'Going Offline' is Not Primitivism
Yesterday we went far away (technically, it was 2 days ago). We took no digital devices except a Discman (Sinatra music). We were effectively offline for a day or two. Did we miss anything? No. Did something major happen? Also no.
Computers are good at automation, but people are not robots and any sort of automata makes false assumptions about the character of living things with primal needs and survival instincts. Having said that, in the commercial world computers can amplify capabilities and enhance pace. Networking can facilitate collaboration across sites.
Humans don't always need those things. A diary and a pen is OK. Sometimes a walk in the park is enough. Dog on a leash? Fine. Just don't carry some skinnerbox and scroll on it while strolling with the dog. Try to be more like the dog. The dog who doesn't mind how many "likes" the "other dogs" have got in some database of Mark Kapo-berg.
Based on some recent reporting, today's youngest generation (2020s children) is rebelling against rather than embracing technology (references in Daily Links today). Some parents support or encourage this trend. The days of gadgets as digital pacifiers may be numbered. Fatigue will encourage more people to become sceptical and ask fundamental questions. For instance, last week someone questioned the need for "smart" things to tell the time (a wristwatch does this reliably enough) and explained why dedicated and supposedly "dumb" music players had some advantages compared to "all-in-one" spying devices.
Society will go a step forward (in the right direction) if it repels the old assumption that more progress means more computing devices and/or vice versa. █
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