Message-ID: <Pine.SUN.3.94.961005102653.22694B-100000@acy1.digex.net> Date: Sat, 5 Oct 1996 11:13:19 -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. Corbin,I sent a few letters directly to writers who imbue inanimate objects and ideas (technology) with animate abilities including being bad. I proposed the same point you make in your post. I got no replies.
Those who want us to behave in a particular manner "for our own good", but who can not control our behavior, have tried to control access to the objects and ideas used in our "inappropriate" behavior, i.e. limiting advertising by time and/or location, licensing, and manufacturing control.
Part of the "logic" used to implement the control is the tactic of imbuing the inanimate objects with animate qualities such as "bad", "inappropriate", "unsustainable" and "unacceptable", based on the results of people using the object or idea.
It's never the persons fault for choosing to use the object or tool. Maybe Geraldine (Flip Wilson's alter ego) was correct, "The Devil/Technology made me do it!".
Another tactic is misdirection, as used in the "Black Plague" argument. Conveniently forgotten is the fact that the Black Plague was not technology.
I don't think we're going to change any minds by pointing out errors in logic and fact.
There are none so blind as those who will not see.
Thanks for your post. I don't feel like such a voice in the wilderness any more.
I'm sure there will be many more posts refuting my "unappropriate" position
Bob
On Fri, 4 Oct 1996, James Corbin wrote:
> 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.
>
> My view is that technology is neither good or bad, it i neutral. It is the
> use to which technology is put. A knife is neither good or bad. It can be
> used for good in the cooking process and it can be used in a bad way to
> kill or main a person.
>
> Similarly a computer is neither good or bad but it is the use to which it is
> put that use can be legal or illegal. The Internet this very medium we are
> using for this discussion is another example. This discussion we are having
> using this medium is excellent.People from all over the world sharing views,
> agreeing and disagreeing with each other,but it is done in a civil manner.
> Now contrast this with the use of the Internet for lies, promoting racial
> hatred, pornography etc.
>
> In the end we, humans, decide the good or bad, use or abuse, of technology,
> and because we come in all shapes and sizes there will always be abuse of
> technology. The bottom line is technology will always be use for "evil"
> purpose by some of our fellow mankind.
>
> James
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> James J. Corbin
> Barbados
> Phone: (246)-431-1456
> Fax: (246)-436-5036
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>