From hungary-online-owner Fri Jun 30 13:14:07 1995 Received: from localhost (daemon@localhost) (fnord) by nando.yak.net (8.6.5/8.6.5) id NAA09700 for hungary-online-out31415; Fri, 30 Jun 1995 13:14:07 -0700 Received: from localhost (daemon@localhost) (fnord) by nando.yak.net (8.6.5/8.6.5) id NAA09681; Fri, 30 Jun 1995 13:13:51 -0700 Received: from jhorv@mars.iif.hu () via =-=-=-=-=-= for hol@hungary.yak.net (9679) Received: from mars.iif.hu (mars.iif.hu [192.84.225.92]) (fnord) by nando (8.6.5/8.6.5) with SMTP id NAA09676 for ; Fri, 30 Jun 1995 13:13:30 -0700 Received: by mars.iif.hu (5.67a8+/ULTRIX-1.01) id AA22382; Fri, 30 Jun 1995 22:11:51 +0200 Date: Fri, 30 Jun 1995 22:11:49 +0200 (MET DST) From: John Horvath To: Hungary On-line Subject: (HOL) closed minds Message-Id: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII X-Charset: US X-Char-Esc: 0 Sender: owner-Hungary-Online@hungary.yak.net Precedence: bulk Reply-To: Hungary-Online@hungary.yak.net Hello everyone, HOL seems to be quiet. Perhaps this piece will get it going. Enjoy. Szia, John The Closing of the Human Mind by John Horvath Since 1984 futurology has changed. Prior to that year, everyone was looking with intent interest and expectation at how much our society was becoming like Orwell's prediction. And it was not just Orwell: Bradley and Huxley had their versions as well, and people were always on the watch for the tell-tale signs that the worlds of these visionaries were upon us. More than a decade on, such apocalyptic visions of tomorrow are no longer in vogue. Fears of a police state -- a police world -- have faded to the background. With the end of the cold war the romanticism of cloak-and-dagger intrigue had died. Perhaps. But 1984 is an important year nonetheless, for it marks the approximate start of a process that has changed the world in such a way that it will never be the same again. It was at that time that computers, i.e. the PC (Personal Computer), began to enter the market aimed at household users. Since then, computers have become a part of everyday life -- at work, school, and home. While PCs were making their impact on the market, there were some who warned against them. The biggest fear of computers was that it would result in job loss by making those jobs considered "routine" redundant. Clearly, there had been some cause for concern, but the expected massive layoffs never happened. Indeed, some would argue, new jobs were created due to the changing needs brought about by the technological revolution. On the other hand, what has happened is a process that can be termed as "the deintellectualization" (how's that for a word!) of computer users. The danger is apparent: as the number of users continue to grow daily, it is only a matter of time before Man, as an intellectual and social being, shall cease to exist. At present, there are three generations of computer users: early explorers, PC pioneers, and GUI (Graphic User Interface) people. The first generation, the early explorers, were those studying computers before the technological explosion of the eighties. In those days, knowledge of computers required a sound understanding of mathematics and logic. The principles of how a computer works were just as important than actually using one. As PCs were eventually introduced on the market, those courageous enough (and who had enough money) began what can be referred to as the second generation of users, the PC pioneers. These were people who had to learn the basics in computer language (such as BASIC) and were content with limited functions and very primitive graphics. Computers were used mainly for what they were intended: speeding up routine tasks. Word processors and spreadsheets were the most common programs running at the time. Finally we enter the present-day period and the third generation, or the GUI people. Today, users don't need to understand how computers work. In fact, most them don't. Also, programs have to be pleasing to the eye and not only the brain. Most commands are executed with merely the click of a button. At this stage in the evolutionary process, everyone expects everything on the computer to be automatic and "user-friendly". The basics behind computer technology have either been forgotten or ignored, so users have to rely on a technocratic elite, usually those of the first generation (and some of the second as well). This process of technological evolution is nothing new, but characteristic of capitalistic product development. As a product develops (or evolves) its workings becomes increasingly complex so that ordinary people using ordinary tools are no longer able to repair anything themselves. Instead, they have to rely on the service of "specialists". Eventually, a product becomes irreparable so that the only solution is to buy a new product or a replacement for the defective part. Some may call this progress; however, it's no more than an elaborate form of conspicuous consumption. At this point, defenders of the