Comment by CPLX
2 years ago
> This is like when my father excitedly told his friends about the coming computer revolution in the 90s and they responded “well it can’t do my dishes or clean the house, they’re just a fad!” Makes me want screaaaaam
Did the computer revolution make your father’s life better?
Serious question.
Hmm. I’d say definitely yes. I mean we are on the internet right now, presumably across many km of distance. Do you disagree?
I have mixed feelings about it.
I do believe with certainty that there are many people, millions, whose life has been made substantially worse by the invention of ubiquitous computing devices.
Probably the minority. But I’d say his questions (ie “What’s in it for me?”) are excellent ones to pose in the face of new technology.
I think this is anti-status quo bias, which for once is unjustified. Sure the world has many systemic problems, but to say that the MASSIVE efficiency gains the internet have brought us are for a minority seems like an insane claim. Just because capitalists have been claiming all the new excess value doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.
To illustrate, consider: spreadsheets, video chat, shared documents, automated calendars, maps, autopilot assistants, CGI, I could go on… the world is not quite good enough that I’m ready to say that we don’t need more efficiency. Not everyone has a home on mars quite yet.
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That you're talking over a great distance isn't necessarily an improvement. Didn't internet influence how much people are meeting in person?