Do you believe the world would be better off without technology? Why or why not?

Question

nightdrot · Accepted Answer

Voted "no." The question in any case being problematic. It may as well ask if the world would be better off without tidal waves. They just is, so to speak.

By the way, the following is written by someone who is no fan of technology, who views my computer as a dangerous wild animal that climbed in through a window and crawled onto my desk, where it snarls at me. Moreover, who still uses a flip phone - about as technologically advanced as I will ever get - and yet who views it as a mailman that periodically and randomly comes barging into my house, shoves my mail in my face and then demands that I open and read it front of him while he impatiently taps his foot.

Thus I would seem to be an unlikely candidate to say anything good about technology. However, in truth, technology has provided undeniable benefits and given where mankind began - in caves clubbing mates over the head and running away from saber toothed tigers - it is better to have it than not.

The point being that the problem is not technology per se. Rather that technology is a tool, no different in that sense than the club that man's primitive ancestors used to use. Yet man shapes his tools and is then shaped by them. An imperfect being who is not perfectible and is therefore apt to use his tools imperfectly and be changed by their use.

Indeed, it is funny to watch how technology changed man's preoccupations of the hour. When the first mass media developed - movies, radio, television - they were just that. Mass media. They allowed man to see the world in a way that he had not been able to before and thus gain a greater understanding of the world. Man was able to see his fellow man as fellow, and not as an alien being and enemy.

Further, man was able to share experiences - for good or ill - through the same prism. It was unifying in many ways. Yet in due course the fear became that it was a tool of mass psychology. The preoccupations of the period became the fear of too much conformity - the "Man in the Grey Flannel Suit" and all the rest. Thus, in part leading to the social upheavals of the 1960s and 70s. (There were other factors, but this was one of them.)

Flash forward. The social media age, the internet, cable television and all the rest. Whereas before everyone went to mass media sources, the new technologies allow everyone to go to those sources that most confirm their own biases. Whereas once man experienced the world through a common prism, now they lived in their own mental universes where even common words don't mean the same things, depending on who reads or hears them.

Thus now the social upheavals - again in part, there are other factors at work - of the 21st century. Upheavals not unlike those of the 1960s and 70s, but from almost the opposite causes. Not the fear of too much conformity, but the absence of any binding common experience.

Of course, that is the technology of mass media/social media and the computer. The same can be said of other technologies. Splitting the atom made possible a pure source of energy - and also the atomic bomb. See also the invention of the COVID vaccine - and the cackling hysteria over the wearing of masks. When to wear them and when not. The list goes on.

In truth, the real problem is that technology is a tool, but man paradoxically invests an almost religious faith in it and science - expecting easy answers and quick and perfect solutions - while investing far too little thought on how the tools man shapes end up shaping man and his society.

That said, technology is the product of the human mind and confers many benefits - which is why it endures and grows. So rather than wishing it away, it would be far better if man recognized how his creations create man.

SoWhAt249 · Accepted Answer

The world in general would be a better place for obvious reasons. I mean, we destroyed the world with the technology we invented. I'm not saying we won't invent tech to repair the eorld and make it way better, but as things stand now, yes the would would be a much better place for every living organism if humanity just went back to the stone age. Life will get unimaginably hsrder for us but, the planet will heal. We and our technology are currently not letting it heal.

amadimal · Accepted Answer

Just as it happens with everything else, electronic technology is not necessarily bad, but it is used excessively. This excess is harmful, not technology itself.

Some of the biggest disadvantages of this prolonged usage of technology are:
- it became a crutch for our thinking - instead of being able to make connections by ourselves & being able to exercise our creativity in order to solve problems, we rely too much on technology
- it promotes a sedentary lifestyle (like sitting on the couch and scrolling on IG)
- it hurts our body & our vision - the awkward positions we sit in and the repetitive motions we do cause us spine problems, syndromes such as carpal tunnel, vertigo etc.
- despite connecting us, it makes us feel more lonely and it distracts us from real life interaction
- it increases the feeling of social pressure
- it allows extremists to promote their ideas way quicker than it should
- it is unsafe - think of how much data about is collected, even if we go in incognito mode

On the other side, having quick access to information can save someone's life. Moderation is key, but this is hard to impose, so it's more of a personal responsibility. in my opinion, we would be better off without electrical technology because we'd be forced to think more and be more in tune with each other & our environment.

