Old and New Technology in the Land of None

ninthwave writes "The Guardian has this article on the adventures of piano tuners in the Amazon. I think it is a nice lesson in the age of technology to see the perceived hardships of using technology in areas where the natives are quite happy without. More impressive is the old wooden piano seems to survive better than the new synth but that is horse of a different colour."

Comments

Re:The depressing part of the story

[gosand]

I feel I should mention that no one MADE them accept a religious doctrine.

So answer me this - there are plenty of people in the world. Why didn't these Christian missionaries travel to more populous countries, where their message could be heard by so many more "poor souls"? Why not talk to Muslims, Hindus, etc and save them? Because they aren't suckers, that's why.

These missionaries are not there to save or help anyone, they are only there to convert people because they have been told by their religion that is what they should be doing. Christians are the oldest form of self-propagating virus. "You can only get to Heaven if you are saved. The only way to be saved is to convince others that they need to accept the Lord Jesus Christ into their hearts." That is why they prey on people who haven't heard the message before, who are gullible to their fancy magical doo-dads. Was I there in the 50's, do I know this for a fact? No, but I know the way religious zealots operate, I have seen it over and over and over. I go with what I know.

Also, no one made them accept flip flops, t-shirts, ect. They have survived for hundreds of years without Christianity, flip flops and the Simpsons.

How do you know they didn't make them? I am sure a handgun is a pretty scary thing to someone like them. Or maybe you prefer the image of eternal fire if you don't believe what we tell you to believe. And we believe you should cover your bodies. You'll like these shoes, Jesus wore them! I know you are joking about the Simpsons, but imagine them watching the episode where Homer was the missionary. ("I don't know much about God, but I know we built a pretty good cage for him.")

You are right, they had survived hundreds, if not thousands, of years without Christianity - so why not let them be?