[Sixstrings]

In another thread, I got talking about robots and someone said I sound "cornucopian." I was really just thinking about the future economic impact of robotics, but I detected a general hostility to technology in the replies. That got me thinking.. is the peak oil community so attached to a particular vision of decline that they've actually become totally anti-technology? For me, I do realize that industrial technology is making the planet uninhabitable. But I can't help it, I still love tech and find it fascinating.

So, are you anti-tech? Does technological innovation not even interest you anymore? How about cool gadgets and stuff, is it all just a part of an immoral system that's destroying the planet and leading us to extinction?

[mos6507]

I think you already know the answer to that.

A significant chunk of the doomer pie chart are anarcho-primitives. Hypocritical web-browsing, gadget-toting, anarcho-primitives, but anarcho-primitives nonetheless.

[dinopello]

As an engineer, I can't afford to be a "Technophobe". I do think we need to evaluate what a particular technology does for us and to us beyond the narrow construct it was developed for. I think technology is OK if it frees us up for higher pursuits. Like if I had a cart with wheels I could get my water hauled up from the river more quickly so I can spend more time making music with the other villagers.

If the technology squashes culture or we become a slave to the technology, that is not a good thing IMO.

[Sixstrings]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('dinopello', 'A')s an engineer, I can't afford to be a "Technophobe". I do think we need to evaluate what a particular technology does for us and to us beyond the narrow construct it was developed for. I think technology is OK if it frees us up for higher pursuits. Like if I had a cart with wheels I could get my water hauled up from the river more quickly so I can spend more time making music with the other villagers.

If the technology squashes culture or we become a slave to the technology, that is not a good thing IMO.

[lowem]

I'm no technophobe. That would be against the greek credo or something

I've also always maintained that geek types or putting it more nicely, IT & engineering types, "get" peak oil fast. But what we do after "getting" it, well that depends on the individual.

[AgentR]

"Whom do you serve?"

I think technology people "get" peak oil quickly because they are aware of the systems that are mostly hidden, out of sight, out of mind, from the public. Their response to it is a simple pair of curves, available energy vs time, and ability to do more with less power vs time. If they believe in their gut that the ability to do more work with less energy will exceed the decline in availabilty, they'll bet long, "we'll beat it" notion. If they believe in their gut that a point comes where availability solidly overwhelms more-with-less; then there is no saving to be done; our technological world is ***********; whether there is a bottom out point where stripped of high tech fun, humans are able to sustain themselves agriculturally without powered technology, is a question that remains to be tested.

[Ludi]

As Sixstrings alludes, humans have been using technology at least since we were Homo habilis.

I'm not against being human, by any stretch. I enjoy things like hammers, computers, the printing press, the sewing machine, etc.

Not all technology is equally enjoyable, though. I'm not convinced it's a bad idea to be afraid of some of it.

[Tanada]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Sixstrings', 'I')n another thread, I got talking about robots and someone said I sound "cornucopian." I was really just thinking about the future economic impact of robotics, but I detected a general hostility to technology in the replies. That got me thinking.. is the peak oil community so attached to a particular vision of decline that they've actually become totally anti-technology? For me, I do realize that industrial technology is making the planet uninhabitable. But I can't help it, I still love tech and find it fascinating.

So, are you anti-tech? Does technological innovation not even interest you anymore? How about cool gadgets and stuff, is it all just a part of an immoral system that's destroying the planet and leading us to extinction?

[Ludi]

Are there actually any "anti-technology" threads? I know we have a lot of threads advocating various technologies, but are there any threads started by technophobes saying we should get rid of technology? Cuz I don't remember any. I probably would have made fun of them if they existed....But I also have a very poor memory.

[pablonite]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Sixstrings', 'S')o, are you anti-tech? Does technological innovation not even interest you anymore? How about cool gadgets and stuff, is it all just a part of an immoral system that's destroying the planet and leading us to extinction?

[Sixstrings]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Ludi', 'A')re there actually any "anti-technology" threads? I know we have a lot of threads advocating various technologies, but are there any threads started by technophobes saying we should get rid of technology? Cuz I don't remember any. I probably would have made fun of them if they existed....But I also have a very poor memory.

[Tanada]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Ludi', 'A')re there actually any "anti-technology" threads? I know we have a lot of threads advocating various technologies, but are there any threads started by technophobes saying we should get rid of technology? Cuz I don't remember any. I probably would have made fun of them if they existed....But I also have a very poor memory.

[Ludi]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Sixstrings', '
')Doesn't that reply suggest a contempt for technology, and a suggestion that talk of future tech is silly since the bees are dying and the world's gonna end anyway and all that?

[Ludi]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Tanada', ' ')I am referring to the ones that promote return to primitiveness

[Loki]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Sixstrings', 'N')ot per se, maybe I'm just overly sensitive. From the other thread.. I try to bring up the economic impact of automation in general and future robotics in particular and everyone gets silly about it:

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'L')udi wrote:
We don't need bees! Nanobots will fly around and do the pollinating!

[mos6507]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Loki', '
')Nobody is being anti-technology here

[Sixstrings]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('pstarr', 'L')udi, apparently if you are not waiting with baited breath for the next wonder-toy from Apple, and you do not fawn at the feet of that gaunt profit Steve Jobs, then you are a Luddite. At least among the etukated set

[pablonite]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Sixstrings', 'I')'m a peaker, and agree on the flaws in the cornucopian ideas. But I'm not hostile to tech "saving the day." I wouldn't mock anyone who tries, we'll need smart people trying to find solutions.