I think Carl Sagan’s warning in his 1997 book, “The Demon-Haunted World,” feels like the societal analogue to your “friction disappearing” theme: when tech concentrates power and reduces the cost of consuming/ deciding/ thinking to near-zero, the public’s ability to question, discern, and set its own agenda atrophies. It’s the same danger you point to with AI—convenience that quietly trains us out of judgment.
“I have a foreboding of an America in my children's or grandchildren's time -- when the United States is a service and information economy; when nearly all the manufacturing industries have slipped away to other countries; when awesome technological powers are in the hands of a very few, and no one representing the public interest can even grasp the issues; when the people have lost the ability to set their own agendas or knowledgeably question those in authority; when, clutching our crystals and nervously consulting our horoscopes, our critical faculties in decline, unable to distinguish between what feels good and what's true, we slide, almost without noticing, back into superstition and darkness...
The dumbing down of American is most evident in the slow decay of substantive content in the enormously influential media, the 30 second sound bites (now down to 10 seconds or less), lowest common denominator programming, credulous presentations on pseudoscience and superstition, but especially a kind of celebration of ignorance.”
That is a fantastic point and passage to share -- thank you. It's a great book, and now I wish I had thought of it. How interesting would it be for the likes of Sagan or Feynman to be around today?
Gobsmacked! I just had this conversation today with a Gen Z friend who is a talented pianist and rides his bicycle everywhere and was reading “The Three Musketeers” with relish about the humor he loved in the writing! He had a small crate he can lift and tote into the library with him and it holds his fabric briefcase, book, and notebook. We stood and talked almost an hour on the sidewalk. We discussed poetry and I told him my favorite poem is Rudyard Kipling’s “If” which I kept over my desk at a job years ago. Then about “Keep a goin’ “ that I also chose to read aloud at Bookclub last week. Gen Z knew both poems!
He revealed his friends would rather spend Saturdays with their screens than out among seen friends. The depth and breadth of our conversation was astounding. He would assuredly agree with your enthusiasm about this post, MG, and life is beautiful when real people can have such in-depth and genuine conversations.
And, I know this young man’s dad, as it turned out, and respect him very highly as a professional in our city. To make connections on a walk with this much joy is so beautiful about human to human experience!
Thank you for the kind words and for sharing this wonderful story, Cathie. I love when the universe kind of weaves threads together. And I share your sentiments, especially as I wish I had more interactions like the one you've shared. I have hope for Gen Z; they seem to be a generation that's starting to recognize the need for deeper connection, even by bringing back the use of analog devices.
Excellent post!
I think Carl Sagan’s warning in his 1997 book, “The Demon-Haunted World,” feels like the societal analogue to your “friction disappearing” theme: when tech concentrates power and reduces the cost of consuming/ deciding/ thinking to near-zero, the public’s ability to question, discern, and set its own agenda atrophies. It’s the same danger you point to with AI—convenience that quietly trains us out of judgment.
“I have a foreboding of an America in my children's or grandchildren's time -- when the United States is a service and information economy; when nearly all the manufacturing industries have slipped away to other countries; when awesome technological powers are in the hands of a very few, and no one representing the public interest can even grasp the issues; when the people have lost the ability to set their own agendas or knowledgeably question those in authority; when, clutching our crystals and nervously consulting our horoscopes, our critical faculties in decline, unable to distinguish between what feels good and what's true, we slide, almost without noticing, back into superstition and darkness...
The dumbing down of American is most evident in the slow decay of substantive content in the enormously influential media, the 30 second sound bites (now down to 10 seconds or less), lowest common denominator programming, credulous presentations on pseudoscience and superstition, but especially a kind of celebration of ignorance.”
That is a fantastic point and passage to share -- thank you. It's a great book, and now I wish I had thought of it. How interesting would it be for the likes of Sagan or Feynman to be around today?
Not everyday you see a reference to Engadine Michigan. Let's go Eagles:)
Gobsmacked! I just had this conversation today with a Gen Z friend who is a talented pianist and rides his bicycle everywhere and was reading “The Three Musketeers” with relish about the humor he loved in the writing! He had a small crate he can lift and tote into the library with him and it holds his fabric briefcase, book, and notebook. We stood and talked almost an hour on the sidewalk. We discussed poetry and I told him my favorite poem is Rudyard Kipling’s “If” which I kept over my desk at a job years ago. Then about “Keep a goin’ “ that I also chose to read aloud at Bookclub last week. Gen Z knew both poems!
He revealed his friends would rather spend Saturdays with their screens than out among seen friends. The depth and breadth of our conversation was astounding. He would assuredly agree with your enthusiasm about this post, MG, and life is beautiful when real people can have such in-depth and genuine conversations.
And, I know this young man’s dad, as it turned out, and respect him very highly as a professional in our city. To make connections on a walk with this much joy is so beautiful about human to human experience!
Thank you for the kind words and for sharing this wonderful story, Cathie. I love when the universe kind of weaves threads together. And I share your sentiments, especially as I wish I had more interactions like the one you've shared. I have hope for Gen Z; they seem to be a generation that's starting to recognize the need for deeper connection, even by bringing back the use of analog devices.