I never ever called people a genius, but if this world has seen a genius in the last fw centuries it was Neil Postman. He was one of the few people who still had intelligent and unaltered thoughts. His words are usually closer to the truth than most people in the technological and scientific community will ever be. And most likely he was one of the very very few people who could still call themselves rational thinkers.
What I find wrong with modern technology, and I think Neil might agree here, is the dissipation of immediate control, where we operate everything vicariously. When you rolled down a car window, YOU rolled down the car window and if it was broken, it could fix the mechanism with your bare hands. Now, when you roll down a car window, you press a button which sends a command signal and the BUTTON rolls down the car window via electrical pathways.
Technology has always shaped human culture. What is interesting about our time is the velocity at which technology is absorbed into society. Whereas culture arises to enable us to adapt to our environment--including human technologies--the current velocity is far too rapid for culture to respond to it.
Neil Postman always has something thoughtful (and thought provoking) to share. He is correct that Americans' faith in technology is a new religion. When I mention to people that I don't have a cellphone or iPod they all but call me an infidel and are eager to evangelize to me the great benefits of converting and embracing these technologies. Postman points out the drawbacks to adopting new technologies without weighing the costs of what is lost or undone.
Love Postmans work and used this book for my thesis.... There is some irony viewing this on YouTube... :-)
noelsview2010 3 months ago
@noelsview2010 Ha ha! I thought the same thing. YouTube can be a good tool if used properly...
ybltmd 1 week ago
I never ever called people a genius, but if this world has seen a genius in the last fw centuries it was Neil Postman. He was one of the few people who still had intelligent and unaltered thoughts. His words are usually closer to the truth than most people in the technological and scientific community will ever be. And most likely he was one of the very very few people who could still call themselves rational thinkers.
yourfiction 5 months ago
Neil was a great thinker with a sexy voice. We need more technology to somehow bring him back to life.
MrGRIZFACE 5 months ago
What I find wrong with modern technology, and I think Neil might agree here, is the dissipation of immediate control, where we operate everything vicariously. When you rolled down a car window, YOU rolled down the car window and if it was broken, it could fix the mechanism with your bare hands. Now, when you roll down a car window, you press a button which sends a command signal and the BUTTON rolls down the car window via electrical pathways.
MJimiD 9 months ago
fuck you
NgrH8r 1 year ago
Technology has always shaped human culture. What is interesting about our time is the velocity at which technology is absorbed into society. Whereas culture arises to enable us to adapt to our environment--including human technologies--the current velocity is far too rapid for culture to respond to it.
mrgerbeck 1 year ago
I find his books extremely informative and insightful. Along w/ Mcluhan, you can get a really understanding about media.
Cyanidespork 1 year ago
One of the ten most brilliant people of all time!
PeterRoeder31 1 year ago
amusing ourselves to death was a great book. one of the best i have read up to date. :)
parakeethands 1 year ago 2
@parakeethands I'm about to read it myself.
the13thof12 1 year ago
Neil Postman always has something thoughtful (and thought provoking) to share. He is correct that Americans' faith in technology is a new religion. When I mention to people that I don't have a cellphone or iPod they all but call me an infidel and are eager to evangelize to me the great benefits of converting and embracing these technologies. Postman points out the drawbacks to adopting new technologies without weighing the costs of what is lost or undone.
ryecroft57 2 years ago 14
Who's from PCC say "I" ! LOL
vongolasamurai 2 years ago
@vongolasamurai
I!
aaroncomfort 1 year ago
looks at those bags under his eyes hes definitely thought allot about what he's saying, and it makes sense
GrizzlyFist 2 years ago
true that, now to find the book
GrizzlyFist 2 years ago