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“When we all have pocket telephones”

openculture.com

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Re: “When we all have pocket telephones”

#4
When we all have telephones embedded into our brains, linked in to our neural circuitry. When Google advertises to you in your dreams, daydreams and nightmares. When Huawei gives their government control over their citizens' thoughts, and feelings and desires. When Samsung kills millions with a botched over-the-air firmware upgrade.

Re: “When we all have pocket telephones”

#7
Lately, stand-up comedians have been saying they're out of a job, because the absurdity of reality is escaping parody. Nothing stays funny for long, because soon enough it's true, and then banal.

In a world where all things are absurd, ipso facto nothing is absurd.

An interesting question becomes what remains? What are the solid relations that underpin our humanity?

Having a boss that tells you what to do? No, long since passed the point where I have to tell my boss what to do - it's called being the consultant in a clueless, inverted meritocracy.

People wanting to take your money? No. The insane conceit of a "cash-less society" has already created situations where you cannot physically force someone to take money from you.

I'm honestly struggling to see what is cast in stone. Even death and taxes are looking worried.

Re: “When we all have pocket telephones”

#8

Lately, stand-up comedians have been saying they're out of a job, because the absurdity of reality is escaping parody. Nothing stays funny for long, because soon enough it's true, and then banal. In a world where all things are absurd, ipso facto nothing is absurd. An interesting question becomes what remains? What are the solid relations that underpin our humanity? Having a boss that tells you what to do? No, long s…

The race to the bottom, this unwinding of civilization, should halt and rewind at some point after people realize this is unsustainable. Hopefully.

Seems like the nihilists, the "nothing matters" crowd, and the neo-libertarians (chaos is good) have been having a bad streak lately.

Re: “When we all have pocket telephones”

#9
I think the joke is still good, because it's still a bad manner to have your phone ringing and buzzing in many situations (a concert, at the opera etc). I mean, it's actually an impressive comic, it imagines a possible future tech and correctly identifies some real misuses, 70-80 years before it became reality.

Re: “When we all have pocket telephones”

#10

Lately, stand-up comedians have been saying they're out of a job, because the absurdity of reality is escaping parody. Nothing stays funny for long, because soon enough it's true, and then banal. In a world where all things are absurd, ipso facto nothing is absurd. An interesting question becomes what remains? What are the solid relations that underpin our humanity? Having a boss that tells you what to do? No, long s…

They can turn to satire. There is an endless stream of public figures unwillingly creating scripts for them.
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