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Termyn8or -> RE: technology/humanity (4/22/2008 10:07:38 AM)
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It's a pretty broad statement, but in some respects has merit.
Over the years I believe that the development of mass media has resulted in people communicating less. That is a negative impact I believe.
Everything cuts both ways. Back when there was nothing, people passed books around, had town meetings, mixers and things like that.
With the advent of radio, families would gather around THE radio and listen to A show together. The thing did not stay on all day. The rest of the time there were chores, but that left time for discussion and some games, real games, not on a screen. Children, hell everybody learned back then.
Then TV came along and in the beginning it was used about like the radio. The family would gather around and watch A show, maybe two, and then there was time for chores, discussion and real games.
In those days not only did the family get together for these "events", if they were among the lucky first few to have one of those newfangled radios or TVs they likely had visitors. All the kids learned to shutup and only talk during the commercials.
Then everything got big. I don't mean screen size, I mean it in a different way. With but a few syndicated shows, much of the other programming was local. And some stations actually signed off for the day at like eight PM.
That's what I mean by got big. Anyone here actually even use a TV antenna anymore ? Remember the days when you heard the national anthem and then Cshshshshshshshshsh with nothing but snow on the screen ?
I swear if I ever ordered cable my Grandfather would dig himself up out of his grave and show up and say "What the hell do you need 242 channels for ?".
Indeed.
If we can hit on this for a moment, just what do you need 242 channels for ? I am known for taking a step back and looking at the bigger picture, so let me describe what I see. I see people so devoid of independent thought that they're in sort of in a vacuum. I see people who crave entertainment and are such a connesuer(sp) of same that they will do anything to get a good fix, RIGHT NOW. They need five Showtimes that show the same thing but on different schedules so they don't have to watch a rerun. I see addicts.
People used to go to the cinema perhaps once a week, IF there was something good playing. Now, even with 242 channels they can be seen walking out of Blockbuster with three or four DVDs.
It gets better. People do not even get together for these "experiences" anymore. Now all the kids need TVs in their bedrooms, game rooms, kitchen, deck, attic and probably two in the basement.
And we haven't even gotten to the video game addicts yet. Well I guess we have now, nuff said ? You know the type.
And then there were BBSes, Usenet and a few other networks and subsequently the internet. Thanks Al Gore ! Sorry about your coffee, I'll buy you a coffee, but I can't do anything about the keyboard.
But that may partly illustrate what I am saying. "I took the initiative in inventing the internet", now who is stupid enough to go in public and make a statement like that ? I bet if it was repeated enough people would eventually believe it though, but now that we are on the internet, well, things have changed.
The internet is the culmination of what I call communication technology reaching critical mass. People are getting tired of mass media, I know I am and that is why I am here, how about you ? And look where we are. I really don't see much in the way of entertainment here at CM, not that there is none, but a forum like this is working in the opposite direction in a way. People are discussing their views, try that with a TV set.
"They" have enjoyed the fruits of this one way media for decades, but the internet is destroying that advantage.
I started out on newsgroups, and that is probably why I get into occasional trouble here.For example misc.activism.militia used to be fantastic, and no holds barred. It has been reduced to the tinfoil hat crowd, but years ago is was hot. That was a newsgroup you had to take with a grain of salt, and it was open season on Blacks, Jews, Homosexuals of course, but it was open season on everybody.
Yup even me. In fact on sci.electronics.repair, which used to be great, I got in an altercation with one who actually emailed me his home address, calling me out. What I said was "I'd like to see you tell me that to my face". Well he wanted to do it. Mind you I never threatened him with any action if he did, I just said I would like to see him look me in the face and say what he had typed. If the guy was local I would consider going, not for a fight, but for an in person discussion. See then you can't hang up, sign off or ignore anything.
But then even here we can sign off or ignore someone. I would never ignore someone for insulting me. I would respond. Why would anyone not want to see what is written about them ? Doesn't make sense.