free market will cry foul and go into a lengthy dialogue defending "progress" and how this process represents the advancement of humankind; without such an "invisible hand" type process, it is argued, we would still be living in caves. Well, maybe I would still prefer to live in a cave rather than worry about the environmental woes that this "progress" has been plaguing us with. Nevertheless, the problem is not with technology per se. Rather, it is that we do not take time to consolidate the advances that are made in technology, thinking that there is no cost to technological advancement. A prime example is the case of nuclear power. Fifty years ago nuclear power held out the promise of abundant and cheap energy. We all know now what kind of a nightmare it is to live in a place like Chernyobl. There is no such thing as cost-free technology. Technology has a cost, and by not taking the time to explore or evaluate the costs involved we are moving headlong into disaster. One of the costs of computer technology is that we have raised our requirements of what computers are for to the point that it runs our lives. Worse than that, it is our life. Computers were originally designed as machines to help in the routine tasks of mathematical computation, in the same way that a vacuum cleaner eased our job of removing dust from a carpet. The problem began when capitalism saw the unlimited market potential for the new technology. Not only are computers useful as fancy adding machines and devices to control automation processes, but are indispensable as new forms of entertainment and ultimately escaping from the burdens of reality. Though Microsoft et al can undoubtedly find "experts" to point out the psychological value of, say, virtual sex on the millions of lonely men and women worldwide, the fact remains that we have become addicted to this virtual drug. And like all narcotics, alienation becomes inevitable. We can't stand to be away from our computer: it is our life, our being -- it is us. While this may seem to be another gloom and doom prophecy, just look around corporate America today. People in occupations where computers play a part of everyday business (and this percentage is growing) are finding they have less time on their hands. Fifty years ago it was predicted that machines were going to reduce the work week; instead, we see it increasing. And the problem is only getting worse. "Commuting", that is, doing your work at home via a computer hookup, is becoming a popular alternative to working in an office. Ad-men, those trumpeters of nothingness employed to keep our reason null and void, have already jumped on the bandwagon: "no more traffic jams", "work in the comfort of your own home", and so on. What they fail to mention is that now your home is an office. Actually, you have just lost your home. If you think you will have more time and comfort doing your work there, think again: you will have less. Again, this is not because of the technology itself but because of the way in which the economy works in a capitalist society. Don't forget, growth and progress, along with competition, are the cornerstones of this philosophy. Thus, as companies continually strive to increase their profits, workers are forced to increase their output. What computers have done is not make the work less but more. Since tasks can be completed faster compared to conventional ways, more tasks are now given that have to be completed in the same amount of time in order to "get an edge" on the competition. Therefore, commuting will not ease the problems of working in an office but will require the same amount of work, stress, etc. -- but in the comfort of your own home. But don't expect too much privacy. And don't expect too much comfort; the baby crying in the next room will only get on your nerves. Finally, it is not only the way we work that has been affected. Even our language is changing to the point where we will all end up expressing our myriad thoughts within the narrow confines of "compuspeak". Already, over 200 new words have entered the English language thanks to computer jargon. Pretty soon the most popular pick up line will be: "So baby, tell me, how are you at interfacing?" The mistake that Orwell, Bradley, and Huxley made in their visions of the future was the role of the individual in bringing about the world that they lived in. In all three cases, it wasn't the individual but an all-encompassing "Big Brother" that had taken control of their lives. What has happened with us is that we are willingly doing this to ourselves. We want the telescreens in our rooms: not so Big Brother can watch us, but so we can watch Big Brother and have him tell us what to do. ############# # This message to Hungary-Online@hungary.yak.net # was from John Horvath # # To unsubscribe, # send "unsubscribe" to # An announcement-only subscription (less volume) is available # at # Send mail to for more information, # or to if you need human assistance. #############