Marshall McLuhan, my favorite philosopher, explains that all technology is an extension of the human body. Clothes are extension of skin. Car wheels are an extension of the feet. Etc., etc. Most obvious of all, the cellphone is an extension of our brains and central nervous system. We cannot be separated from the cellphone. This fact of life extends to all social classes, races, political persuasions, ages, religions and ethnic groups. The cellphone has won. Technology 1- Humanity- 0.
Of course, cellphones are not anti-human. But they seem to hold human beings in their thrall. I'm on an airplane flying from Denver, Colorado to Missoula, Montana. This is deep in the American West. I see cowboys, real cowboys in blue jeans and actual cowboy hats, everywhere on the plane. They are studying their cellphones. I get to Missoula and go to a hipster coffee house, Le Petit Outre. I recommend it. All the young women seated around look to be college students and slightly older. They are all studying the output of their telephones. Keeps things pretty quiet.
Should we be worried about this phenomenon? Maybe, maybe not. Surely we are missing something with our eyes fixed on a screen just a foot or two away from our faces. We are looking at the content of our own brains, our thoughts, our friends. I'm not sure how open this makes us to new ideas? Certainly the internet is jammed full with ideas.
Maybe things change-- with the introduction of a new technology? For now, cellphones are the winners.
No comments:
Post a Comment