Technology – Has it made the human experience better?

[PrimoTurbo]

So I’ve been thinking for a long time now and I’ve come to understand that technological progress is a double edge sword. In one sense technology has greatly increased productivity, expanded our lifetime, provided us with more relevant information and allowed us to communicate globally.

In another sense technology has created artificial enslavement; we are now so dependant on technology to do our work and to entertain us. We don’t get to experience real physical life as much as before, we only watch it scripted on TV after work or school. We have lost a lot of our purpose, we no longer need to farm or hunt for our food.

I know it’s impossible but sometimes I wish we didn’t progress, that we were still hunting or gathering and living closer with nature. It also seems that with out a purpose for survival humans tend to get bored, would a hungry person even consider suicide? No, they will probably fight for survival and try to find food.

I know this is an odd topic, what are your views? I guess it’s geared more towards computers/television, but you can incorporate any technology.

[gnunn]

In another sense technology has created artificial enslavement; we are now so dependant on technology to do our work and to entertain us. We don’t get to experience real physical life as much as before, we only watch it scripted on TV after work or school. We have lost a lot of our purpose, we no longer need to farm or hunt for our food.

Ah a romantic, keep in mind that life was a brutal struggle for hunters-gatherers. I for one have no great desire to return to a way of life where one constantly wondered where the next meal was coming from.


I know it’s impossible but sometimes I wish we didn’t progress, that we were still hunting or gathering and living closer with nature. It also seems that with out a purpose for survival humans tend to get bored, would a hungry person even consider suicide? No, they will probably fight for survival and try to find food.

I like having leisure time, why would I want to return to a way of life where I had no time to do the things I enjoy?


I know this is an odd topic, what are your views? I guess it’s geared more towards computers/television, but you can incorporate any technology.

I think if you got into a time machine and returned to those times you wouldn't last more then a week before you would want to come back to modern times. Besides, if you truly want to live in a disconnected way then go ahead and do it. Many people do choose to live off the grid and apart from technology though it's not quite the full hunter/gatherer society you envision.

Gerald

[NDman]

How about cell phone? Internet? Gone were the days when kids go out and play street hockey. And the modern day hide-and-seek requires the aid of MSN messenger!

Great topic

[corrupt123]

bahahahaha, that would be jokes

get a bunch of kids playing hide-and-go-seek in a neighbourhood with an unlocked router and WiFi Palms.

[FastFokker]

If it's a yes or no answer, then I would have to say I think No.

No, technology has not made life better, it has made it worse.

[gnunn]

How about cell phone? Internet? Gone were the days when kids go out and play street hockey. And the modern day hide-and-seek requires the aid of MSN messenger!

Maybe it is a function of where you live, my old subdivision in Newmarket had a ton of kids out skateboarding, playing road hockey, etc. Getting out of the neighborhood felt like driving a slalom course between nets and ramps!

[NDman]

Maybe it is a function of where you live, my old subdivision in Newmarket had a ton of kids out skateboarding, playing road hockey, etc. Getting out of the neighborhood felt like driving a slalom course between nets and ramps!
There's no doubt about that. But it's the change that stands out. Kids *used to* do things around some part of neighbourhood that you don't see kids do these days.

Anyway, back on the topic... I think technology has still made the human experience better, especially for those who don't know what they had missed in terms of the human-touch. We are not in the robo era by any stretch. But people in this generation still start off being exposed to technology so in that sense, technology can only make lives and experience better. But for *ahem* older generation, technology wasn't booming until late 80's or even early 90's. That's the group that will come up with a very diverse conclusion, I reckon

[xKagex]

Kids still play street hockey on my road whenever they get the chance. There are also kids skateboarding and biking, building stuff out of wood to drag behind their bikes, etc.

I don't think 'technology' necessarily has anything to do with it, I think it's more a social issue. In the 'big' city it's just not safe to play outside without constant supervision; society uses television and the computer to babysit their kids because both parents are too busy working their full-time jobs to expend energy on parenting. When kids are unruly (ie: energetic) they are given drugs to sedate them into paying attention in class. Personally, I'm glad the government sponsored daycare program is going to get scrapped, because it will only perpetuate the problem - a society of zombies.

[FastFokker]

Halifax (or maybe Nova Scotia?) is trying to pass a law to make it illegal for kids to play road hockey.

