'new generations,' the internet and the technosphere

[cygnus]

kids are now growing up in a very technocratic world. they are familiarized with computers and the internet at a young age, and don't seem to have a sense of what life is like without these things. public schools in america get big pats on the back for teaching kids technology and science. such things are obviously helpful, but the way in which these kids' education is guided along such a biased path is troubling to me. material development is out of hand, has been for years, and i don't really think the newer generations indicate any improvements in the future in terms of environmental conservation or making any real alterations to the government and social issues. but the internet is often said to be a preserver of free speech and information - maybe the only hope for having 'real' news and uncensored views... will the internet be consumed, monitored and moderated more and more by the powers that be or will it grow as a tool for the common person? will we operate in a more complete sphere of anthropocentrism, or do future generations have some hope in liberation from our egos, our grasping for status, our disregard for nature?

[tommo]

I think the government will try to control it. They are already in some places (including the country I live in, Australia). So maybe for the majority of people, they'll still get shitty, biased, frabricated news etc. Just like they do now. But thanks to kids knowing more about technology every day, hopefully we'll be able to get around their filters etc. I think you're wrong about this - "don't really think the newer generations indicate any improvements in the future in terms of environmental conservation or making any real alterations to the government and social issues." I think it's actually the exact opposite. We're making massive political change all over the world. Because religion is becoming less and less common. Also because the majority of kids are more liberal than older generations. For example nobody now gives a fuck whether someone wants to take drugs or fuck another man in the ass. That's huge! Environment, I think we've still had a big change in views. Maybe not as big as other issues but still pretty big. But yes the internet could be a bad thing. Everyone is constantly connected these days, doing a billion things at a time. I think people need to learn to slow down. Maybe learn to think about one thing at a time instead of checking facebook, checking myspace while listening to music or watching a youtube video and checking up on your favourite forum. The mind functions much better when just focusing on one thing at a time. That's probably why we have had such and increase in depression and anxiety disorders... actually, fuck it. That IS why this has happened. I have no doubt. Of course our speed oriented society also consumes large amounts of stimulants, mostly being caffeine. This could be a problem too. I think we have hope for liberation from our egos. There's always hope. I think what we need is more internet activism. I mean, I always wonder why I'm even talking on these forums when everyone mostly agrees. Wouldn't it be much better to go on to a forum where nobody agrees with you and try to convince them you're right? Whether it's about lucid dreaming or political issues or enlightenment, whatever it is, spread the word instead of preaching to the quire. If we can successfully spread information about open your mind etc. I think that would take care of the problem of grasping for status. As for disregard of nature. I think maybe that is our biggest problem at the moment. But again, if we go to other forums where people don't agree with us and have debates with them, this is much more constructive than sitting here talking to people who already agree with us. I haven't come across anyone on this forum who thinks we should just disregard nature (sure there's climate change naysayers, but I think everyone here still appreciates nature). So yeah I think we could use technology for the better. To spread our generations cause, instead of using it to tell everyone you've got a hangover from getting pissed at the pub last night.

[tkdyo]

I really think the opposite is happening of what you speak. With the internet, information on what people are interested in comes faster and in greater quantity. This way it is actually easier to be more environmentally aware, and I know I myself have done numerous searches to learn more about certain animals or places I found interesting. Makes me want to go out and see those things even more. On the subject of being environmentally conscious, however, I really hope it doesnt become more and more of an excuse for governments to throw more taxes on us. I really hate the hypocrisy of that.

[Odd_Nonposter]

The internet is a fantastic means of communication and social change. Similarly-minded people can discuss issues that would be unimaginable in their real-life peer groups. Talking about the aforementioned examples of drug use and LGBT rights would be downright stupid where I live. I'd be hung from a tree for just thinking about it. I think we have hope for liberation from our egos. There's always hope. I think what we need is more internet activism. I mean, I always wonder why I'm even talking on these forums when everyone mostly agrees. Wouldn't it be much better to go on to a forum where nobody agrees with you and try to convince them you're right? Whether it's about lucid dreaming or political issues or enlightenment, whatever it is, spread the word instead of preaching to the quire. I agree. Let's go raid some conservative forums. j/k

[cygnus]

