Is technology taking over our lives?!?

mookeywrench

Not the enjoyable parts.

brianlux

bootlegger10 said:

The answer is yes.  We've won.

Please note this was an automated response from Bootlegger10's iPhone.

haha!  Good one, bottleg!

bootlegger10

It is so difficult to determine whether technology is overall a positive thing or negative.  It certainly is taking over.  

I think overall it is positive with the advancements to medicine, communication, and travel.  But I don’t think it is making us happier, and it will eventually in my opinion get rid of so many jobs that people will be given stipends from the government in order to pay for food and shelter.  Technology has also opened up the world to mass chaos whether it is a weapon of mass destruction, easier communication for terrorists, or a mass cyber attack.  Certainly privacy is out the window.

I really believe the best days for western society are behind us.  

mickeyrat

time after time we hear stories of folks trusting gps over the info gathered with their own eyes.
new truckers ,who shouldn't be truckers,   have driven under bridges to low for their vehicle and gotten stuck, damaging the bridge, the truck and or trailer and the freight being hauled.

most common excuse? the gps said to go that way.....

brianlux

mickeyrat said:

time after time we hear stories of folks trusting gps over the info gathered with their own eyes.
new truckers ,who shouldn't be truckers,   have driven under bridges to low for their vehicle and gotten stuck, damaging the bridge, the truck and or trailer and the freight being hauled.

most common excuse? the gps said to go that way.....

I'm laughing out loud because this reminds me of the time my wife and I drove up a favorite to be in the snow.   We knew that road was closed several mile up to the top going toward HWY 88.  We went as far as we could safely go in her 4-Runner and got out to check out the snow.  A few minutes later along comes three young adults in this little Datun sedan skidding and jerking nervously along the snowy road.  The three of them piled out  said told us their GPS told them this road goes up to HWY 88.  We said, "Yes, it does."  They asked how long it would take to get up to 88.  We said, "Oh, about three or four months, after the snow melts off and they open the gate.  It would be faster if you went back down to Placerville and took HWY 50 to 88." 

tempo_n_groove

brianlux said:

mickeyrat said:

time after time we hear stories of folks trusting gps over the info gathered with their own eyes.
new truckers ,who shouldn't be truckers,   have driven under bridges to low for their vehicle and gotten stuck, damaging the bridge, the truck and or trailer and the freight being hauled.

most common excuse? the gps said to go that way.....

I'm laughing out loud because this reminds me of the time my wife and I drove up a favorite to be in the snow.   We knew that road was closed several mile up to the top going toward HWY 88.  We went as far as we could safely go in her 4-Runner and got out to check out the snow.  A few minutes later along comes three young adults in this little Datun sedan skidding and jerking nervously along the snowy road.  The three of them piled out  said told us their GPS told them this road goes up to HWY 88.  We said, "Yes, it does."  They asked how long it would take to get up to 88.  We said, "Oh, about three or four months, after the snow melts off and they open the gate.  It would be faster if you went back down to Placerville and took HWY 50 to 88." 

Monitor, Tioga and Sonora are ALL closed during the winter too!

tempo_n_groove

bootlegger10 said:

It is so difficult to determine whether technology is overall a positive thing or negative.  It certainly is taking over.  

I think overall it is positive with the advancements to medicine, communication, and travel.  But I don’t think it is making us happier, and it will eventually in my opinion get rid of so many jobs that people will be given stipends from the government in order to pay for food and shelter.  Technology has also opened up the world to mass chaos whether it is a weapon of mass destruction, easier communication for terrorists, or a mass cyber attack.  Certainly privacy is out the window.

I really believe the best days for western society are behind us.  

So about privacy.

With all the information that we give away on social media, it has to be used for something?  Face recognition, DNA testing on your "heritage" are others I'm worried about.

I believe that all these things are being cataloged and used for something.  Algorithms to steer us into liking and buying things?  Database to follow us?  GPS in phones?  Onstar in cars?

Just curious on what others think about these things?

HughFreakingDillon

HesCalledDyer said:

What creeps me out is I will look at something on my phone or computer at home, on my home network, under my personal logins.  And then I come to work, on my work computer, on my work logins, and get ads for shit I was looking up at home.

THIS. I noticed this the other day. It freaked me the fuck out. 

