The Computer is a Communications Disease

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2363597,00.asp

by ableal • 16 years ago

11 5 16 years ago

ableal• 16 years ago

I think that McLuhan (in Understanding Media, back in 1964), said something about our developing an external, electric nervous system.

We've not quite come to grips with that yet.

swernli• 16 years ago

Maybe that's what all this discontent with Facebook is growing toward. As people look around and realize that their relationships aren't really being enhanced by this new technology, but instead trivialized and put to work for advertising dollars, they will start to develop an electronic/social immune system that causes them to operate in a way that more clearly protects their privacy and best interest. Perhaps then we'll see more technology designed to submit to the user, instead of the other way around.

Unlikely, and perhaps too much to ask. But I'm hopeful.

DanielBMarkham• 16 years ago

As usual, Dvorak's point is crude and overstated.

But in general I think he's more right than wrong.

whimsy• 16 years ago

You've got to be kidding. Porn is destroying society's moral fabric? If porn is capable of this, there wasn't much fabric in the first place.

He's also concerned about the fact that people have become cyborgs, tethered to fancy tools.

Sure, the internet is destroying traditional news organizations, but even a broken clock is right twice a day. The fall of the newspaper isn't signaling the end of society... just maybe society as we know it.

I'm with potatolicious - this is merely flame bait.

potatolicious• 16 years ago

I'm tempted to refute point by point... but Dvorak is often just an elaborate troll. Speaking loudly against common wisdom is a fairly reliable way to eyeballs.

The Computer is a Communications Disease

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