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Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 1:40 pm
by naicob
Our minds evolved when we needed to think and solve problems because our survival depended on it. When everything is served to us on a platter we no longer have to even try to think. We no longer have to figure out how to feed and house ourselves. We aren't pressed to solve problems with our intelligence, we can google them. All these luxuries became widely available because of tech progress and the drive to make things easier, and they will also be our undoing. The dumb/lazy would have died out, now they survive because life has gotten easy enough for them to do nothing but breed more stupid. A domesticated dog remains in a puppy phase for its entire life because its life is easy. The same applies to people, and we now have grown children raising children. We aren't on our way to Idiocracy, we're already there. If popular culture isn't a shining probe into our collective stupidity, I don't know what is. Check out the trending videos on Youtube, or better yet, check the most popular entries on Wikipedia.
The internet in all its glory is more often than not used for nothing more than loud mouthed opinion (yes, exactly what I'm doing), misguided attempts at individuality (Instagraming your newest 'original' tattoo, or dinner, or the event you didn't actually see because your entire life is now a fucking instagram filter), probing and spying of your friends and colleagues who have carefully been gathered (Facebook), checking recipes or reading reviews, because bothering to cook in your own way or watch a flick with your own eyes is just too damn hard, besides, it's good to know that the 17th rendition of Spiderman is definitely an all time classic, and you're not the only one who thinks so. Gathering 'knowledge' via smartphone while crossing a busy street-- reading about the sophisticated tastes of the Spiderman crowd when looking for a place to sit and eat, and when you finally do, communicating by snapping filtered photos of your meal as it gets cold while 'enjoying' it with your significant other by showing them the photos you just took and posted. You go home to read the wikipedia quantum mechanics entry, because you have a feeling it's 'all energy' and because you're totally qualified to understand the mathematics in the sub-atomic world with your built in smartphone calculator and 'depth'.
Commercialism, Consumerism, Capitalism-- all products of our hunter gatherer nature. Gather as much as possible for a higher chance at survival. The problem is that nobody got the memo that the world surrounding us has drastically changed and we no longer need to do that. The rich keep getting richer the poor keep getting poorer. The wars bloodier, the minds number. We keep gathering-- 'stuff', 'friends', 'opinions', 'knowledge'...'progress'.
Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 2:23 pm
by Basefree
naicob wrote:The dumb/lazy would have died out, now they survive because life has gotten easy enough for them to do nothing but breed more stupid.
It probably wasn't necessary to write this. And it's not like it's a product of the Instagram age anyway, would have to go way back in history.
Posted: Fri Aug 16, 2013 4:00 am
by Jonse
This thread remains nothing but a collection of rants, a few good points from a handful of people, and a collection of convoluted hippie-esque micro novellas that somehow attempt to rationalize why removing one's ability to access all of the information on the internet at any time, anywhere, is a good idea.
I bumped it because I've changed my position - as shitty as it is, this is the best time in history that has ever existed.
And again (just in case I said it alread) I agree with fujee and find it appalling that people need "digital detox kits". Just shut the shit off and use it when you need it. If you have no self-control to the point you need a "digital detox kit", might I recommend a "digital removal kit".
And for the sake of others and and because this is Twoism, I will spare you from reading what I would really say to naicob had this been, oh say...4chan or something like that, and leave it at this: being naive and judgmental is a bad idea, condemning something because it can potentially be used for redundant purposes is a bad idea
Fuck Spiderman.
Posted: Fri Aug 16, 2013 4:08 am
by Synthestesia
Rodheh wrote:This thread remains nothing but a collection of rants, a few good points from a handful of people, and a collection of convoluted hippie-esque micro novellas that somehow attempt to rationalize why removing one's ability to access all of the information on the internet at any time, anywhere, is a good idea.
I bumped it because I've changed my position - as shitty as it is, this is the best time in history that has ever existed.
