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Useful things
“The production of too many useful things result in too many useless people.” – Karl Marx
DVR. Digital Video Recorder. The Comcast brochure promises that “Happiness is only a power button away.” With DVR, consumers can improve their TV viewing habits. DVR allows users to record their favorite shows, pause live TV, view an instant reply, rewind memorable scenes, and play programs in slow-motion. The brochure adds: DVR owners “can pause live TV while they answer the phone or get the pizza delivered.” Comcast empowers their customers by giving them choice (hundreds of news and entertainment channels), control (record 20 hours of high-definition programming), and convenience (watch shows when you want it).
Ideally, DVR can record Frasier, Cheers and Monk episodes while I’m out of the house. Then, after hours of web surfing, I can relax at night by watching these recorded shows. I can pause the TV if I want to prepare a midnight snack. I can skip the TV ads by fast forwarding the program. Fantastic! This is control, choice and convenience. This is happiness. This explains why more and more households are selecting cable companies with DVR services.
Still surprised why many residents of America are obese? Still wondering how politics has been reduced to spectacles (like watching the Obama inauguration)?
Technological advancements have revolutionized transportation and communications in the world. Complex processes have been simplified, distances were shortened, and travel has become faster. We are able to save time. Now, there is more time to pursue other meaningful activities. But what kind of activities are we exploring during our free time? Are we trying to solve scientific experiments? Are we developing theories about climate change, origins of the universe, and the end of philosophy? Are we debating about capitalism, socialism and democracy? Are we getting more involved in community affairs? Or do we feel liberated (and happy) enough sitting in front of the idiot box?
Our mobile phones, laptops, and GPS gadgets allow us to save time so that we can go home early to our family and friends. Unfortunately, we use our free time to watch TV.
Click. There was a time when we used different verbs to describe what we are doing or what we plan to do everyday. We switch on/off the lights. We rotate or dial the numbers on the telephone. We pump the kerosene. We eject the tapes. We write letters. We wash our clothes. We push buttons. We pull the trigger. We flip, swipe, spin, roll, mix, shuffle, press, squeeze. We slide, kick, jump, hop, bounce, punch, throw. We walk, run, jog, swim, lift, crawl. We huddle, cuddle, snuggle, kiss, embrace, cling, grasp.
Today, we click. Most of the time, we click. Left-click. Right-click. Double-click. Fast click. Silent click. We click things to make something happen. We click to communicate with fellow human beings. We click to punish criminals. We click to express our creative thoughts and emotions. We click to experience life. We click to use our imagination. We click to impose our dogmas. We click to affirm our faith. We click in order to act. We click to make others act. We click to make someone else suffer. Click. Click? Click!
Maybe it is convenient. It is easy to remember: click. It is a simple task: click. It is fast: click. It is safe: click. It is powerful: click. It is dull and stupid: click. One word to rule the world: click. One sound heard around the globe: click. One verb to control the behavior of all: click. I click therefore I am. I am therefore I click.
Etc. A bluetooth headset allows you to connect to your mobile phone and computer wirelessly and hands free. (Look Ma, no hands!). Convenient device for multitasking drivers. Is multitasking possible while driving? Yes, ofcourse. Driving and drinking is possible at the same time. It is common to see individuals talking to themselves while driving or walking. They are not loonies. Most likely, they are busy professionals who have little time to talk to simpletons like us or to appreciate the beauty of our post-industrial surroundings. The bluetooth headset promotes efficiency but discourages genuine interaction, communication, and human relationships.
The automatic carwash is convenient for many drivers. It is cheap, effective, and fast. Drivers can accomplish other tasks while waiting inside their cars. Like listening to radio? Playing PSP? Reading a book? Texting? Twittering? Finishing papers? Changing diapers? Many car owners are so busy with their work (especially those with 2-3 jobs) that they no longer have the time or the energy to clean their cars on weekends. It would have been a nice activity to bond with children or their pet dogs.
The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a gift from the friendly military establishment. We civilians are now using GPS for navigation purposes. Who needs big street maps and old persons to guide us in reaching our destination when we have the GPS? Why stop and ask the locals about driving directions? Why trust the advice of friends when the GPS is more reliable? Why remember natural landmarks when GPS is more accurate? Ignore your instincts, surrender to the wisdom of the GPS. Getting lost is an adventure. Asking people for directions (talking to people) is not scary. And do we really need to reach our vacation hotel as quickly as possible? What about the idea of enjoying the nature trail? We should recalculate our travel priorities.
TV captioning is annoying. If you’re deaf, use it. If you need to research something about a program, TV captioning would be helpful. But if you want to be entertained, don’t use it. If you miss a dialogue, ask your family or friends. If you’re alone, forget the urge to know the missed dialogue. It’s part of the fun of watching TV. Why do we need to know the whole script of the program? Most of them are trash anyway. There are lines which are best not translated or transcribed for the TV viewers. There are times when you have to interpret the TV drama or movie based on your understanding of the scenes.
Perhaps the Catholic Church is correct. We need to go on hi-tech fasting. Turn-off the gadgets once in a while. Reject the “prefabricated amusements” (Kingsley Amis’ term) offered by hitech companies. Feed our souls and minds, not our gadget-dependent bodies.