Lady_Ann · Accepted Answer

Yes! Not all the technology should go but Instagram, Facebook and such should.
People don't live no more. We are constantly looking at our phones.
People don't try to fix something thats broken either object or relationship, they throw it away and chose another. It's sad really.
I lived the before social media years and I live the social media life now and I see that people are now rotten than ever. They are cruel and they always know best, there is no compassion, love etc (there obviously is but in a small amount) while back then it was awesome, people were going out and they actually talked to each other, they flirt (oh, the rush of flirting, amazing, even if the person accidentally touched you you couldn't sleep because he/she was on your mind).
People were Kinder, hospitable, happy.
I whish we could go back to 1995-2000.

andreasderjuengere · Answer

Without technology, we'd be gone since centuries already.
Where very much of this 'tech' meanwhile has become useless entertainment and infotainment.
But that's allright: we also have very much of the world's population being useless. So at least, they have something to do.
The one thing that really wasn't necessary is TV, though.

hellionthesagereborn · Answer

Look back as far as you can when the only technology was spears. Where we better off then? We where starving regularly, died of disease at rates unimaginable compared to today, infant mortality was through the roof, and you know what the biggest killer was? Other humans who would murder you for what you had just to try and survive themselves. What changed it? What has changed since then? Technology. We are better off by all metrics and are a far more kind people with the advent of technology. We no longer had to murder those around us to keep ourselves alive, we discovered we could develop things, trade etc. and we would all benefit as a result. So no, we know for a fact that we would be far worse off without technology.

OlderAndWiser · Answer

Technology certainly visits a number of ills upon us, but. . . without technology, it is very doubtful that a covid-19 vaccine would have been developed in less than a year. It is doubtful that our electric grid would work as efficiently as it does. It is doubtful that I would have met my current girlfriend (met on zoosk. com.)

Yes, life would have continued in a simpler way if the spirit of the 1950's still reigned. One car families, stay at home moms, very few kids in day care, everyone talking together around the table at dinner 7 nights per week. But we can't go backwards, so instead of fantasizing about what might have been, maybe we should think about more effective strategies for distributing and controlling technology so that it remains as our slave rather than becoming our master.

AmandaYVR · Answer

"Without electronic technology"? Yes, probably.
Once you have convenience, you want it. You become impatient not to have it.
But we wouldn't miss what was never created.
And people would definitely be better off without phones in their pockets. It's somewhat destroying civilization. Not to put too fine a point on it, ha.

Lynx122 · Answer

Well I would have died from apedicitis when I was like 9 so yay. We have pretty easy choices. Learn self control, or live with the consequences of using technology a lot. Either one in not that bad in my opinion. I think technology is awesome and I'm glad I was born in this era. I got to see us go from floppy discs to Micro SSDs with Terrabites of data.

Maybe technology has not brought out the best in some people but that's on them. You can learn to live with technology just like you can learn to live in the real world.

Xitomyth · Answer

Technology, like many other things in this world, is neither inherently good nor evil/bad. It's how the technology is used. Granted, some forms of technology, electrical or otherwise, were built/designed with horrible purposes specifically in mind. Being a mechanical engineer, I have had to design and fabricate/build different devices, each had their own purpose but could used for other purposes as well. A while back, there was a show that explored this argument quite well. The name of the show is Continuum, and I highly recommend it, it has a good story and revolves around the tech vs anti tech debate with time travel and multiple timelines involved. I know it can found Vudu, I think Netflix dropped it a year ago, but you should be able to find it online somewhere.

errorgoodnameunfound · Answer

100%. That way we don't up with dumb, hypocritical questions like this one.
(Seems to me the OP is "anti-electronic technology" but I guess being on this website, having a lightbulb nearby, having electric heating or air doesn't count..)