I think Bob Dylan was right.. Times they are a changin'

[Bortman]

So I’ve been thinking for a long time now and I’ve come to understand that technological progress is a double edge sword. In one sense technology has greatly increased productivity, expanded our lifetime, provided us with more relevant information and allowed us to communicate globally.

In another sense technology has created artificial enslavement; we are now so dependant on technology to do our work and to entertain us. We don’t get to experience real physical life as much as before, we only watch it scripted on TV after work or school. We have lost a lot of our purpose, we no longer need to farm or hunt for our food.

I know it’s impossible but sometimes I wish we didn’t progress, that we were still hunting or gathering and living closer with nature. It also seems that with out a purpose for survival humans tend to get bored, would a hungry person even consider suicide? No, they will probably fight for survival and try to find food.

I know this is an odd topic, what are your views? I guess it’s geared more towards computers/television, but you can incorporate any technology.

Technology has made living easier and more convenient, but it has made humans loose touch with what it actually means to be human. Everything has to be complicated now, nothing is simple anymore.

[curtis]

All I have to do is snap my fingers, and there's a stripclub in my room.


So Ive been thinking for a long time now and Ive come to understand that technological progress is a double edge sword. In one sense technology has greatly increased productivity, expanded our lifetime, provided us with more relevant information and allowed us to communicate globally.

In another sense technology has created artificial enslavement; we are now so dependant on technology to do our work and to entertain us. We dont get to experience real physical life as much as before, we only watch it scripted on TV after work or school. We have lost a lot of our purpose, we no longer need to farm or hunt for our food.

I know its impossible but sometimes I wish we didnt progress, that we were still hunting or gathering and living closer with nature. It also seems that with out a purpose for survival humans tend to get bored, would a hungry person even consider suicide? No, they will probably fight for survival and try to find food.

I know this is an odd topic, what are your views? I guess its geared more towards computers/television, but you can incorporate any technology.

[biosh]

Ah a romantic, keep in mind that life was a brutal struggle for hunters-gatherers. I for one have no great desire to return to a way of life where one constantly wondered where the next meal was coming from.

I like having leisure time, why would I want to return to a way of life where I had no time to do the things I enjoy?

Not true, but a commonly repeated myth.

Our hunter-gatherer ancestors actually worked a lot less than modern man.

Here is an excerpt from Marshall Sahlins' groundbreaking essay The Original Affluent Society (http://www.primitivism.com/original-affluent.htm):


"For each adult worker, this comes to about two and one - half days labour per week. (In other words, each productive individual supported herself or himself and dependents and still had 3 to 5 days available for other activities.) A "day's work" was about six hours; hence the Dobe work week is approximately 15 hours, or an average of 2 hours 9 minutes per day."

[divx]

All I have to do is snap my fingers, and there's a stripclub in my room.
I take that as a yes.

How do you like to obtain information when-ever, where-ever?

[gilboman]

of course it has, if not for technology, we would be shivering in the cold while we spend the whole day gathering brush and hunting just so we could grab a bite to eat. ;)

[divx]

of course it has, if not for technology, we would be shivering in the cold while we spend the whole day gathering brush and hunting just so we could grab a bite to eat. ;)
I'm still freezing everytime I step out the door. Perhaps we should thank global warming that this year isn't so bad. ;)

[gnunn]

Not true, but a commonly repeated myth.

Hey thanks for the link, I stand corrected. Always good to learn something new.

[curtis]

A computer can be an excellent heater in the winter.


of course it has, if not for technology, we would be shivering in the cold while we spend the whole day gathering brush and hunting just so we could grab a bite to eat. ;)

[zero_2003]

Cellphones: Connects people together!

[ill_mango]

technology has definately made our lives better. the beginning of sedentary lifestyles allowed people to expand things like the arts.

Although people really do work too much, it's kind of insane how much people work today

[MrDisco]

Cellphones: Connects people together!

Cellphones: Electronic leash/handcuffs

[mattpiloto]

Technology has made living easier and more convenient, but it has made humans loose touch with what it actually means to be human. Everything has to be complicated now, nothing is simple anymore.

My sentiments exactly. Instead of spending 16 hours a day working on a farm, we now spend 16 hours a day working on one thing or another.