So here we are talking issues that will never appear on the TV or be heard on the radio, economic, social, political, racial and other issues are raised that are not raised in RL even. Even though this site affords us semi-anonymity our voices are heard, and ANYONE can read this forum. Where else would we talk about all this shit, really ?
Internet fora and blogs are quite prolific now. They are all over the place. Do you think the people who run the mass media want us talking about the corruption and consolidation of the mass media ? But they can't stop us.
So I see it going full circle, blogsters and forumphiles are wresting control from them, and mass media is involved in the internet in a big way, of that there is no doubt. In a way I like to think that they created the tool of their own demise. They no longer have the advantage of one way communication.
Sometimes they still do. Work with someone has those earbuds in ? A bluetooth ? One day the guy said something at work, and I said "What ?", and then I realized he was on the phone. The thing sticks right to his ear.
And we're not getting out of this without a discussion of the telephone, it is just too germaine to the subject to ignore.
The telephone was a marvelous invention. While it only allowed communication between teo people at a time, the benefits outweighed the disadvantages. In the early days, kids never got on the phone, except maybe to talk to Grandma or something occasionally. In the really old days it was "Put this up to your ear and talk in here" as the Parent held the kid up to reach the telephone.
Telephones developed though and kids learned how to use them. Years ago it got to the point where more than one phone was needed in the house. Then it got to the point where the kids needed phones in their rooms, partly because they were disrupting other activities when talking on the phone.
That's isolation.
Back then it was one line with extensions in multiple rooms. They had to take turns using it. That is no longer good enough, now they all need cellphones. Parental supervision has morphed into getting detailed billing.
And although this last part might not fit perfectly with the OT, I think it worthy of mentioning.
The front porch. My front porch is a piece of shit, but I would never part with it. Neighbors come up, sometimes bum a beer. We talk. Yell over to the next house a friendly "HEY". People across the street come over and ask the olman how he is, having had a stroke and all. My one neighbor used to mow my front grass for free, just for the hell of it.
I swear if I hit the lottery for a jillion dollars I would not move. This is like the old days. There are like three foreclosed properties around my house, if I got rich I would buy them all. I would put my one buddy in one of them, and even though they have phone problems, like forgetting to pay the bill, they always pay the rent. Another buddy would have to be kept on a temporary basis, and another would probably split a place with his GF. That's what I would do. I would protect this neighborhood.
I have never experienced anything like this before. Sure we don't all get along all the time, but we don't go getting the guns out over damage to a bush, things like that. Right in the heart of the city, reasonable people, well reasonable enough. Of the people I know who rent, some would be valuable additions to this little area.
There is one drawback here though, and nothing can be done about it - car theft. But that is people coming from other areas. What can you do ?
I long for the traditional family life, but I realize that since I haven't built it by now it ain't happening. But I can enjoy a good neighborhood. If we had more people we would probably have block parties and stuff like that.
We almost do, one neighbor and I. Doors are open, both fridges full of beer. Other intoxicants in desgnated places. We trust. Tunes going, but we don't use the radio usually and we don't fight each other on that. I can use his gas grill anythime I want. His lawnmower is in my shed and he has keys. I have keys to his house, but actually not because he threw a roommate out and changed the locks. But probably soon there will be another "emergency" key to his house hanging on the key rack here or downstairs.
In the latter portion I think I am trying to get to the root of what exactly is meant by "humanity". Most people do not know their neighbors at all.
And that is not the end of it. What really defines humanity ? When you get, say on a long bus ride, will you strike up a conversation with a total stranger ? Why or why not ? But then with today's technology they usually either have a phone in their ear or a computer on their lap.
So now it seems I have stirred up alot of the worms from the bottom of the can the OP opened. This is long enough, and this point it is costing me money to be here, I have decided to be late for work. But I think this an important subject, especially with all the twists and turns it embodies.
I yield the floor, it is your turn.
T
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