OP, be honest. You don't like phones. Just say that. Or else you're you're a giant hypocrite even being on this site as something called "the internet" is what we are both using right now and it kind of requires more than this "caveman fire" "non electric" tech you seem to prefer so much. Just the harsh truth buddy. :D

exitseven · Answer

Technology improves our lives in many ways. Organ transplants and joint replacement are commonplace today. We just developed a new vaccine using mRNA technology in a matter of months and not years. This saves many lives.
We can get information about just about anything instantly. We have more labor saving devices and there are new technology in agriculture that provide us with a better food supply.
We can communicate in ways unheard of 30 years ago.
As with anything else, it can be misused. People are scammed every day on the internet. Relationships are ruined because of social media. Technology is amazing but it must be used wisely.

Massageman · Answer

It's a wonder we actually survived the 50's and 60's.
Technology used irresponsibly is the problem, not the tech itself.
Same as for cars, rifles, spoons (when we overeat), drugs (when we overdose), etc.
The problem is the irresponsible use of them all.

The problem with "technology" in general is that it changes FAR FAR more quickly than do the laws governing the use OF the technology. Often, we are victims of our own "progress", technologically-speaking.

ChiTown33 · Answer

As a whole "No". But in some ways we've definitely have become to dependent on it. Something as simple as a CME or solar flare. Could take down our entire power grid and throw us back into the dark ages. Because of our reliance on technology. People would starve to death in big cities and our financial systems would crash. I mean completely!

Guanfei · Answer

Only without communication technologies, such as facetime, snapchat, whatsapp and such. I've seen a study, like 2 years ago, saying people felt the most lonely in decades.
Why? Simply because our communication technologies are advanced enough to allow us to communicate with the whole world, from our home.
And that what we do. We stay at home, talk to people all around the world, to our family, our friends, from our homes. And we see people in person less and less.
We can talk to the whole world and yet we're always alone. And it's even worse since the pandemic started.

Lanabear119 · Answer

I mean, who wants to be bored all day? And my phone is the reason why I can pursue my writing dream. So no, we’re not better off without technology. We need it in certain cases. We should be able to talk to someone with ease, and not how people in the old days did it. But I guess there were phones back then, just not like ours.

MrNameless · Answer

Yes, we have an addiction for it now, and it may have stunted our social skills..

But technology is essential nowadays and makes things so much easier. From filling/signing documents, to texting and calling anywhere, to working from home.

I can't imagine no technology during a pandemic

ChrisMaster69 · Answer

Imagine how many people would die on hospital wards with out electronics.

no television
no safe air travel
sea travel by map, compass and stars.
Say good bye to ample food.

the start of Electronics was a huge shift for the human race.

A lot of things from 1910 onwards simply not have happened.

BeMuse · Answer

Life would be agonizingly hard even if we removed just a small percentage of our technology. The current carrying capacity of Earth is based on all of our current advancements that makes life easy at this technology level. Billions of people would die with just small reductions in technology.

Riebeck · Answer

Phones or internet or all technology including no lightbulbs?

Either way the answer is no because you can choose to not use whatever you want and find groups who do the same. No tech would basically mean everybody would have to live on a farm and be self sufficient

pppppkk · Answer

i definitely do not believe the world would be better off without technology. i do however strongly believe that our mental health would be better

kingofthellamas · Answer

Slightly ironic to be asking about the benefits of electronic technology on electronic technology. So im thinking you are clear on the benefits, otherwise why would you be here?

I guess what you are asking is more what do we see as the pitfalls and are these counterbalanced.

I guess the pitfalls are that enables new forms of criminal behaviour it creates opinion bubbles / echo chambers. Im fine with it.

_no_one_ · Answer

We weren't ready for these sudden technological advancements tbh. World would have been better if such things were delayed till us humans actually learn how to not let these things control us and all.

