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Actually, technology is neutral. What isn't neutral is to what ends that technology is leveraged. The human ability to be smart brought us amazing technologies.
by placebo 11y ago
Actually, technology is neutral. What isn't neutral is to what ends that technology is leveraged. The human ability to be smart brought us amazing technologies. Our ability to be wise is what will determine whether these technologies will eventually amplify our happiness or our misery, and I think the jury is still out on whether humanity is getting any wiser.
- AngrySkillzz 11y agoThat's really not true: "the medium is the message" applies just as much to computer technology as it does to things we would more traditionally view as media. Think about the difference between a conversation you'd have on the phone versus one had over instant messenger versus one had via text message. The content is informed by the way in which it is conveyed; the properties of a piece of technology shape how we use it.
- placebo 11y agoThe quality of the message and it's impact are definitely influenced by the type medium but it does not follow that this makes the medium not neutral. Let's take an extreme case - a medium that when used will harm the receiver of the message. You might say that this medium is not neutral but the fact is that the medium is always neutral. What isn't neutral is the designer of that medium or the one who uses it. Even in the very unlikely case that both are ignorant of the harmful effects, the medium still remains neutral, much like a destructive force of nature is neutral.