I recall that our friend Flogerta Lessi recently raised a similar question: we are putting all our eggs in one digital basket. That makes us not only vulnerable to cyber attacks but also incredibly dependent on companies and people who may not have our best interests at heart. I consider myself pretty environmentally conscious, but I still think some things should have a real-life, tangible backup.
Yes, she talked about the energy consumption as well, which definitely is a big and negative side effect of digitalization, and the clash of interests is simply bound to have some victims (usually the consumers).
How could we arrange life so that we would still benefit from the electronic wonders while not being enslaved by them and not being pushed around by big business?
Maybe set aside a limited time per week for using the electronics, and then simply leave that world alone for the rest of the time? Similar to when we would previously spend some time now and then on writing letters or similar.
Some of the writers on Substack, who post a lot on Notes, seem to live in places where they have direct access to beautiful nature where they can go for walks. My personal opinion is that such a walk in the nature is worth an endless amount of times more than doomscrolling on social media ;)
Of course, being in touch with other people is nice, and optimally, we would spend time in nature with other people, as far as it can be arranged.
That would be ideal, but these technologies were designed to be addictive, so I can see why we seem to be trapped in this endless loop even when a lot of us know it's harmful both for our planet and our health.
Thank you for spreading awareness on this subject. While I appreciate the comforts of digitilisation and cash-free payment options, I am weary of the amount of power it gives (big tech) corporations and governments and still want to be able to choose. I'm very worried about "options" becoming mandatory and people need to realise that there is a shadow side to these developments - digital warfare, as you've already mentioned, being one of them. Just imagine how vulnerable societies/nations that are 100% digitalised will be making themselves?!
Indeed, we are vulnerable. Also, as I just wrote in another post, because we don't even control the technologies used – we are not only putting all our eggs in one basket, it is the basket that someone else is carrying.
As it happens so often these days, you can easily find old science fiction horror books that predicted such developments as we see now, and these were then seen as utopian or dystopian, but unrealistic, yet scary.
Now, when these things actually happen, people do not seem the slightest scared about it – it is all accepted, often not even though about at all. Until one day, when the individual is hit by it and discovers that they will be alone, nobody is there to fight it with them, because all the others, who are not hit, still do not have any thoughts about it, hence, no interest in it.
We should prioritize individual freedom in a network where we can support each other, not being tied up to mandatory systems or concepts, because that's probably the only way our society can survive in the longer run.
We have removed ourselves very far away from it through the rigid state administration, together with all the mandatory details that are not there to protect each other, but rather to restrict the individual.
I recall that our friend Flogerta Lessi recently raised a similar question: we are putting all our eggs in one digital basket. That makes us not only vulnerable to cyber attacks but also incredibly dependent on companies and people who may not have our best interests at heart. I consider myself pretty environmentally conscious, but I still think some things should have a real-life, tangible backup.
Yes, she talked about the energy consumption as well, which definitely is a big and negative side effect of digitalization, and the clash of interests is simply bound to have some victims (usually the consumers).
How could we arrange life so that we would still benefit from the electronic wonders while not being enslaved by them and not being pushed around by big business?
Maybe set aside a limited time per week for using the electronics, and then simply leave that world alone for the rest of the time? Similar to when we would previously spend some time now and then on writing letters or similar.
Some of the writers on Substack, who post a lot on Notes, seem to live in places where they have direct access to beautiful nature where they can go for walks. My personal opinion is that such a walk in the nature is worth an endless amount of times more than doomscrolling on social media ;)
Of course, being in touch with other people is nice, and optimally, we would spend time in nature with other people, as far as it can be arranged.
That would be ideal, but these technologies were designed to be addictive, so I can see why we seem to be trapped in this endless loop even when a lot of us know it's harmful both for our planet and our health.
Thank you for spreading awareness on this subject. While I appreciate the comforts of digitilisation and cash-free payment options, I am weary of the amount of power it gives (big tech) corporations and governments and still want to be able to choose. I'm very worried about "options" becoming mandatory and people need to realise that there is a shadow side to these developments - digital warfare, as you've already mentioned, being one of them. Just imagine how vulnerable societies/nations that are 100% digitalised will be making themselves?!
Indeed, we are vulnerable. Also, as I just wrote in another post, because we don't even control the technologies used – we are not only putting all our eggs in one basket, it is the basket that someone else is carrying.
As it happens so often these days, you can easily find old science fiction horror books that predicted such developments as we see now, and these were then seen as utopian or dystopian, but unrealistic, yet scary.
Now, when these things actually happen, people do not seem the slightest scared about it – it is all accepted, often not even though about at all. Until one day, when the individual is hit by it and discovers that they will be alone, nobody is there to fight it with them, because all the others, who are not hit, still do not have any thoughts about it, hence, no interest in it.
We should prioritize individual freedom in a network where we can support each other, not being tied up to mandatory systems or concepts, because that's probably the only way our society can survive in the longer run.
Prioritising individual freedom in a network where we support each other... Isn't that called democracy?! 🤔😉
I think many have forgotten what democracy is all about, which is why they fearlessly accept these frightening developments...
Yes, you are right! That's democracy.
We have removed ourselves very far away from it through the rigid state administration, together with all the mandatory details that are not there to protect each other, but rather to restrict the individual.
Here's hoping we find our way back to it ✊️