Comment Re:I'm amazed at how many /.'ers don't get it. (Score 1) 191
Good call. Bruce's article isn't exactly the easiest thing to read, but it's not that hard to get the gist of what he's saying if you sit and think about it.
It's not saying that we're currently equipped to command the world, it's not promoting gizmos in the usual sense of the word, and it's not a bunch of "hippie cr*p".
So what is it saying? Basically, my take on it is that we've gone through a lot in the past century, and we don't have to go through it this century. We need to think about life, morality, government, commercialization, etc, etc, etc. We can't just go on making the same mistakes. We need a new outlook on life and the world. Sure, there are many problems - so he says, and it's true - but we need to get past them by using our minds, not our desire for greatness, power and money. We can't go on making cr*ppy products, having cr*ppy social services programs, thinking in the same rut as we have been - power is what matters.
No. Thinking is what matters. We need to come up with products that Bruce calls gizmos; in my opinion, they're products that are cutting-edge, cool and useful. I can't really give any examples of what a gizmo would be - I don't have the capability to think up new devices - but I imagine what Bruce means by gizmos is NOT things like gigapets, colored phones, see-through computer cases, or toothpaste rollers. These are cr*p, in my opinion. We don't really need them - they don't really serve any useful purpose. They don't solve any real problems.
We need to go into this century thinking of the world and how we can make it a better place - regardless of whether or not we gain power and money along the way. If we do, so be it. That's basically fair. If you create something that is useful, you should be rewarded for it. This doesn't necessarily mean money, it also means respect or awareness.
We need to think up a way past our problems, and in doing this we become free; at least free of that problem. If we can get enough people to think up ways to solve problems, eventually, the problems of the time will be solved. Sure, technology creates problems. It also solves problems. That's what technology is about: creating something new to solve an old problem. If new problems arise, and they will, that's where technology comes in again. We will need to create a new technology to solve the problems created by the previous technology.
I don't agree with some of the points in the article, but as a whole, I believe that we need to start living our lives by the general idea of the article - to think through things, create new technologies to make the world a better place for us and for the generations after us. The best contribution one can make to society is to create a new technology that alleviates problems, without creating slews of new ones. The only way to do this is to use our minds.
It's not saying that we're currently equipped to command the world, it's not promoting gizmos in the usual sense of the word, and it's not a bunch of "hippie cr*p".
So what is it saying? Basically, my take on it is that we've gone through a lot in the past century, and we don't have to go through it this century. We need to think about life, morality, government, commercialization, etc, etc, etc. We can't just go on making the same mistakes. We need a new outlook on life and the world. Sure, there are many problems - so he says, and it's true - but we need to get past them by using our minds, not our desire for greatness, power and money. We can't go on making cr*ppy products, having cr*ppy social services programs, thinking in the same rut as we have been - power is what matters.
No. Thinking is what matters. We need to come up with products that Bruce calls gizmos; in my opinion, they're products that are cutting-edge, cool and useful. I can't really give any examples of what a gizmo would be - I don't have the capability to think up new devices - but I imagine what Bruce means by gizmos is NOT things like gigapets, colored phones, see-through computer cases, or toothpaste rollers. These are cr*p, in my opinion. We don't really need them - they don't really serve any useful purpose. They don't solve any real problems.
We need to go into this century thinking of the world and how we can make it a better place - regardless of whether or not we gain power and money along the way. If we do, so be it. That's basically fair. If you create something that is useful, you should be rewarded for it. This doesn't necessarily mean money, it also means respect or awareness.
We need to think up a way past our problems, and in doing this we become free; at least free of that problem. If we can get enough people to think up ways to solve problems, eventually, the problems of the time will be solved. Sure, technology creates problems. It also solves problems. That's what technology is about: creating something new to solve an old problem. If new problems arise, and they will, that's where technology comes in again. We will need to create a new technology to solve the problems created by the previous technology.
He is not saying that we can just forget our problems. He is saying that we need to find ways to create new technologies that cause fewer problems than they eradicate.Freedom has to be won, and, more importantly, the consequences of freedom have to be lived.... You have to create that freedom by a deliberate act of will, think it up, assemble it, sacrifice for it, make it free to others who have a similar will to live that freedom.
Meaning don't ignore the problems of the world - try to create something to alleviate them.Our worst problems, which may seem so large, diffuse, and morbid, are mere teenage angst compared to the conundrums were busily preparing for some other generation.
I don't agree with some of the points in the article, but as a whole, I believe that we need to start living our lives by the general idea of the article - to think through things, create new technologies to make the world a better place for us and for the generations after us. The best contribution one can make to society is to create a new technology that alleviates problems, without creating slews of new ones. The only way to do this is to use our minds.