I think the government will try to control it. They are already in some places (including the country I live in, Australia). So maybe for the majority of people, they'll still get shitty, biased, frabricated news etc. Just like they do now. But thanks to kids knowing more about technology every day, hopefully we'll be able to get around their filters etc. this is pretty much what i'm thinking, too... if normal people are using the internet to whatever extent, imagine how much more effectively corporations and the government can wield it! I think you're wrong about this - "don't really think the newer generations indicate any improvements in the future in terms of environmental conservation or making any real alterations to the government and social issues." I think it's actually the exact opposite. We're making massive political change all over the world. Because religion is becoming less and less common. Also because the majority of kids are more liberal than older generations. For example nobody now gives a fuck whether someone wants to take drugs or fuck another man in the ass. That's huge! Environment, I think we've still had a big change in views. Maybe not as big as other issues but still pretty big. i really do hope i'm wrong in saying that... But yes the internet could be a bad thing. Everyone is constantly connected these days, doing a billion things at a time. I think people need to learn to slow down. Maybe learn to think about one thing at a time instead of checking facebook, checking myspace while listening to music or watching a youtube video and checking up on your favourite forum. my view is that technology has developed at a speed that has outpaced the human capacity to evolve along with it. technology is not neutral - it has many far-reaching implications. The mind functions much better when just focusing on one thing at a time. That's probably why we have had such and increase in depression and anxiety disorders... actually, fuck it. That IS why this has happened. I have no doubt. i don't understand how you can be so sure about the connection between divided attention and depression/anxiety - can you explain that? i think these things indicate much deeper problems - those things you mentioned may be factors, but the root cause of depression and anxiety is more likely to be poor adjustment between changes in human culture and individual coping skills; what i mean is that in less technocratic cultures there is much less depression and other problems.

[Xaqaria]

Governments will continue to search for ways to control the internet, until they come up with something that works.

[SpecialInterests]

I fear that someday the internet will be censored and filtered much like our other media in this country. It's a really sad thing because it's really the last free, liberal information we have access to these days. I truly believe the internet is our last string. It's the last oppurtunity for people in this country to educate themselves on what's happening out there. We must protect the internet. I think you're wrong about this - "don't really think the newer generations indicate any improvements in the future in terms of environmental conservation or making any real alterations to the government and social issues." The power's that be want us to be passive observers. They don't teach us the real issues at hand, rather we are kept entertained and dumbed down, and there is good reasons for this. If honesty were suddenly introduced into this system it would crumble. I believe Cygnus has a point here.

[tommo]

i don't understand how you can be so sure about the connection between divided attention and depression/anxiety - can you explain that? i think these things indicate much deeper problems - those things you mentioned may be factors, but the root cause of depression and anxiety is more likely to be poor adjustment between changes in human culture and individual coping skills; what i mean is that in less technocratic cultures there is much less depression and other problems. Oh I'm not saying it's the only cause! But it is proven that if you're trying to focus on more than one thing at a time you becomes less relaxed. Buddhists only ever do one thing at a time and they don't think about all the other random stuff they need to do or have done while doing it. They are arguably the most relaxed culture on Earth. Besides Heroin or benzo users maybe lol But yeah it's definitely not the only cause, and probably only contributes to the number of people with these problems. But I know for a fact that trying to handle too much at a time is bad for your mental health.

[cygnus]

i think these things indicate much deeper problems - those things you mentioned may be factors, but the root cause of depression and anxiety is more likely to be poor adjustment between changes in human culture and individual coping skills; what i mean is that in less technocratic cultures there is much less depression and other problems. But it is proven that if you're trying to focus on more than one thing at a time you becomes less relaxed. Buddhists only ever do one thing at a time and they don't think about all the other random stuff they need to do or have done while doing it. They are arguably the most relaxed culture on Earth. ok, i understand - i think we're more or less saying the same thing. though i've imagined living in that kind of culture a lot - one that's less technocratic, thus having fewer of the issues you brought up, among other things - it's hard for me to reconcile any chance of our culture learning from them with just how much technological momentum there already is. i know a lot of people think futuristic technologies are so amazing and inspiring, and in their excitement completely ignore the implications of those technologies. this is one reason i always get so angry about marketing. The power's that be want us to be passive observers. They don't teach us the real issues at hand, rather we are kept entertained and dumbed down, and there is good reasons for this. If honesty were suddenly introduced into this system it would crumble. I believe Cygnus has a point here. yeah, honesty would be a pretty novel introduction to popular history and awareness of the things that continue to this day which we're kept in the dark about. it worries me how so many people maintain the same heroic images of america's founders that they were given throughout grade school... europeans basically brought feudalism with them to the new world and modified it over the following centuries. african slaves and american indians came from societies that were better than their european counterparts in many many ways... i'd just like to see some more interest in what really went on outside of the invaders' perspective.