28 replies to this topic

[jnelsoninjax]

I am writing an argumentative essay, and I have chosen the topic We have an over dependance on technology. I am interested in everyone's thoughts on this subject.

[rippleman]

Technology evolves with time. To cave man, fire was technology for cooking, lighting, tool for crafting, defense etc. So technically, we have always be dependent on technology.

[jnelsoninjax]

Point well taken. Should I rephrase the question to Modern technology or computers?

[+Xinok]

I don't think the current human population would be sustainable without modern technology, particularly in the aspect of our food supply. The amount of product (food) that we can produce these days is unprecedented. Without it, we would have famine on a massive scale.

[splur]

Could you last a week without the internet, your smartphone, or a computer? Test it out.

Write that essay by hand (or using a typewriter) just to make a point

[Gerowen]

We have become FAR too dependent on modern technology. More than once I've been in a store, standing in line with merchandise and cash in my pocket, and had the power go out and had to leave everything in the store because when the power is out, the cashiers can't be trusted to calculate the sticker price plus 6% sales tax by themselves. The gas pedal in your car is no longer directly connected to the air intake with a steel cable, it's got a computerized sensor that sends a signal to another computer that actually opens or closes your air intake. This caused a car I own to fritz out, and is the problem with all those Toyotas that were taking off all by themselves a few years back. I'm a computer guy and have no problem using technology to make life easier, but there comes a point where you have to realize you're putting people at risk and making things way more complicated than they have to be.

[greenwizard88]

No. 3 years ago I would have said yes, however, I've changed my mind. I think that technology has evolved to a point where it's sufficiently redundant where even a 1000 mile wide hurricane doesn't do a whole lot to prevent us from functioning, which tells me that either we don't use technology (false) or it's redundant enough that it's not something to worry about.

[Shiranui]

As human evolution has now slowed down considerably, technology is the only indicator of human progress we have, and without human progress, life, as a species, is pointless.

[The King of GnG]

I don't use my smartphone in every free moment, I can shut my computer down when I want/need to do technology-unrelated things like reading. I don't give a **** about tablets and cool apple gadgets. So no, as much as I'm a computer-guy since the Nineties I'm not obsessed with technology.

[Intrinsica]

I wouldn't say that it's an over dependence on technology, I can go without a computer or a smartphone without breaking down. But I do notice when I don't have my phone for things like checking the news, or texting and phoning people. You suddenly realise how few telephone booths there are around...

[~Johnny]

Let's put it like this - if there was a country wide EMP that went off, we'd all be terribly, terribly screwed. Individually we could probably do without our own technology, but then there's the backbone of modern society that entirely relies on it from food production to communication and without it, we'd no longer be able to function as a society.

[seta-san]

could you go into the forest away from technology and survive with no provisions for a month or longer?

if yes than no

if no than yes

[Farstrider]

I would definitely say that we are overdependent on certain technologies. Computers being one of them most definitely! I had a friend a few years ago (I worked with him) who's Dad was an old fashioned Jewish businessman, he had a big manufacturing company and everything that he needed to know about his company he had in a A4 book that was held together with rubber bands. You could ask him anything and most of the time he knew the answers without even looking! I know that this is an exception these days but I was always amazed by this man.

[Dan~]

Yes we do. These days if you go to a shop and there is an issue with the tills, there is a HUGE queue because people forget how to do mental artithmetic so there trying their hardest to count things up (till side)

Also I would much prefer to type an email/letter etc then writing purely on the fact that my hand writing looks like bum.

But I wouldn't class it as overdependency though, it's just using the best tools for the best job, why do mental arithmetic when we can use a calculator, why use pen and paper when typing is quicker, auto corrects, clearer etc.

[Growled]

I'm not obsessed with technology. However, I can't live without it because my job and my personal life depends on it. From doing dozens of emails a day at my job to using Facebook to contact my Facebook that's scattered across the country. I probably could go back to the old ways of doing things, but I wouldn't be nearly as efficient as I am now.