Blog Post 1 - Group C

David Rogers

Dr. Woodstock

Tech and Culture

Blog Post One

* Sorry this is so late guys, my gmail account was messed up and the invitation to this blog didn't come through until today. 

               

                This reading brought up some interesting ideas and perspectives on technological determinism. From what I know on the topic, I have come to a defining question surrounding technological determinism: Do we as humans create our own history that is merely aided by technology, or does technological advancement have its own line of history, and are we merely along for the ride. However, I do not feel like this question is completely fair to ask. This question suggests that we are either completely guided by technology, or that it has nothing to do with our path in life. I think that an answer could involve both ideas, and that the ideas are in fact, not conflicting.

                This example may seem like it leans away from technological determinism, but I think it involves both sides. Say a drunk driver drives onto the sidewalk and kills a pedestrian. No one would blame that on the car. There was a decision made by the driver to get behind the wheel, and the car was simply there for him to use. In this situation, the man or car cannot be blamed exclusively, which is what I think technological determinists might try to do. However, if the car was never invented there would be no accident in the first place. From that perspective, I could see how people believe in technological determinism.

                What is pretty terrifying about technology is that it has no morals, or stake in the situation. It would be ridiculous to get angry at the car after a drunk driver accident. No one remembers the car make and model from an accident, they just remember how drunk and stupid the guy was. The technology, a car in this instance, was simply a neutral tool that was used to do terribly immoral things, and the car may have even been used after that accident as well. We cannot punish technology. That is why I think it is important to place rules and regulations on technology. If we just jump right in and try to master a car right away without taking the proper steps to learn how to drive, and firstly making sure you are a responsible enough person to handle a car, than you may intentionally or unintentionally do very awful things with the car. Like Fischer said, “unless (men) individually master these things, the things will weaken them.”

                Another interesting thing I got out of this reading is about how and what technology is used by Americans. The graph shows that at a certain, point more American households had a radio than lights. It seems ridiculous to me to picture a family listening to a radio in the dark. Even one of the most basic human need (lights) can be rejected in order to afford a more entertaining form of technology. This idea of what technology we value is yet another example of how technology can become the master of people and what they spend their time and money on.

                Overall, I remain a believer in the idea of a world where we still have complete control of where we are going, and technology is just there to aid us. Sure there’s the saying, “guns kill people” but that assumes that guns are a different race than humans. Guns and other technology are part of what make us human, and to deny someone access to them just because you are scared of what they might do with it is inhuman.