“All savages are too much occupied with their own wants and necessities, to give much attention to those of another person.” – Adam Smith
DVR. Digital Video Recorder. The Comcast brochure promises that “Happiness is only a power button away.” With DVR, consumers can improve their TV viewing habits. DVR allows users to record their favorite shows, pause live TV, view an instant reply, rewind memorable scenes, and play programs in slow-motion. The brochure adds: DVR owners “can pause live TV while they answer the phone or get the pizza delivered.” Comcast empowers their customers by giving them choice (hundreds of news and entertainment channels), control (record 20 hours of high-definition programming), and convenience (watch shows when you want it).
Ideally, DVR can record Frasier, Cheers and Monk episodes while I’m out of the house. Then, after hours of web surfing, I can relax at night by watching these recorded shows. I can pause the TV if I want to prepare a midnight snack. I can skip the TV ads by fast forwarding the program. Fantastic! This is control, choice and convenience. This is happiness. This explains why more and more households are selecting cable companies with DVR services.
Still surprised why many residents of America are obese? Still wondering how politics has been reduced to spectacles (like watching the Obama inauguration)?
Technological advancements have revolutionized transportation and communications in the world. Complex processes have been simplified, distances were shortened, and travel has become faster. We are able to save time. Now, there is more time to pursue other meaningful activities. But what kind of activities are we exploring during our free time? Are we trying to solve scientific experiments? Are we developing theories about climate change, origins of the universe, and the end of philosophy? Are we debating about capitalism, socialism and democracy? Are we getting more involved in community affairs? Or do we feel liberated (and happy) enough sitting in front of the idiot box?
Our mobile phones, laptops, and GPS gadgets allow us to save time so that we can go home early to our family and friends. Unfortunately, we use our free time to watch TV.
Click. There was a time when we used different verbs to describe what we are doing or what we plan to do everyday. We switch on/off the lights. We rotate or dial the numbers on the telephone. We pump the kerosene. We eject the tapes. We write letters. We wash our clothes. We push buttons. We pull the trigger. We flip, swipe, spin, roll, mix, shuffle, press, squeeze. We slide, kick, jump, hop, bounce, punch, throw. We walk, run, jog, swim, lift, crawl. We huddle, cuddle, snuggle, kiss, embrace, cling, grasp.
Today, we click. Most of the time, we click. Left-click. Right-click. Double-click. Fast click. Silent click. We click things to make something happen. We click to communicate with fellow human beings. We click to punish criminals. We click to express our creative thoughts and emotions. We click to experience life. We click to use our imagination. We click to impose our dogmas. We click to affirm our faith. We click in order to act. We click to make others act. We click to make someone else suffer. Click. Click? Click!
Maybe it is convenient. It is easy to remember: click. It is a simple task: click. It is fast: click. It is safe: click. It is powerful: click. It is dull and stupid: click. One word to rule the world: click. One sound heard around the globe: click. One verb to control the behavior of all: click. I click therefore I am. I am therefore I click.
Etc. A bluetooth headset allows you to connect to your mobile phone and computer wirelessly and hands free. (Look Ma, no hands!). Convenient device for multitasking drivers. Is multitasking possible while driving? Yes, ofcourse. Driving and drinking is possible at the same time. It is common to see individuals talking to themselves while driving or walking. They are not loonies. Most likely, they are busy professionals who have little time to talk to simpletons like us or to appreciate the beauty of our post-industrial surroundings. The bluetooth headset promotes efficiency but discourages genuine interaction, communication, and human relationships.
The automatic carwash is convenient for many drivers. It is cheap, effective, and fast. Drivers can accomplish other tasks while waiting inside their cars. Like listening to radio? Playing PSP? Reading a book? Texting? Twittering? Finishing papers? Changing diapers? Many car owners are so busy with their work (especially those with 2-3 jobs) that they no longer have the time or the energy to clean their cars on weekends. It would have been a nice activity to bond with children or their pet dogs.
The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a gift from the friendly military establishment. We civilians are now using GPS for navigation purposes. Who needs big street maps and old persons to guide us in reaching our destination when we have the GPS? Why stop and ask the locals about driving directions? Why trust the advice of friends when the GPS is more reliable? Why remember natural landmarks when GPS is more accurate? Ignore your instincts, surrender to the wisdom of the GPS. Getting lost is an adventure. Asking people for directions (talking to people) is not scary. And do we really need to reach our vacation hotel as quickly as possible? What about the idea of enjoying the nature trail? We should recalculate our travel priorities.
TV captioning is annoying. If you’re deaf, use it. If you need to research something about a program, TV captioning would be helpful. But if you want to be entertained, don’t use it. If you miss a dialogue, ask your family or friends. If you’re alone, forget the urge to know the missed dialogue. It’s part of the fun of watching TV. Why do we need to know the whole script of the program? Most of them are trash anyway. There are lines which are best not translated or transcribed for the TV viewers. There are times when you have to interpret the TV drama or movie based on your understanding of the scenes.
Perhaps the Catholic Church is correct. We need to go on hi-tech fasting. Turn-off the gadgets once in a while. Reject the “prefabricated amusements” (Kingsley Amis’ term) offered by hitech companies. Feed our souls and minds, not our gadget-dependent bodies.
“All savages are too much occupied with their own wants and necessities, to give much attention to those of another person.” – Adam Smith
posted by: mongpalatino at March 21, 2009 02:38 |
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economy
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