Food & Drink0 min ago
What D'yer Think Is The Worst Technological Invention?
24 Answers
In my humble opinion it's the computer chip - by an extremely long way on so many levels.
Certainly it's brought advantages but it's brought a hellova lot more problems. To name but a few - the LIBOR scandal and the myriad of other financial manipulations, Cyber-war and -terrorism, it's destroying social interaction. Years ago strict restrictions prevented the under-age from entering betting shops, now anyone can bet even on a bus journey.
No longer do child molesters et al act independently, they connect on-line and grow stronger from their pooling of ideas.
There's so many examples of its evil influence it'd rival 'War and Peace' to give give just a flavour of its effects.
What do you think?
Certainly it's brought advantages but it's brought a hellova lot more problems. To name but a few - the LIBOR scandal and the myriad of other financial manipulations, Cyber-war and -terrorism, it's destroying social interaction. Years ago strict restrictions prevented the under-age from entering betting shops, now anyone can bet even on a bus journey.
No longer do child molesters et al act independently, they connect on-line and grow stronger from their pooling of ideas.
There's so many examples of its evil influence it'd rival 'War and Peace' to give give just a flavour of its effects.
What do you think?
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"There was a valley between Buxton and Bakewell, once upon a time, as divine as the vale of Tempe; . . . You enterprised a railroad through the valley – you blasted its rocks away, heaped thousands of tons of shale into its lovely stream. The valley is gone and the Gods with it, and now, every fool in Buxton can be at Bakewell in half-an-hour, and every fool in Bakewell at Buxton; which you think a lucrative process of exchange – you Fools everywhere.”
John Ruskin on the Monsal Dale railway.
John Ruskin on the Monsal Dale railway.
I think you missed my point jno. It's my objections to the computer chip that would be larger than the 'War and Peace' book. There's nothing wrong with the book itself, just used it as a comparison.
And Canary the ability to con thousands of people out of their hard-earned money is nothing to do with the internet and I'd question your assertion that radiation is more dangerous than the internet - radiation is safe if handled properly by experts, idiots can use the internet. And vetuste_ennemi I'm afraid you've lost me on that one.
And Canary the ability to con thousands of people out of their hard-earned money is nothing to do with the internet and I'd question your assertion that radiation is more dangerous than the internet - radiation is safe if handled properly by experts, idiots can use the internet. And vetuste_ennemi I'm afraid you've lost me on that one.
Well, it's a surprising choice. The computer chip has also brought education to the masses, has made other scientific and technological progress one heck of a lot easier, has arguably enriched social interaction in some ways...
These things are debatable, and of course the arrival of fast technology has seen with it the arrival of new ways for gits to exploit that technology in unpleasant ways. But the computer chip has provided far too many benefits to be called "the worst". If people behave badly, they would anyway, and one has to discount that from evaluating technology, I think.
My own choice, then, would probably be the atomic bomb. Its sole purpose is to destroy on an incredible scale, and it doesn't even get used for that, instead hanging as a threat to anyone who'd dare threaten to use their own arsenal. Not a very original choice, I'll grant you.
These things are debatable, and of course the arrival of fast technology has seen with it the arrival of new ways for gits to exploit that technology in unpleasant ways. But the computer chip has provided far too many benefits to be called "the worst". If people behave badly, they would anyway, and one has to discount that from evaluating technology, I think.
My own choice, then, would probably be the atomic bomb. Its sole purpose is to destroy on an incredible scale, and it doesn't even get used for that, instead hanging as a threat to anyone who'd dare threaten to use their own arsenal. Not a very original choice, I'll grant you.
Oh right vetuste, I get it now. Yer see? even thickos can use the internet.
And Jim, you're dead right. That bomb is a ticking time bomb (no pun intended) but it's use did have a somewhat beneficial effect and along with the great majority of people it'd never be used again whereas the computer chip is in everyone's hands - literally.
