (and science in general) isn't an entity with an agenda, it's just the accumulation of human knowledge, and the application of that knowledge to make tools. The tools themselves aren't scary, though the people using them may be, but that's always been the case. Still, we're more apt to like the devil we know than the devil we don't, and it keeps getting harder to know everything.
This is the end of the thread.
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