It's so easy to become offended. It actually comes pretty natural. Someone says something. You feel it's directed at you Strong reaction follows No need to react, it's got nothing to do with you as a person Imagine some remarks about academic work versus manual one, a bit dismissive about the latter. You don't have a degree and never wanted one. You know very well it takes years of experience and training to do what you're doing. Talent is involved too, as some people do have "two left hands". You still feel you should add something to the conversation, but not sure if it is going to be well-received. No need to enlighten the other party right now Most people think in terms of opposites. If it's not this, it's that and it can't be anything else. Certainty of one's convictions is also a form of self-reassurance that everything is stable in one's world. Other points of view cannot be allowed because they are disruptive. Cognitive disrup...
It is worth putting up a fight in defence of technology as a liberating force. Various Cassandras are prophesying a future of lives lost to non-flicker screens (before the pixel revolution, the flickering was an aggravating circumstance).
With implacable periodicity, a study will unveil to the world cases of 'digital addiction', with most unfortunate consequences. Suddenly, going back to scratching beautiful drawings on cave walls is desirable pastime and sending messages by word of mouth looks like a sane solution.
Some say that technology is a ferocious creature that eats up its children, like ancient Cronus. Mythological allegories are always useful for doomsday scenarios.
What if Cronus is actually eaten by its children? Not all of them, just those that would eat too much whatever is put in front of them.
I was inspired to turn the allegory upside down by a videoclip with Sadhguru. He makes a very insightful comment about the times we live in, the benefits of technology and our inner frailty. The times are new, but the human being is as old as the hills in its fundamental traits.
Compulsive behaviour is something everyone must have noticed about themselves at some point. Digital technology is still relatively new and its novelty fires up some neuro-pathways usually reserved for more palpable pleasures.
Digital natives are currently replaced by VR natives and in 50 years' time all the hand-wringing about the nefariousness of screen-time will be a distant memory.
See, I have inadvertently fallen into the Cassandra trap!
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