And again (just in case I said it alread) I agree with fujee and find it appalling that people need "digital detox kits". Just shut the shit off and use it when you need it. If you have no self-control to the point you need a "digital detox kit", might I recommend a "digital removal kit".
Ya hit tha nail on tha head
Posted: Tue Aug 20, 2013 6:08 am
by novayshun
"nostalgia isn't what it used to be"
Posted: Tue Aug 20, 2013 9:17 am
by Negamuse
Rodheh wrote:
And again (just in case I said it alread) I agree with fujee and find it appalling that people need "digital detox kits". Just shut the shit off and use it when you need it. If you have no self-control to the point you need a "digital detox kit", might I recommend a "digital removal kit".
This is true, ofc. But maybe its illuminating for something to come along once in a while that demonstrates we haven't mastered our own impulse control.
Posted: Sun Aug 25, 2013 4:54 am
by pianoforte
Posted: Sun Aug 25, 2013 4:58 am
by pianoforte
A few months ago, my laptop died - I had tried to take it apart to clean its fan, but failed as I don't know very much about computer hardware (I'm a software guy). As a result, I was forced to go without consistent access to a machine of my own until I could get another. After about 4 weeks, I managed to get an old Dell D630 from a friend, but I spent that four weeks really living, and enjoying every minute of it. I use the new machine much less than I did the old one, because I rediscovered the value of really connecting with the world around me.
Posted: Sun Aug 25, 2013 4:10 pm
by Jonse
MrMessiah wrote:Rodheh wrote:
And again (just in case I said it alread) I agree with fujee and find it appalling that people need "digital detox kits". Just shut the shit off and use it when you need it. If you have no self-control to the point you need a "digital detox kit", might I recommend a "digital removal kit".
This is true, ofc. But maybe its illuminating for something to come along once in a while that demonstrates we haven't mastered our own impulse control.
Yeah, it's called drugs, and I've loved/loathed/succeeded/struggled/became hopeless/became hopeful with them every day of my life for the past three or four years.
I don't entertain how illuminating it may be one cannot control their impulses to get on a phone.
Posted: Sun Aug 25, 2013 7:59 pm
by TaoTapeTao
Yeah I'd have to say that technological momentum is inevitable and whether whoever likes it or not, tech like smart phones and interconnectedness with the internet is where human kind is going. That's what happens when information can exponentially increase in complexity.
As Rodheh said, blame the people. Yes the technology is inevitably speeding up the convoluted, egotistical image obsessed vanity of our culture and creating more windows and opportunities for us to promote and spread stupid shit that doesn't matter, but this is more an underlying issue with perspective, self awareness, celebration of the ego image, and our society and culture.
But if someone were to try and deny these issues with self understanding and how most societies value utter bullshit for the sake of perpetuating a lie and misunderstanding of reality I would call them a fucking moron.
But this is NOTHING new. This has existed since man started building and creating artifacts and tools. It's just a misunderstanding of the fundamental relationship he has to the rest of the world. It's an accident of evolution.
But yeah as is it seems that the course of our lives is advancing technological complexity, so that really can't be prevented.
Posted: Sat Aug 31, 2013 1:36 am
by GH
Was reading
this article today, and thought of this thread.
Yesterday, Polish festival Unsound announced that they would be implementing a ban on all photography and filming at this year’s event, in line with their theme of Interference. The organisers question the habit of constant documentation of live events, which not only distracts the person documenting but also those around them. Perhaps even better: they will not be policing this ban, but rather rely on festival goers to respect it as a community, and stop those that they see as infringing on it.
Posted: Sat Aug 31, 2013 4:10 am
by naicob
GH wrote:Was reading
this article today, and thought of this thread.
Yesterday, Polish festival Unsound announced that they would be implementing a ban on all photography and filming at this year’s event, in line with their theme of Interference. The organisers question the habit of constant documentation of live events, which not only distracts the person documenting but also those around them. Perhaps even better: they will not be policing this ban, but rather rely on festival goers to respect it as a community, and stop those that they see as infringing on it.
