Comments on: Updating Postman’s Future: Terminator vs. Matrix

By: Kris

Kris — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:30:05 +0000

Jon,
Have you seen the latest issue of Adbusters? It is one of their contrasting issues, looking at ‘The Virtual World’ in one half and ‘The Natural World’ in the other. While in some ways I think Adbusters is a little extreme, sometimes I find their articles refreshing and cause me to wonder if the ‘alternative’ they are seeking to provide to some is more like the ‘alternative’ to what the church ought to be providing.
Much of what they cover in the articles in ‘The Virtual World’ deal with the runaway growth of technology and it’s impact on the way we live.

By: Eli

Eli — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:45:53 +0000

On a related note, apparently Facebook can now act as a graveyard where you can visit the departed.

http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/352807/facebook-to-preserve-accounts-of-the-dead

We already had online suicide notes. I guess this is just another move in that direction.

By: Ched

Ched — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 15:35:26 +0000

I like your observation here. It’s helpful to keep Postman’s warning in our minds as technological advance continues hurtling us on our way.

“Check the Twitt-ah every oww-ah!”

The phraseology here is money. I will probably think this every time I use Twitter until the Machines overtake us.

By: John Dyer

John Dyer — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:32:11 +0000

John, I understand your concern (especially in switching mediums), but I’m not sure its inherently bad to update illustrations every few generations.

By: John Dyer

John Dyer — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:30:06 +0000

Eli, good to hear from you. I too thought Finland’s legislation was a bit strange. Most of the histories I’ve been reading talk about how in ancient times the secular world had no eschatology or belief that something better was coming in the future. Then Christianity came with it’s hope of a future made right by the return of Christ. As Christendom fades, the new secularism has co-opted the idea of a better future but put in the place of Christ, a hope that technology will bring an end to suffering and make all things right.

That’s probably not too big of a deal except when we Christians accidentally start believing in that same doctrine :)

By: John

John — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:59:43 +0000

It is sad and ironic that our updated analogies are themselves manifestations of the problems Postman was diagnosing.

Perhaps Postman’s analogies should be left as they are. What good are these newer analogies when they require compromising the very values that Postman demands?

I say let well enough alone and demand more of everyone–including literacy.

By: Eli

Eli — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:33:52 +0000

John, thank you for this. I see both threads occurring simultaneously, with the gov’t (federal, state and municipal) and peer groups pressuring us to adopt technology to increase visibility while individuals generally just go along with it. Facebook is a great example. It is really hard now to just plain not have a facebook account or a cell phone and still keep up with people, as that is the defacto standard for most people to communicate. My grand mother had a facebook account before me.

The bulk of our presidents were born into homes without running water, and yet if you try to raise a child without running water now, CPS will yank your kids out of there for abuse/neglect. I really don’t see it as being very far off that cell phones and broadband are considered a fundamental human right guaranteed by the government. Finland just passed legislation making high speed internet a legal right.

For a lot of people, this is considered to be a good thing. I tend to view it is a significant danger if left unchecked and we do our best in our family to encourage the use of technology as an enhancement to normal life, rather than an outright replacement. I think those in technical fields are uniquely positioned to encourage this viewpoint, as they are expected to be the most connected and earliest adopters of these new tools. Doing so without regard to the long term impacts has the potential to dilute our influence and render our ministries impotent.

Your analogies (or revisitations of Postman’s) are appreciated, as is your insight. Thanks man.

-eli-