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Can An Individual Still Resist The Spread of Technology? (chicagotribune.com)
schwit1 shares a column from the Chicago Tribune:
When cellphones first appeared, they gave people one more means of communication, which they could accept or reject. But before long, most of us began to feel naked and panicky anytime we left home without one. To do without a cellphone -- and soon, if not already, a smartphone -- means estranging oneself from normal society. We went from "you can have a portable communication device" to "you must have a portable communication device" practically overnight... Today most people are expected to be instantly reachable at all times. These devices have gone from servants to masters...
Few of us would be willing to give up modern shelter, food, clothing, medicine, entertainment or transportation. Most of us would say the trade-offs are more than worth it. But they happen whether they are worth it or not, and the individual has little power to resist. Technological innovation is a one-way street. Once you enter it, you are obligated to proceed, even if it leads someplace you would not have chosen to go.
The column argues "the iPhone X proves the Unabomber was right," citing this passage from the 1996 manifesto of the anti-technology terrorist. "Once a technical innovation has been introduced, people usually become dependent on it, so that they can never again do without it, unless it is replaced by some still more advanced innovation. Not only do people become dependent as individuals on a new item of technology, but, even more, the system as a whole becomes dependent on it."
Few of us would be willing to give up modern shelter, food, clothing, medicine, entertainment or transportation. Most of us would say the trade-offs are more than worth it. But they happen whether they are worth it or not, and the individual has little power to resist. Technological innovation is a one-way street. Once you enter it, you are obligated to proceed, even if it leads someplace you would not have chosen to go.
The column argues "the iPhone X proves the Unabomber was right," citing this passage from the 1996 manifesto of the anti-technology terrorist. "Once a technical innovation has been introduced, people usually become dependent on it, so that they can never again do without it, unless it is replaced by some still more advanced innovation. Not only do people become dependent as individuals on a new item of technology, but, even more, the system as a whole becomes dependent on it."
REad now, article is fucking pathetic, So yes the summary was bad, but the article basically is waffle that says nothing.
No... f-taxis. I will never ride in an american taxi again. For all of their problems, Lyft and Uber provide a degree of transparency that
But maybe the problem isn't with taxis, but the way they are run in the USA? Here in central Europe, taxis are incredibly reliable, and as a passenger your list of rights is longer than for plane travel. They also charge by the meter, exactly. In all my life, I've never had a taxi driver run any funny games.
Assorted stuff I do sometimes: Lemuria.org
Here in Glasgow, Scotland Uber is regulated in exactly the same way as taxis and drivers have to be licensed in exactly the same way as taxi drivers. By a strange coincidence, Uber is exactly the same price as a taxi.
Lol you must be joking, here in central europe also the taxi drivers will scam you in 5 different ways. Come on down here to the south and test !
> I also don't watch TV. Full stop. .... I'll watch South Park or Archer once in a while
So, you watch TV.
Also, obligatory Onion link.
AC you should tone down your hostility and trolling.
People with our without cell phones are just as likely to step over your dying body lying on the pavement. Anecdotal but true:
Las Vegas outside the Bellagio I'm walking and stop to watch the fountains. Next to me an older (mid to late 60s it looked like) man drops to the ground and lies there not making a sound. Three people he was with stand there staring and not helping. I ask if anyone knows him.If anyone is with him etc. Finally a girl fesses up, but wouldn't answer questions on if he had a history of stroke or heart attack (probably hired for the weekend or some side action). I check for breathing and opened up his shirt collar. and a few buttons revealing several incisions around the heart and along the arteries on his neck.
At this point people are literally stepping over him because he is blocking the sidewalk. I asked for anyone to please call 911 to get help there because his breathing was very faint and he couldn't speak or answer questions. Guess how many people were willing to call 911, zero... I dug through my bag and found my phone booted it up and made the call wasting the time it took to boot the phone (which at that point was a long time) Finally help arrived handed me some syringes to inject him with and that is when I stepped back not being a Dr. They took it from there.
Your simplistic anger and logic here is bullshit. Thousands of people on that sidewalk could give shit if the man lived or died. That is a fact. Most of the world is uncaring if able to get away with it. So before you call someone a cold uncaring luddite who should join your self congratulatory "community" you should come to grip with reality. People will step over your dying body if they can get away with it. Hoping someone else puts forth the effort.