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and soon, people will be scared to even consider going for a jog without a device like that on their wrist. The more time passes the more i realize how much th

by bsaul 7y ago

and soon, people will be scared to even consider going for a jog without a device like that on their wrist. The more time passes the more i realize how much the saying « the road to hell is paved with good intentions » is true.

frabbit 7y ago
It seems highly likely to me that the Culture of Fear that pervades affluent western societies will exactly lead to what you predict. And those of us that do not wear a permanent tracking device will have some sort of financial (insurance rates) and emotional punishments (peer pressure/blackmail) inflicted on us. Speaking for myself, I'm ready to die when its time. If my body is so weak and knackered that I cannot even go for a bike ride without medical assistance then I reckon it's time to shuffle off this mortal coil and make way for someone else.
- scottlamb 7y ago
  I can understand why you'd feel the risk of such an event is sufficiently low that it's not worth buying/charging/wearing a "permanent tracking device", particularly if you also feel it doesn't respect your privacy adequately. And I agree our collective tolerance to risk is going down over time. But I'm curious about this part of your comment: > Speaking for myself, I'm ready to die when its time. If my body is so weak and knackered that I cannot even go for a bike ride without medical assistance then I reckon it's time to shuffle off this mortal coil and make way for someone else. This could happen because of a hit-and-run driver or because of some other temporary medical condition; either might be completely resolved with the right treatment. I think a better way to look at it is about your quality of life afterward. If you're terminally ill or of very advanced age with a poor prognosis for recovery, then I can see why you'd want a "do not resuscitate" order, would disable this feature, etc. Otherwise why not get help?
  - frabbit 7y ago
    Agree about the quality of life afterwards being the most important issue. I have seen too many people who have lingered "alive". I suspect that if I get knocked down then there is a dichotomy of outcomes: 1) unpleasant, painful, survivable, not time-critical, not life-changing 2) major trauma, life can be saved with a time-critical intervention. Prognosis post-event is for a decreased quality of life. Would probably die if left without unusually quick ER. I can only see the watch being useful for #2: the exact situation where I think it would be better that I die.
- Avamander 7y ago
  If you feel your privacy is violated then contribute to projects like GadgetBridge and PineTime, both are in major need of developers and would allow you to reap the benefits without the tracking you seem to fear.
bdamm 7y ago
As a younger man I took pride in not needing any technical assistance to get around in the world. Now in middle age, and with a diagnosed electrical-type heart problem, I'm pretty happy to have the gizmo help me out. This makes those rare times when I do venture out without any tech on my person particularly pleasurable; I feel like I'm getting away with something naughty and yet all I'm doing is being an unassisted human. If jogging with a health monitor is normalized, well, that's ok with me.

by bsaul 7y ago

frabbit 7y ago

It seems highly likely to me that the Culture of Fear that pervades affluent western societies will exactly lead to what you predict. And those of us that do not wear a permanent tracking device will have some sort of financial (insurance rates) and emotional punishments (peer pressure/blackmail) inflicted on us. Speaking for myself, I'm ready to die when its time. If my body is so weak and knackered that I cannot even go for a bike ride without medical assistance then I reckon it's time to shuffle off this mortal coil and make way for someone else.

scottlamb 7y ago
I can understand why you'd feel the risk of such an event is sufficiently low that it's not worth buying/charging/wearing a "permanent tracking device", particularly if you also feel it doesn't respect your privacy adequately. And I agree our collective tolerance to risk is going down over time. But I'm curious about this part of your comment: > Speaking for myself, I'm ready to die when its time. If my body is so weak and knackered that I cannot even go for a bike ride without medical assistance then I reckon it's time to shuffle off this mortal coil and make way for someone else. This could happen because of a hit-and-run driver or because of some other temporary medical condition; either might be completely resolved with the right treatment. I think a better way to look at it is about your quality of life afterward. If you're terminally ill or of very advanced age with a poor prognosis for recovery, then I can see why you'd want a "do not resuscitate" order, would disable this feature, etc. Otherwise why not get help?
- frabbit 7y ago
  Agree about the quality of life afterwards being the most important issue. I have seen too many people who have lingered "alive". I suspect that if I get knocked down then there is a dichotomy of outcomes: 1) unpleasant, painful, survivable, not time-critical, not life-changing 2) major trauma, life can be saved with a time-critical intervention. Prognosis post-event is for a decreased quality of life. Would probably die if left without unusually quick ER. I can only see the watch being useful for #2: the exact situation where I think it would be better that I die.
Avamander 7y ago
If you feel your privacy is violated then contribute to projects like GadgetBridge and PineTime, both are in major need of developers and would allow you to reap the benefits without the tracking you seem to fear.

bdamm 7y ago

As a younger man I took pride in not needing any technical assistance to get around in the world. Now in middle age, and with a diagnosed electrical-type heart problem, I'm pretty happy to have the gizmo help me out. This makes those rare times when I do venture out without any tech on my person particularly pleasurable; I feel like I'm getting away with something naughty and yet all I'm doing is being an unassisted human. If jogging with a health monitor is normalized, well, that's ok with me.