Intelligence over Technology
One thing to keep in mind when discussing a topic such as the progress of intelligence in comparison with technological progress is that we, as humans have a very naive and jaded view. By this I mean that we are experiencing the advancements first-hand and due to this, we are unable to look at certain situations objectively. Also, I feel that mankind is unable to actually process the information gathered from technology and turn it into intelligence, making common man infinitely vulnerable.
About a decade ago we witnessed the foreshadowing of what the Internet of the future may be like . . . direct sharing of information. At this time pagers were already fairly common and we even saw the cell phone starting its decent out of the primordial ooze and into consumer culture. Viewing the decade in fast-forward we will see the advent of portable tape players, portable CD players, and now mp3 players dominate society preaching their necessity. Stopping for a moment in present-day, 2006, we find that although the technology has changed by leaps and bounds we humans are lagging behind in terms of ourselves advancing alongside the technology we so embrace. Historically speaking, we went from societies that embraced and revered the intellectual to a society that idolizes name brands and persecutes those who don’t buy into the consumer culture either by choice or by necessity.
I feel that this is such an important issue because it seems to me that we, and when I use “we” I am referring to our generation, the adolescent age group that grew up using these new technologies, are at a very pivotal point in our own history. We can either accept the fate that we have bought or we can strive for a progressive movement, pushing for the advancement of technology towards the betterment of mankind instead of making the rich richer while the common man struggles to keep up with his or her neighbor, to keep up the status quo, or to keep buying the newest, unnecessary piece of technology to come out every six months.
From my paranoid, pseudo-revolutionary standpoint it seems to me that this is just the newest and sleekest form of vices created to help subdue and oppress the peoples of the world. This time we’re not even being pressured by the companies to buy the products anymore, it’s our own culture is forcing it down our throats and we’re too naïve to realize it. The Internet is the new television, always on, always there and always willing to kill a few hours whenever you’re not working or sleeping. Mp3 players are a sign of social status; little white chords drooping down from a pair of matching ear buds show everyone that you are rich enough to afford an iPod. Personalized ringtones advertise your technological personality.
Life as we know it is changing and the only things that are really different are the prices of these things that we covet. If only man were content with helping his brother instead of looking for an opportunity to take advantage of him. The world could be so much of a better place if people valued intelligence as well as technology and those two ideologies worked together to solve problems instead of creating bigger paychecks and more dividends.
I mean, we still have cancer, AIDS, poverty, ignorance, racism, sexism and war . . . but it’s a good thing that I remembered to update my iPod and charge my cell phone before it was time for work.
About a decade ago we witnessed the foreshadowing of what the Internet of the future may be like . . . direct sharing of information. At this time pagers were already fairly common and we even saw the cell phone starting its decent out of the primordial ooze and into consumer culture. Viewing the decade in fast-forward we will see the advent of portable tape players, portable CD players, and now mp3 players dominate society preaching their necessity. Stopping for a moment in present-day, 2006, we find that although the technology has changed by leaps and bounds we humans are lagging behind in terms of ourselves advancing alongside the technology we so embrace. Historically speaking, we went from societies that embraced and revered the intellectual to a society that idolizes name brands and persecutes those who don’t buy into the consumer culture either by choice or by necessity.
I feel that this is such an important issue because it seems to me that we, and when I use “we” I am referring to our generation, the adolescent age group that grew up using these new technologies, are at a very pivotal point in our own history. We can either accept the fate that we have bought or we can strive for a progressive movement, pushing for the advancement of technology towards the betterment of mankind instead of making the rich richer while the common man struggles to keep up with his or her neighbor, to keep up the status quo, or to keep buying the newest, unnecessary piece of technology to come out every six months.
From my paranoid, pseudo-revolutionary standpoint it seems to me that this is just the newest and sleekest form of vices created to help subdue and oppress the peoples of the world. This time we’re not even being pressured by the companies to buy the products anymore, it’s our own culture is forcing it down our throats and we’re too naïve to realize it. The Internet is the new television, always on, always there and always willing to kill a few hours whenever you’re not working or sleeping. Mp3 players are a sign of social status; little white chords drooping down from a pair of matching ear buds show everyone that you are rich enough to afford an iPod. Personalized ringtones advertise your technological personality.
Life as we know it is changing and the only things that are really different are the prices of these things that we covet. If only man were content with helping his brother instead of looking for an opportunity to take advantage of him. The world could be so much of a better place if people valued intelligence as well as technology and those two ideologies worked together to solve problems instead of creating bigger paychecks and more dividends.
I mean, we still have cancer, AIDS, poverty, ignorance, racism, sexism and war . . . but it’s a good thing that I remembered to update my iPod and charge my cell phone before it was time for work.