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Digital vs Human



How We Will Live In The Future







Richard Watson





We don't really care that what we see of other people online is usually carefully curated - minus the fear, doubts and vulnerabilities that everyone has.

Would it be ok for robots to raise children or for a closure avatar to be the last face an individual sees before he dies?

Human beings can be illogical and annoying, so are best dealt with through digital filters or avoided altogether. Perhaps the whole human race is becoming a bit autistic, preferring to live largely alone, interacting only reluctantly and awkwardly with others.

Teens today - personal identity defined by approbation of a virtual audience. So don't want voice calls, bc can't be photoshopped or crafted for optimum result.

Social networks have eroded previos social structures and reintroduced tribalism.

We've convinced ourselves that the outside world is full of dangers. So although we deplore our kids fixation with their screens, we are reluctant to let them out of our sight unless they are tethered to a tracking device.

Japan as a harbinger - young men with no interest in sexual relationshis 36% of Jap males aged 16 - 19 in 2010), preferring the far less challenging digital GFs in games such as Nintendo's Love Plus.

In Europe millions of teens not in work or school. But instead of collective action or revolt, digital distraction leading mainly to apathy and passivity.

And the digital world is way more interesting.

50% of all the people who have ever reached 65, are still alive. We now have situation where we need life insurance, not in case we die, but in case we don't.

As George Orwell said, fascism can be attractive bc it offers struggle, danger, and possibly death, whereas socialism and capitalism, merely offer differing degrees of comfort and pleasure.

If soemthing is free on the Internet, you are probably the product.

CCTV cameras everywhere, but actually the mass surveillance society is due to our selfie and self-disclosure habits on social networks.

People want connection, support, and respect from family and friends. They want purposeful work, freedom from violence and abuse, and to be in a community that cares for everyone.

Because it's constantly available, we never turn the tap off. You can't finish the Internet as you do a book or a film or a newspaper.

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The Internet may be increasing autism. Most of the geeks who succeed at Internet companies exhibit autistic traits, and they marry others from their circle.

Most status updates on Facebook are positive, which creates an arms race of exhibitionism that doesn't correspond to reality. And VR goggles can take us away from the annoying bits of RL.

Your phone becomes your best friend.

The spoils of Internet economy are going to the internationally-minded, highly-educated, elite. If you are neither of those things then you are potentially destined for low-paid, insecure work, although you will have access to free music, movie downloads and computer games to pass the time until you die.

In Victorian times, when wealth also very unevenly divide, there was at least a shared moral code, a broad sense of civic duty, and collective responsibility. Today, it's everyone for himself.

Terry Pratchett "real stupidity beats artificial intelligence every time."

Shane Warne with contact lenses and shoulder reconstruction is totally ok, but how about Shane with bionic eyes, a prosthetic arm, and a video tattoo advertising Bundaberg Rum?



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