Women used to go to bingo for a night out with the girls. It didn't have to be bingo it could've been anything but it was a social event - have a few laughs, a bevvy or two in the warm with a possibility of winning a bob or two but the main point was getting together. Nowadays they sit alone, at home just trying to win money - it's destroying social interaction. Kids don't play on their bikes; they're too busy looking at a screen and growing fat in the process. I could go on and on and . . .
And Jim, you're dead right. That bomb is a ticking time bomb (no pun intended) but it's use did have a somewhat beneficial effect and along with the great majority of people it'd never be used again whereas the computer chip is in everyone's hands - literally.
Women used to go to bingo for a night out with the girls. It didn't have to be bingo it could've been anything but it was a social event - have a few laughs, a bevvy or two in the warm with a possibility of winning a bob or two but the main point was getting together. Nowadays they sit alone, at home just trying to win money - it's destroying social interaction. Kids don't play on their bikes; they're too busy looking at a screen and growing fat in the process. I could go on and on and . . .
Of course, you're only able to go on and on because of the computer chip...
I just don't agree that social interaction is as affected as alll that. What computers have done is made more visible problems that were there anyway. At the same time it's sped things up markedly, which is often a good thing as it makes progress in other areas much easier. Of course that also speeds up crime, but you have to take the bad with the good sometimes. By reasonable criteria it's hard to blame the computer chip for the world's ills.
I just don't agree that social interaction is as affected as alll that. What computers have done is made more visible problems that were there anyway. At the same time it's sped things up markedly, which is often a good thing as it makes progress in other areas much easier. Of course that also speeds up crime, but you have to take the bad with the good sometimes. By reasonable criteria it's hard to blame the computer chip for the world's ills.
Just something that sprang to mind when I re-read your posting Jim was that I can't disagree with anything you wrote but giving the power of the computer and even more importantly the internet has given everyone more power than they know how to handle.
Years ago the height of 'naughtiness' was scribbling on a freshly white-painted wall - now its destroying the pleasure millions of people were looking forward to over Christmas with their newly-acquired X-Box and PS2. That git should be put away for 10 years at least. The same mind-set, the same intention but with consequences out of all proportion.
Years ago the height of 'naughtiness' was scribbling on a freshly white-painted wall - now its destroying the pleasure millions of people were looking forward to over Christmas with their newly-acquired X-Box and PS2. That git should be put away for 10 years at least. The same mind-set, the same intention but with consequences out of all proportion.
Sorry Jim, me again.
I don't, I blame the idiots who misuse it. The computer has given anyone with a few bob to spare (reducing in cost in time, no doubt) the ability to 'print' their own fire-arms and no doubt bullets. No longer is anyone screened to assesss their character or their reason for owning one. No registration to identify it and the possible user in the future. Just throw it away so there's nothing to find and print another one when necessary. And it's still in its infancy. We now laugh at the size of the mobile phone only 20 years ago; what we see now as cutting edge will seem ridiculous in only a few years.
I don't, I blame the idiots who misuse it. The computer has given anyone with a few bob to spare (reducing in cost in time, no doubt) the ability to 'print' their own fire-arms and no doubt bullets. No longer is anyone screened to assesss their character or their reason for owning one. No registration to identify it and the possible user in the future. Just throw it away so there's nothing to find and print another one when necessary. And it's still in its infancy. We now laugh at the size of the mobile phone only 20 years ago; what we see now as cutting edge will seem ridiculous in only a few years.
oh, ah, sorry Lew, I did misunderstand.
Buit without computer chips I couldn't go online and order a book from San Diego or a yam from Waitrose, or look at a Picasso
http://
or watch the Marx Brothers
or find Lima on a map
https:/
I think we're still ahead.
Buit without computer chips I couldn't go online and order a book from San Diego or a yam from Waitrose, or look at a Picasso
http://
or watch the Marx Brothers
or find Lima on a map
https:/
I think we're still ahead.
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