Awesome.
A few weeks ago I went to a show and I couldn't believe that at least half the people there had their phones/cameras in the air trying to capture something while completely missing the entirety and the point, entirely, not to mention carelessly blocking views. Just think-- total immersion in sight and sound, the togetherness of a crowd, dancing, singing, laughing, meeting people, even the smells-- wouldn't replicating that total immersion take some incredible non-existent technology? So why would anyone try to replace something like that, something technology could only one day far into the future possibly attempt to replicate, with something as terribly inefficient and technologically lacking as a photo or video? We are looking for technology to imitate life instead of living a pretty far out experience which has always been available.
I'm a photographer and I took my camera to the show. I heard the music, danced, and left the venue after the band got a little boring. Went outside, took out my gear and took some shots of people leaving, the water, boats, the venue from afar-- I still got my memories, I even have proof that I was there
, took some cool photos that I'm happy with, and I didn't miss a thing. Coincidentally, I was the only one with a camera taking shots outside and probably the only one that truly got the most of their 'tech' that night.
If you think this was bad, the other day I went to the zoo after not visiting one for many years. Again, I took my camera (I take it out quite often) and hoped to take a few shots of some critters if possible. I shit you not, I was hardly able to even see a single animal because I had to literally push myself through the crowds of humans snapping senseless shot after senseless shot to even get a
smell of the smallest creature. I couldn't help but think the people should have been the ones in the cages.
Posted: Sat Aug 31, 2013 4:10 am
by pianoforte
GH wrote:Yesterday, Polish festival Unsound announced that they would be implementing a ban on all photography and filming at this year’s event, in line with their theme of Interference. The organisers question the habit of constant documentation of live events, which not only distracts the person documenting but also those around them. Perhaps even better: they will not be policing this ban, but rather rely on festival goers to respect it as a community, and stop those that they see as infringing on it.
^ Good for them.
Personally, what I've started doing at shows is placing a camcorder or other recording device on a shelf or some other stationary object that has a good view of the band/performer, then leaving it to record and standing somewhere else to focus on the music.
Posted: Sat Sep 21, 2013 8:59 pm
by GH
This Youtube clip is a must see, and shows exactly how modern life has gone. Brilliant.
Posted: Sat Sep 21, 2013 9:14 pm
by TaoTapeTao
GH wrote:This Youtube clip is a must see, and shows exactly how modern life has gone. Brilliant.
But people don't behave like this... at least not where I live. It's definitely an exaggeration of the truth but I do see people at concerts and shows and comedy acts and the like just constantly watching it all through their smart phones or tablets which is one of the fucking stupidest things I've ever witnessed. It's a waste of time, electricity, and money. Absolutely no one re-watches what they've filmed and absolutely no one else is interested in whatever videos they post to facebook or whatever and they definitely don't watch them either.
It makes me wanna knock the damn phone out of people's hands
Posted: Sat Sep 21, 2013 10:46 pm
by GH
TaoTapeTao wrote:GH wrote:This Youtube clip is a must see, and shows exactly how modern life has gone. Brilliant.
But people don't behave like this... at least not where I live.
Lucky you.
Posted: Sun Sep 22, 2013 12:14 am
by naicob
GH wrote:This Youtube clip is a must see, and shows exactly how modern life has gone. Brilliant.
In all honesty I think it's even worse than the film depicts. Yeah, civilization in a nutshell.
Posted: Sun Sep 22, 2013 2:36 am
by pianoforte
GH wrote:TaoTapeTao wrote:GH wrote:This Youtube clip is a must see, and shows exactly how modern life has gone. Brilliant.
But people don't behave like this... at least not where I live.
Lucky you.
Posted: Sun Sep 22, 2013 5:07 am
by pianoforte
Posted: Sun Sep 22, 2013 10:34 pm
by TaoTapeTao
I mean regardless of that I can't help but fuel my exponentially growing cynicism towards the human race. I think we're a plague and we wreak havoc wherever we go.