response.

in response to Calvin "Superdogg":


1.

I'd like to make a correction to what you said, in that Albert Einstein did NOT invent the A-bomb. The A-bomb was a product of his scientific discoveries into the world of nuclear physics, that was manipulated by the Manhattan Project to become an A-bomb.

2.

Yes, the PRODUCTION of technology is a combination of both effort and knowledge, but the effects of technology are not i.e. not a combination of both effort and knowledge in our everyday life. you see, the main concept of technology revolves around the idea of force multiplying, similar to the battlefield concept. with a small force, you are able to effect a large amount of change. as such, our actual output is much reduced as compared to what we originally would do in the case without technology. allow me to use a simple example here - a birthday card. 30 years ago, if someone wanted to write a birthday card, he would have to walk down to the store, buy the card, walk home, WRITE it, and either deliver it personally, or post it. today, you just Google "e-Birthday Cards", type a message, and off it goes, you've got that one off your chest. you see where i'm getting at? it becomes effortless. which leads me to my next point.

3.

even you agree that our problems nowadays are a product of our effortless environment, and as shown in point 2, technology has provided us with that exact effortless environment. however, i think you misunderstood me in that my views are that technology causes problems in the PSYCHOLOGICAL development and maturity of man.

4.

I mentioned that technology corrects the failures and problems of man, and is not the root of man's problems and failures, as much as technology magnifies such failures. as such, i would like to classify technology as a indiscriminate magnifier, where regardless of good or bad,. positive or negative, it would magnify the effects of whatever we do.


i would like to add on an additional point in the context of today's technologically advanced world. As you mentioned, Calvin, that darwin said that it is the survival of the fittest in the daily struggle. I have to agree fully that technology HAS enabled us to become the fittest. as in point 4, it corrects the environmental failures and even natural weaknesses of man and allows us to change what normally would deem us as prey. However, instead of just aiding us in our lives and MAGNIFYING what strength and capability we have, what it does is that it makes us so dependant on it, we have an attitude of compromise that says "we dont REALLY have to be that good anymore because we've got technology!". it becomes an excuse not to improve ourselves for survival.