PJ_Soul

I think the conveniences of technology are not taking over our lives. Like how the OP's phone knows where he parked, or easy logins with facial recognition, or it knowing your tastes, or it knowing where you've been, etc... I think that is just that: conveniences. I understand how certain things can be unsettling at first, but it's not a take over of our lives. Sure, privacy is an issue for those who care about that kind of thing, but again, that's not a take over. I personally don't mind if firefox or facebook knows that I was shopping for some vinyl or knows that I attended some concert ... that's actually pretty cool IMO. I get targeted ads for vinyl and concerts that fit into my musical tastes. Awesome. My phone doesn't know where I work, but that is because I have never told it that. My browser doesn't know it and Facebook does not know who my employer is either. All this info IS given by us, one way or another. If you don't think you gave out the info, you're mistaken.

What I do think is taking over our lives is simply the time spent using social media. I find that troubling. When one is alone in front of the TV or whatever, no big deal. But some people are on it almost constantly when they are out of the house and with other people. It sucks. I also think social media is taking over our lives in a much more sinister way: it is all having a terrible impact on how people view the world. They are constantly exposed to weird little microcosms only, and less and less see the big picture, or actual facts, or any kind of true reflection of what's really happening or how people at large feel about things. And they are finding WAY too much agreement, and info filtered through their own established biases. It's not good at all... I mean, I think Trump's victory has everything to do with that issue, so it's not like it's only harmful on an individual level.

brianlux

PJ_Soul said:

I think the conveniences of technology are not taking over our lives. Like how the OP's phone knows where he parked, or easy logins with facial recognition, or it knowing your tastes, or it knowing where you've been, etc... I think that is just that: conveniences. I understand how certain things can be unsettling at first, but it's not a take over of our lives. Sure, privacy is an issue for those who care about that kind of thing, but again, that's not a take over. I personally don't mind if firefox or facebook knows that I was shopping for some vinyl or knows that I attended some concert ... that's actually pretty cool IMO. I get targeted ads for vinyl and concerts that fit into my musical tastes. Awesome. My phone doesn't know where I work, but that is because I have never told it that. My browser doesn't know it and Facebook does not know who my employer is either. All this info IS given by us, one way or another. If you don't think you gave out the info, you're mistaken.

What I do think is taking over our lives is simply the time spent using social media. I find that troubling. When one is alone in front of the TV or whatever, no big deal. But some people are on it almost constantly when they are out of the house and with other people. It sucks. I also think social media is taking over our lives in a much more sinister way: it is all having a terrible impact on how people view the world. They are constantly exposed to weird little microcosms only, and less and less see the big picture, or actual facts, or any kind of true reflection of what's really happening or how people at large feel about things. And they are finding WAY too much agreement, and info filtered through their own established biases. It's not good at all... I mean, I think Trump's victory has everything to do with that issue, so it's not like it's only harmful on an individual level.

Social media is a black hole in the age of electronics!

Smellyman

I pass on Google services, would never touch an Apple product, use DuckDuckGo, only use Linux on laptops and PCs, use a VPN and browse with Firefox etc.

It's near impossible to be free of tracking I know, I just take small steps to help.  And I am no worse off not using Google and Apple and microsoft etc.

wouldn't touch Chrome or Safari or whatever MS has now with a 10 foot pole.


It's just some mitigation, I do have a gmail for a Youtube account so there is one Google service.  :(  There's other stuff too like here and FB.  dangit

But yes, we are too reliant on technology and it is invading our lives.  Not to mention NSA, CIA and other governments

Smellyman

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOW_kPzY_JY

lastexitlondon

I resist tech. Its all too much for me. I have only a phone. No p.c or device . Its mind blowing

brianlux

lastexitlondon said:

I resist tech. Its all too much for me. I have only a phone. No p.c or device . Its mind blowing

Now days a phone is almost everything.  I hear you can even get one with a little built in printer. 

lastexitlondon

Its confusing enough as it is

Thoughts_Arrive

Yes.

***This post was made by a X5-Model Robot Type II***

brianlux

lastexitlondon said:

Its confusing enough as it is

I hear ya!  

Technology is a pain in the butt for me.  My brain doesn't like/ is lazy when it comes to having to rev it up a bit more than usual on the left side.  I can do it, even well sometimes, but it often feels somewhere between taxing and vexing.  Yet, when I need to learn something on a computer or phone or printer, etc., once I get it down, it's glued.  But the glue can take a long time to set and sometimes it just doesn't hold at all! 

lastexitlondon

Ive no glue

brianlux

lastexitlondon said:

Ive no glue

Just enough to be here at least, which is cool! 

Go Beavers

Just the fact that you guys can log into here says something!