Message-ID: <Pine.SUN.3.94.961003214035.26035A-100000@acy1.digex.net> Date: Thu, 3 Oct 1996 22:03:47 -0400 From: Tu and Bob Myers <mailto:tuandbob@ACY.DIGEX.NET> Subject: Re: ideas of "appropriate technology" still respected? To: Multiple recipients of list DEVEL-L <mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU>
Mr. Hodur,I believe you confuse, or intermingle, technology with it's users, and abusers (depending on ones point of view), of the technology, i.e. "It" (technology) "provides humankind" (the user/abuser) with the potential...', and "The fault in technology is that it provides ... power faster than than cultures" (the users) "can ... control it" (technology).
I wholehearted agree that we, as a culture/society, have trouble controlling technology in a manner acceptable to all. The use/abuse of the four examples I gave (automobiles, baseball bats, alcohol and guns) certainly demonstrates that. I submint that using any of the four previous items to harm is an inappropriate use of technology, not that the items/technology are bad.
Thanks for joining in.
Bob
On Thu, 3 Oct 1996, Ian Hodur wrote:
> I would aruge technology is "bad". It provides humankind with the
> potential to do massive good (medicine) and massive harm (toxic waste).
> The fault in technology is that it provides access to power faster than
> cultures can adapt to control it (norms, etc.) and do "good" with it.
> Technology demands a pace that we as a specis are not suited to.
>
> ian hodur
>
> On Thu, 3 Oct 1996, Tu and Bob Myers wrote:
>
> > On Thu, 3 Oct 1996, William J. Walker, Jr. wrote:
> >
> > > Technology is only the knowledge and resources to make or do
> > ÿ> > something.
> >
> > > Let's stop blaming the technology for what people do with it.
> >
> > Amen! Thank you Mr. Walker.
> >
> > Technology is no more bad/inappropriate or good/appropriate than
> > automobiles, baseball bats, alcohol or guns.
> >
> > Automobiles and alcohol are involved in killing and maiming more people
> > than baseball bats and guns. Does that mean that automobiles and alcohol
> > are less appropriate than baseball bats and guns?
> >
> > Isn't it curious that there one "good" and one "bad" thing in the
> > "inappropriate" and "appropriate" categories?
> >
> > Bob (only)
> > (Don't blame my co account holder for this post.)
> >
>