It’s Hard to Function in a Dysfunctional Society
Largely because dysfunctional societies (one of my favorite terms) cannot recognize that they are just that. This is a concept they cannot imagine. Or even the idea that society implies functionality and awareness. The ability for groups of people to work together.
The people in these societies (perhaps that is not the right word for them) are convinced that something else is important – and not them.
In the software world there used to be talk of community, for example. But as social sites appeared and took advantage of the communities that they formed – it became obvious to the guys who could see what was going on – because they had made the things – that it was foolish to talk of them as though they were socially productive – and they started talking about ecosystems instead.
The idea seems to be that if you get far enough away from the real world – all the warts will go away. Because by that time you are in outer space.
I am struck by how many times everyone seems to come up with the same idea at the same time – like our minds are on the same wavelength. This morning Cringely is saying much the same thing – but coming at it a different way. I recommend you give him a look. He’s been in the Industry a long time, and has seen more than people want to give him credit for.
One way to state this is that computers have gotten better and better at understanding us – while at the same time we have become less and less able to understand them – or anything else. Got it?
Maybe you haven’t, but Madison Avenue and our politicians (and above all, the Financial Industry) sure have. Everyone who is anyone wants to grab those magical levers of power.
Move over people. Something else is in control.
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