Chris_u006 · Answer

The only upside if we didn't have any technology what so ever but we still would have the printing press is we would be a whole lot smarter because we would have to read books for entertainment.
In Sweden It's even a word for both for computer and television which is dumburk which translates to dumbcan.

jshm2 · Answer

There couldn't BE a world, without technology.  From the clothes you wear, the food you eat to the basic essentials you require to live. Everything you're not born with, is a form of technology.

Adam1978 · Answer

No only stupid people use technology to make them miserable. You simply skip the parts you don't want, such as social media.

GoodGuyBreakingBad · Answer

Yes, cause people use communication by texting and that's caused issues with a communication gap why not just call, what happened to calling one on the phone?

TadCurious · Answer

No I wouldn't want to go back to the pre-vaccine and pre-antibiotic era when so many children didn't survive to their fourth or fifth birthdays.

Safa01 · Answer

Technology isn’t just your phone. It is also easy access to information, it is medical instruments that help in providing better treatments for patients and saving and prolonging lives, it is easier and faster travelling, it is so many things, so no.

illuminatiii · Answer

No, but I believe that it's uses should be monitored and advertised ethically.

TheUniqueOne96 · Answer

It'd have it's pros and cons, but it depends how much technology would no longer be there. The positive side, would be people would actually have to interact with each other in person.

JumpShot · Answer

Some of them are toxic and has more downside like addictive social media but by the time pass I don't think there shouldn't be technology because it also benefits us

Gwenhwyfar · Answer

No. The Internet is fun. You wouldn’t be able to call yourself HawkPerception without it 😊.

Juxtapose · Answer

I would literally be dead without technology by now. If you have ever had an infection, you have technology to thank for surviving.

007kingifrit · Answer

we used to live to 30 and then die before technology. i would change my answer based on what technology specifically you mention but in general? we are better off with it

Unit1 · Answer

Definitely not. Me and possibly a billion more people would turn unemployed.

MysteriousDarkness · Answer

Without electronic technology we would not have phones, tvs, light bulbs, computers, tablets, radios, washing machines, etc.

SuccessfulHornDog · Answer

People lived to 30 before technology People died from diarrhea before technology People had to talk to each other before technology

Aiko_E_Lara · Answer

Then we will all die due to weather conditions, being eaten by other predators and even diseases humans can't stand because we are not capable of evolving like how other animals do

cnhinton · Answer

No. Just less humans.

zagor · Answer

I find it hard to believe we would be better off without flush toilets.

BarryLiverstone · Answer

No, I’ll keep my indoor plumbing and air conditioning. Having a microwave and toothpaste def are better than no tech

The_Sal · Answer

the reason why we are so safe now is because of technology

TheSpaceGnome · Answer

The world would suck without technology for too many reasons to count.

najekim · Answer

Electronic technology-wise? I'd say regress back to no later than 1980-1981 technology and we'd be just fine.

clampfan101 · Answer

Technology is a double edged sword. It’s not about what’s being made, but how it’s used.

Wise4myage · Answer

The only thing that bothers me about technology is AI or artificial Intelligence.

Secret6620 · Answer

No way! Voted B.  Great question!

OddBeMe · Answer

No, but that doesn’t mean concreting over every tree.

darkcloud1945 · Answer

Ask me 3 years and a few month see how good you fair

MrBdelicious · Answer

all depends on how it’s used. at this point we will need technology to solve the real problems in the world like climate change pollution etc.

J9inva · Answer

Sure. We can go back to living in caves and hunting for food. We can all live to a ripe old age of 30.

jamesgoldman · Answer

Yes but I'm a technophobe

SavageGirl101 · Answer

Without technology we wouldn’t have made it through the pandemic last year (and still occurring)

amyismyname · Answer

Nooooo must have tech

Iron_Man · Answer

Technology is always good

Justneedtokno · Answer

I think it’s good with conditions

Ilickvulvas · Answer

Medically definitely not better without it

TaeTaeTeaBTSSS · Answer

Sorry. Can't survive a day without my phone. XD

Snakeyes7 · Answer

Just social media in my opinion.

SpaceGalaxy · Answer

Yes, it would had been

MountAverage · Answer

No, much worse.

Waldoe · Answer

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