Re: are we becoming zombie-people? Message #4 Posted by Manatee on 13 May 2010, 2:37 p.m., in response to message #1 by Don Shepherd
People use the devices/tools in different ways. We (US/UK/Europe/etc) are a capitalist society, and consumerism is nothing new. I don't see our governments outlawing "smart phones" and other connected devices.
Personally, I enjoy these things. Technically, they hold the same excitement for me that my HP-25C had when I was in school. I like the easy access to information and email. Yes, I see the potential to get lost in it, but that's up to the individual.
What I see going on, more than technology -- but certainly related to it, is the crumbling of the integrity of our news outlets. They're all adopting what used to be tabloid tactics. Teasers, voyeurism, sensationalism, minimal focus on local news... They don't ask themselves, "Is this what people need to know?" And of course there's way to much time devoted to so-called "news programming", because the production costs are so low.
At least on my iPad I can easily access BBC news and other outlets that I prefer for certain types of news. Anyone can put anything out there now. Each of us gets to select what we want to consume. Maybe the vetting of information sources should be taught in school.
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