> Pointing at tech and blaming it for degrading the human condition is refusing to take responsibility of your own predicament. (not saying anyone here is doing it - it's a generalization!)
So i take issue with this, but i also don't necessarily argue that i'm right. This is similar in my mind to free speech on podiums, and where we sit in general on responsibility of collective health, etc.
I personally don't think we're much beyond monkeys. Some of us are fortunate and aren't tempted by addictive behaviors, substances, etc. However i suspect most of us are.
Of course there's some argument that no amount of addictive substance (drug or otherwise) absolves your personal responsibility to not consume it, but with enough resources and legal right-of-way, how can we expect the average person - aka humanity on average - to resist well funded corporations pushing so many angles of it? Would we not be ensuring our own damnation?
The reality is far less addictive and destructive than i described above, i'm not trying to be hyperbolic about the reality of the situation. Nonetheless i do feel like most consumer relationships for the last 40 years has been more adversarial than not, and companies have only grown more talented and funded towards this test of will. It leaves me unsure how to proceed, for humanity.
Hey, I do agree and don't agree, for the same reasons perhaps. My words are a bit utopian I suppose, and I do realize things aren't black and white. People need to have the wits about them to know what impact stuff has on them as a person, and this is really difficult to do. in my mind, that's a problem of our world, but that's i guess an personal issue i have with it. it's not a requirement for people to be more conscious, though i'd wish they (and myself!!) were.
I think, people should be free to talk, even say nasty things, and others should have thick skin. But, i don't insult people, because i don't like to hurt people, even though i don't think they should be hurt by my opinion even if i give it. so you are right its a bit in the middle, where at one side it's a problem things impact people collectively, and on the other side people should not let things impact them like that.
They are free to choose, but the choices might not always be clear or known.
The complexity in this area is a reason why i'm a proponent of public education, more societal focus on it, etc.
I suspect a big part of personal responsibility is the assumption that the average person is intelligent and capable of making informed decisions. Something i suspect many aren't, these days. Which isn't to say that we're all uneducated morons, but rather that many of the areas i brought up are purposefully being kept dark, obscured, etc. Which makes informed decisions.. well, difficult.
Anyway, sorry for the tangent, just wanted to bring it up. Appreciate your time :)