I’ve been in a kind of anti-technology mood recently. Maybe it’s from the fascinating but depressing book I just completed, A Short History of Progress, whose thesis basically boils down to what we humans call progress generally brings about catastrophe.
Or maybe it’s some of the downer messages that my guest blogger Derek has brought to us here from last week’s SYNDICATE conference (eg “RSS Sucks”, and our attention is up for sale as a commodity).
Or maybe it’s just because I’m a bit behind in my emails and feed readings.
In any case, it seems like it might be a good time to resurrect the fundamental question that one of my heroes, the late great media and cultural critic Neil Postman would advise his students to reflect on whenever confronting the introduction of any new technology. That question is:
“What is the problem to which this technology is the solution?”
As new technologies are introduced to us faster and faster: whether it is a new type of RSS Reader, consumer generated video aggregator, or what else is down the pipe, as professional researchers and information professionals, we must remember that we are obligated to ask the question:
“What is the problem to which this technology is the solution?”
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Probably the best evidence in support of Postman’s negative view of society is the unthinking acceptance, by millions of people, of Postman’s own drivel. What is the problem to which Mozart’s Jupiter Symphony is a solution, Mr. Postman? What is the problem to which chess is a solution? What is the problem to which ice cream is a solution?
Anything which brings happiness to people needs to no justification. And it doesn’t need to bring pleasure to only to Neil Postman, his sycophants, and those of whom they happen to approve. Perhaps, just maybe, providing enjoyment for the riff-raff is as noble a goal as stroking the egos of those who are convinced of their own superiority over the great masses.
Comment by Stan — July 15, 2006 @ 3:51 pm