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Re:Technology ain't everything by Tichy on Saturday February 13, 2010 @08:43PM (#1123939)
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.

Re:Technology ain't everything by Tichy on Sunday February 14, 2010 @04:47AM (#1124356)
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.