Re:Technology ain't everything
by petercooper on Saturday February 13, 2010 @08:38PM
(#1123932)
Automatic transmissions weren't invented for the disabled either. Would his point stand for those? After all, driving stick is only a little extra effort.
I am not a driver, but I assume automatic transmission make driving easier. The can openers in his example made opening cans more difficult. I don't think he is arguing against technological progress in general.
Anyway, I see it more as a poetical piece. People will vote with their feet/money anyway.
Re:Technology ain't everything
by petercooper on Saturday February 13, 2010 @09:40PM
(#1124027)
The can openers in his example made opening cans more difficult.
Yeah, but his point was nonsensical (or at least hyperbole). He said:
and usually the can ends up half-open, half-bent up to the point where it's un-openable short of dynamite.
Automated can openers usually spoil cans? If that were true, people wouldn't use them because most of their food would go to waste.
Still, why do people buy automated can openers, or electric pepper mills? Unless they are disabled, it just seems to be such a waste.
His experience was that the can openers never worked, but his parents kept trying and buying new models. Maybe by now they work. Still I don't see why anyone would want to have one. Call me a treehugger, but why waste energy and produce toxic waste for something you could easily do manually.
But: nothing against tinkering, a ka creating robot can openers just because we can.