We will candidly admit to a feeling of terror when, upon a routine post-selection on Facebook, we encountered the ominous caution: “Please click ALLOW to indicate you are not a robot.” We were astonished and perceived the message as a dire recognition of the extent of Man’s exponential progress in computer science; the latter, albeit, initially undertaken for its empirical precision and facile convenience, later, potentially evolved into a conceivably dystopic non-human, computer-run, global society. Such human witless and suicidal impulse appears to analogically possess the mindless attractive power of the planet’s gravity. It may be destined to bring about the dystopian advent of a non-human and robotic-driven society. We have expressed concern regarding such catastrophic possibility in earlier writings such as, “WHO INVITED ALEXA?”
Regarding the above-thematic Facebook instruction, is it not conceivably possible to inquire what assurances its author entertains, that a non-compliant “robot” will, perniciously, refrain from obeying his direction and decisively press “Allow?”
We have eternally railed against the humanistic, debilitating use of computer “advances,” especially, the thoughtless substitution of natural, human-spoken interaction by the universal use of hand-held “Smartphones.” It is no less than bizarre, that in the context of a singularly material and personally detached society, the salubrious existence of social intercourse, vital to the health and happiness of its members, inter-active, human conversation has been witlessly replaced by a small, hand-held, computerized device. Such thoughtless effort towards such a useless facility has reduced personal interaction to a mere mechanical exchange of computer symbols. Gone are the assurances of mutual, nuanced, voice recognition, spontaneous expression of reaction and present sentiment, and the timeliness of relevant response. Contrasted with the previous warm, interpersonal exchange, we observe the employment of cold, emotionally inexpressive symbols projected onto another’s small, hand-held lighted screen, possibly received in an irrelevant or untimely context.
We are sad to observe that the Surgeon General of the United States, has recently confirmed our fears by officially reporting an egregious increase in anxiety, depression, and suicide among the young who have, notably and universally chosen to communicate by cell phone. It has been our conception that such impersonal interaction toxically and effectively prevents the empirical development of a reactive and referable lifetime self-image, necessary for inner stability and self-esteem.
Since the advent of humankind’s devout worship of such facile, but emotionally inadequate, means of communication the relentless “advance” and use of multi-purpose computer facilities, instead of human faculties, in our view, has gradually eroded Man’s spiritual and intellectual progress in his continuing societal evolution. Directional devices, security installations, carpet cleaners, personal medical devices, time and weather equipment, printing and art, meteorological scanners, car, cooking devices, sound operated equipment, A-I replication of classic works of art, such as masterpieces of sculpture in the manner of the replication of cheap pottery or fine art paintings, in the manner of easily repetitive, cheap illustrations, facilitated copyright infringement and political “dirty tricks” by false, tactical replication of an opponent’s recognizable voice are inexorably included in the unlimited potential for deceit and perverse replication.
To us, the single most bone-chilling, dystopic application of unlimited computer science has had its advent in robotic fighter and bomber planes, called, “Drones” which have already served as mindless, unfeeling, wartime instruments of death and destruction. In our computer nightmares, we can envision a post-apocalyptic world where mankind has been rendered extinct, nevertheless, the conduct of war is eternally perpetuated by rival robotic drones, mutually and tirelessly engaged in air battle while other low-flying robotic drones release bombs upon a moonlike, wasted land.
[ N.B. We do not oppose utilitarian advances in computer science; however, some rational re-thinking would be wise regarding the ongoing substitution of its utility for humanistic interaction, aesthetic expression, and matters requiring empathic understanding.]
-p.
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