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Nice list of shiny things, some that are entirely attainable and may very well come true soon. One nitpick, though: "I want my watch, glasses, toaster, light s

Nice list of shiny things, some that are entirely attainable and may very well come true soon. One nitpick, though: "I want my watch, glasses, toaster, light switches, thermostat, and door locks to use connectedness to make the world a better place–by reducing energy usage, decreasing waste, and improving my happiness and convenience." If you think that your toaster is going to improve your happiness, well, I'd have to say, be prepared to be unhappy with the results. Buying more junk, however technologically advanced, may certainly bring convenience and reduce energy use and waste, but it is not going to make you happy.

fudged71 13y ago
That depends on the person, I suppose http://dcurt.is/the-best http://dcurt.is/the-best
- cypherpunks01 13y ago
  Sure. We really have to dissect what happiness (or "liberation") really means here, to answer the question. There seems to be a conflation between convenience/lack-of-frustration and happiness. I don't believe that happiness (the real, sustainable kind) can come to anyone from the feeling that the flashlight they own is bright enough, or that the fork they own touches their teeth in the right way. Having reliable stuff can certainly make life convenient like he notices—but happy? Seems like wishful thinking. Just take the classic HN thread "how did your life change after FU money?" (http://bit.ly/1dEVs7x http://bit.ly/1dEVs7x). PG writes that "a lot of annoyances are removed" which seems like the same realization that Dustin has here in many fewer words—that money can buy him nice silverware and he never again has to be annoyed at failing silverware. Take a look at Aaron's comment and you'll find more concisely what I am trying to say: "My sense is that it bears out what the happiness research says: dispositional factors are much more important than situational ones. PG was an abnormally happy person before he got rich and he's still abnormally happy. I was pretty miserable before and I'm still miserable."

fudged71 13y ago

That depends on the person, I suppose http://dcurt.is/the-best http://dcurt.is/the-best

cypherpunks01 13y ago
Sure. We really have to dissect what happiness (or "liberation") really means here, to answer the question. There seems to be a conflation between convenience/lack-of-frustration and happiness. I don't believe that happiness (the real, sustainable kind) can come to anyone from the feeling that the flashlight they own is bright enough, or that the fork they own touches their teeth in the right way. Having reliable stuff can certainly make life convenient like he notices—but happy? Seems like wishful thinking. Just take the classic HN thread "how did your life change after FU money?" (http://bit.ly/1dEVs7x http://bit.ly/1dEVs7x). PG writes that "a lot of annoyances are removed" which seems like the same realization that Dustin has here in many fewer words—that money can buy him nice silverware and he never again has to be annoyed at failing silverware. Take a look at Aaron's comment and you'll find more concisely what I am trying to say: "My sense is that it bears out what the happiness research says: dispositional factors are much more important than situational ones. PG was an abnormally happy person before he got rich and he's still abnormally happy. I was pretty miserable before and I'm still miserable."