Responding to Ben's passionate questionings on the thought of a Borg like
society (Star Trek: First Contact) caused by the proliferation of
technology and his view of being so connect and wired up, even during
social events.
I suppose I have other concerns about technology, even though I thank
myself daily for getting wired and finding this group. I suppose I have a
concern for the widening gap between "them that have" and "them that
don't." Ben, you are one of the most connect people I have ever heard
of-I still marveled today at the little girl in the checkout line at the
supermarket who was calling home for additional items to buy-but we are
not all like you. I don't think any time in forseeable future that the
poor, disadvantaged or the majorities in the third world countries will
have such technology.
These machines are expensive and exclusive to a very elite group. Those
that have, I don't believe, want to share the advantages of such
technology, with them that don't. So the gap widens. Until we experience
a major paradigm shift that breaks down the thinking that sharing and
giving are bad and that there is not enough of "whatever" to go around,
the toys will be kept for those who can afford it. Technology is power,
like knowledge is power-only the 1996 version. I see a widening gap
between rich and poor and this gulf will widen further as technology
increased.
Another thing that concerns me is the loss of culture in each country.
Yes, I believe that sharing values is great but much cultural richness has
been lost already. McDonald's in Peking? The same chain stores all over
the world? The tapestry of music, art, costume, design and language must
be preserved and integrated into the future for the future to remain rich
and passionate. Doesn't the tradition of Christmas unite all of us in the
world, low these many years?
One more gripe-about twenty years ago, I purchased a portable typewriter
instead of an electric. Even though I felt very uncool, I reasoned that
if the electricity were to go out, I could still write my poetry. My
point: What if the electricity went out and all of a sudden we had to
depend on our local communities for information and our own brains for
creativity. Would we still have the ability to depend on ourselves after
years of technological tutoring and dependence?
After all of this, I want to say I hope someday the participants of this
forum can teleconference and do powerful things together in the world. I
wish all reading this a thoughtful Christmas and a New Year filled with
great creativity, decisions and actions.
I would love to have others expand on these points. Thank you, Ben. Your
messages are always thought provoking.
Diana Mordock
104022.36@compuserve.com
"Stop, look and listen."
--Diana Mordock <104022.36@CompuServe.COM>
Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>