3 ms·

"this important aspect of human life." No denying the importance. But let's keep things in perspective too. Steve Jobs put it rather well: "Historical preceden

"this important aspect of human life." No denying the importance. But let's keep things in perspective too. Steve Jobs put it rather well: "Historical precedent shows that we can turn out amazing human beings without technology. Precedent also shows that we can turn out very uninteresting human beings with technology." Full quote here: "The problem is I’m older now, I’m 40 years old, and this stuff doesn’t change the world. It really doesn’t. That’s going to break people’s hearts. I’m sorry, it’s true. Having children really changes your view on these things. We’re born, we live for a brief instant, and we die. It’s been happening for a long time. Technology is not changing it much – if at all. These technologies can make life easier, can let us touch people we might not otherwise. You may have a child with a birth defect and be able to get in touch with other parents and support groups, get medical information, the latest experimental drugs. These things can profoundly influence life. I’m not downplaying that. But it’s a disservice to constantly put things in this radical new light – that it’s going to change everything. Things don’t have to change the world to be important. […] Lincoln did not have a Web site at the log cabin where his parents home-schooled him, and he turned out pretty interesting. Historical precedent shows that we can turn out amazing human beings without technology. Precedent also shows that we can turn out very uninteresting human beings with technology."

rm_-rf_slash 10y ago
Using the internet is like moving from the city to the suburbs. You have complete control over the news you read, the videos you watch, and the music you listen to. It's also a very lonely place. Human beings are reduced to casual stimulation. No amount of information is ever enough. We don't know our neighbors. I try as hard as I can to stay away from the internet, especially social media. Hacker News is the only exception, the only drug that I can't quit. I sometimes wonder how the tobacco executives feel as they promote a harmful product, even while many of them do not smoke. Detached consumerism is a disease. It is hard to cure because we are all complicit in this ailment. The internet, with its stimulating advertising and glossy social media perceptions of a flawless moment in time, is a vector for this disease. I'm not sure the internet is helping us. It may be instrumental in us hurting ourselves, and each other, instead.
- Jtsummers 10y ago
  I spent my last years of high school in Las Vegas. My school was downtown, just blocks from the Fremont Street Experience. We were surrounded by people who were impoverished by gambling. A lot of the people running and working in casinos don't gamble themselves (smart). And those who opposed gambling on moral grounds but participated in the gambling economy justified it with statements like, "Gambling is a sin, but I'm not gambling, so I'm ok." Neglecting the negative impact they had on many people. They slept just fine at night. Most people seem to be quite capable of this sort of detachment from the impact of their choices.
Jtsummers 10y ago
Context: https://www.wired.com/1996/02/jobs-2/ https://www.wired.com/1996/02/jobs-2/

rm_-rf_slash 10y ago

Using the internet is like moving from the city to the suburbs. You have complete control over the news you read, the videos you watch, and the music you listen to. It's also a very lonely place. Human beings are reduced to casual stimulation. No amount of information is ever enough. We don't know our neighbors. I try as hard as I can to stay away from the internet, especially social media. Hacker News is the only exception, the only drug that I can't quit. I sometimes wonder how the tobacco executives feel as they promote a harmful product, even while many of them do not smoke. Detached consumerism is a disease. It is hard to cure because we are all complicit in this ailment. The internet, with its stimulating advertising and glossy social media perceptions of a flawless moment in time, is a vector for this disease. I'm not sure the internet is helping us. It may be instrumental in us hurting ourselves, and each other, instead.

Jtsummers 10y ago
I spent my last years of high school in Las Vegas. My school was downtown, just blocks from the Fremont Street Experience. We were surrounded by people who were impoverished by gambling. A lot of the people running and working in casinos don't gamble themselves (smart). And those who opposed gambling on moral grounds but participated in the gambling economy justified it with statements like, "Gambling is a sin, but I'm not gambling, so I'm ok." Neglecting the negative impact they had on many people. They slept just fine at night. Most people seem to be quite capable of this sort of detachment from the impact of their choices.

Jtsummers 10y ago

Context: https://www.wired.com/1996/02/jobs-2/ https://www.wired.com/1996/02/jobs-2/