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Top Tech Breakthroughs of 2008
As we approach the end of the year it's time once again for the never-ending stream of retrospectives and year-in-review discussions. Wired has their version of the best technology breakthroughs of 2008. From phones to shrinking laptops to flexible displays, there is no shortage of interesting advancements when looking back at this year. What other groundbreaking advancements were made this year, and what do we have to look forward to for 2009?
so choosing to be uninformed is your solution?
avoiding propaganda by being completely ignorant about the world around you might work if you move to a remote area in the woods/mountains, becoming a hermit/recluse and never speak or listen to anyone ever again. but anyone with some degree of social contact with other people will inevitably be influenced and socialized with the dominant world view of their cultural environment.
the solution isn't voluntary ignorance, which is not only detrimental but also quite dangerous (it increases one's likelihood of being manipulated into embracing dangerous ideologies, since they have no other reference points to assess the ideology with). on the other hand, by taking a more proactive approach and seeking out knowledge for yourself (rather than passively absorbing whatever hegemonic influences surround you), you can account for inherent biases by reading a diverse variety of news sources, ranging from the domestic mainstream media to international and/or independent news sources. thus, by exposing yourself to a wide range of perspectives and opinions, you can consciously assess/analyze/filter the information you consume and make up your own mind.
it also helps to understand sociology, history, logic, philosophy, psychology, etc., which of course doesn't happen if you bury your head in the sand.