http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ILQrUrEWe8&feature=related
Another "Did You Know" video from the same people. For anyone who's interested.
So, what in the world does this all mean?
I think it means we're pretty darn dumb. We're going to invent a computer that's smarter than a human? Can you say robot wars? :-) Even if that is a little far-fetched, at the very least we will become dependent on this thing that is smarter than us. We will be creating something SMARTER THAN US.
Here's the question I keep asking myself. Is all of this really nessecary? Why do we need to invent all of these new things. I know many people today would be all: "I can't live without my cellphone!"
Umm.. yeah you could. Human's used to all the time. These things we are inventing are as a much of a conveinience as they are inhibitory. Is there anything right now that hasn't been invented that we can't live without? I bet, once it comes out, you're going to be SO happy that it has been invented. (How could we have lived without the internet?)
Sure, there are plenty of good things. Like, the availability of information at our fingertips is wonderful. However, I find that it also robs our natural sense to go out and find things out. The other day, while driving, I saw the little bits of light that look like water on the edge of the road against the horizon. (the mirage thing that disappears when you get close to it?) I started to really wonder how and why it looks like that. I was thinking about properties of eyes and wavelegnths and stuff, and calling on a lot of knowledge I had acquired through school. And, I thought about ways I could experiement and find out. Then, I realized I could probably Google it. And, suddenly, I didn't care about the answer anymore.
All of this information is out there. So, why are we doing research reports? Kids, I'm sure, wonder that all the time as the Freshman are doing their brochures on skin cancer or whatnot.
Yesterday, I went to Irvine to visit Concordia University at the greeter asked us: Why Are You Here? (as in on the planet). It kind of goes along with something else I've been thinking about lately. If one considers the assumption that everyone who was, is, or will be born, will be born at SOME POINT in time. Then, you can ask yourself, why was I born NOW? Why the 1990s and beyond? What to I have to bring to the Earth at this time?
For myself? I don't know. I mean, you can probably tell that I don't agree science will solve all of our problems. Some of this stuff is creating just as many problems as it fixes! But, I also like science, I enjoy the knowledge, and I'm good at it. On the other hand, I strongly feel that people need to focus more on things like relationships, morals, helping others. Just be nicer in general.
So, why am I here? Of all times, why now?
Eventually, being an exponetial society as the book says, we will run out of room to grow. We already have a population crisis. Our slope (imaginei the J graph) will be undefined as we head straight up? Armegeddon? Who knows, hope I'm dead.
Everyday, our lives are becoming less personal. And this new technology is bombarding us from all angles. How does one embrace it without letting oneself be consumed?
In another angle, what good does some of this knowledge do us? We know now, what makes it rain. Does that mean it rains any more or less than it would if we didn't know? We know everything about the human body just about now, but even if we assembled one, we couldn't make it work. To me, science lacks the core of humanity: a soul. It's used for wonderful things, but knowledge begets responsiblility, and humans are not responsible with what we have been entrusted with. Because, with all of the new technology occupying our time, we've forgotten to make relationships, foster our sense of self, APPRECIATE things.
Anyways, I'm rambling now. I will see you all anon.
Andrea
Evil Diva Issue 6 Page 3
8 years ago
Great post! This got me thinking alot! What you said about how we can live without certain things we do not yet know about, but when they come out it is like an addiction to have! It is insane how people can suddenly be so attached and rely on specific technology and sources. Google..as you mentioned, is a perfect example. I even find myself on Google alot searching for information instead of going to a dictionary, textbook, etc. I think people just try to make things easier to do less work. In reality, we are ultimately degrading our learning experience when we do this!
ReplyDeleteI also liked how you mentioned that people need to grow in relationships, morals, and other naturalistic things. It seems like society's these days focus more on the human technolocical creations, rather than what nature has already given us. Obviously if nature gives us something we should use it. If people focus on building relationships and morals they will expand in knowledge not even realizing it!
I also thought your statement as strong when you said how "it also robs our natural sense to go out and find things out" That is such a perfect sentence for this topic! Our naturalistic ways are being destroyed by the gain in technology.
Good job and I really really enjoyed reading your blog! Keep up the good work! =)
Wows. Once again, you have been quite insightful indeed. You always ask such good questions, that really make me think about what you're saying, and, if I didn't already, I always end up agreeing with you by the end. It's absolutely crazy how much technology there is in the world today, and yet, there's an incredible amount of problems, too. And really, are we much happier nowadays than ever before? If knowledge equals happiness, ten I suppose. But it really doesn't. Just like Cat's Cradle is arguing, science just for science does not make the world into a utopia. I ope I haven't rambled too far from you're own idea, And. Heh. Wells, nice blog! See 'ya laters!
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