[nabs-l] Interesting topic for discussion: Is TechnologyTurning into Our Enemy?

Sat Apr 9 04:52:22 UTC 2011

If you wanted to make a point, instead of resorting to personal
attacks, how about making an intelligent case? That's what everyone
else has done so far, whether they agree with me or not.

On 4/8/11, humberto <humbertoa5369 at netzero.net> wrote:
> It is so shocking, and yes * very very very shocking! * to hear
> that a 21-year-old girl is playing music on those big plain old
> vinyl records.  Heck hardly few people in this population do that
> anymore!
> I'd rather stick with an ipod touch, or an iPhone, if I had one,
> because it is so convenient now days.  Also whoever is not
> keeping up with this technology, quite honestly, in my opinion,
> is way far behind.
>
>>----- Original Message -----
>>From: Desiree Oudinot <turtlepower17 at gmail.com
>>To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>Date sent: Fri, 8 Apr 2011 17:50:13 -0400
>>Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Interesting topic for discussion: Is
> TechnologyTurning into Our Enemy?
>
>>Hi,
>>This is a very interesting topic indeed, and I have a few
> thoughts on
>>not only the issues raised in this message, but also the
> direction of
>>technology in general.
>>As a society, we are becoming more and more dependent on various
> forms
>>of technology, from those that are helpful to our advancement to
> those
>>that are just plain ridiculous.  I am 21 years old, which might
> come as
>>a shock because of what I'm about to say, but here it goes
> anyway:
>>simplicity goes a long way.  In other words, I don't mind having
> a cell
>>phone that just makes calls.  I don't mind having a laptop for
> going on
>>the Internet and a note-taker for doing just that, taking notes.
> I
>>don't even mind using a slate and stylus on occasion when I need
> to
>>make labels or write down an address or phone numbers.  I collect
> vinyl
>>records because I honestly believe their sound quality is
> superior to
>>that of today's digital overproductions.  I don't maintain this
>>collection for its value but for the place it holds in my heart.
> I
>>don't need an IPhone for its supposed "convenience"--if people
> thought
>>laptops were portable when there was nothing else, they still
> are.  The
>>thing that I think a lot of young people, both blind and sighted,
> take
>>for granted is that there wasn't always one device at your
> fingertips
>>that you can virtually do anything with.  Though, regrettably, I
> wasn't
>>alive to see it, there was a time when carrying a Braille writer
> to
>>class was the norm, and using an Opticon was a privilege.  I have
> a
>>deep respect and appreciation for older technology because if
> people
>>made it work before, there is absolutely no reason why things
> must be
>>so convenient.  When a 13-year-old girl cries because her IPhone
> broke
>>(and let's face it, today's technology is made cheaper than the
> older
>>stuff was, making the parts oh-so-complicated but all the while
> less
>>durable, so that you keep shelling out all your cash to fix it),
> she
>>thinks it's the end of the world...  but why? Is it really
> necessary to
>>have hundreds of thousands of aps available at your fingertips?
>>I know I'm probably going to start a riot here with that last
>>statement.  I've been told by several other blind people that
> it's
>>people like me who are trying to halt the advancement of
> technology.
>>However, it's not that I won't try to use an IPhone if a day ever
>>comes that that's the only option available, but for now I'm
> going to
>>stick with what makes me comfortable.  Is that really such a
> crime?
>>People have said I'm an old soul, and think I'm strange, for the
> views
>>that I hold, and there's probably a lot of truth to those
> accusations.
>>However, I see no rhyme or reason to change, nor do I really want
> to.
>>I've been down that road, thinking I was a misfit, and trying to
> deny
>>my roots, but the truth is I can't.  I love my laptop and my
> Braille
>>Note as much as the next person.  I keep them updated and running
>>smoothly.  So truthfully I'm not that far behind the times.  My
> cell
>>phone may be a simple older-model Nokia, but it does what I want
> it to
>>do, and more importantly, it does what a phone was made to do:
> make
>>calls, though I have nothing against texting, as even I must give
> into
>>the pulling tides of some of today's innovations.
>>Now, about the fact that people's comfort with this fast-paced,
>>too-convenient technology is making them more lazy...  I believe
> there
>>is some truth to these claims.  Things like podcasting, Skype and
>>blogging allow a person to feel empowered and noticed in a way
> that
>>was previously unavailable.  When a person gets so many hits on
>>downloads of a podcast, it might allow them to feel they're
> making a
>>difference, and in some ways they are.  The thing is, both the
>>listeners and the creators need to realize that there's something
> more
>>in life than the small world of their "accomplishment." The
> Internet
>>may seem vast, but can quickly become a busy, cluttered little
> world
>>indeed if you let it.  It's just as easy to get lost in the
> seemingly
>>endless maze of websites as it is to get a big head because
> people are
>>hearing your voice.
>>I hope I haven't been too offensive with this, but it is a
> subject I'm
>>very passionate about and have a lot of opinions on that most
> people
>>don't want to hear, so I'll understand if you guys don't either.
> I do
>>hope, however, that I've provided at least a little food for
> thought,
>>and haven't induced anyone's "cyber-rage" to unbearable levels.
>>Thanks,
>>Desiree
>
>>On 4/8/11, Bridgit Pollpeter <bpollpeter at hotmail.com> wrote:
>>> Hello NABSTERS,
>
>>> This was posted on another list.  It is a topic I find
> interesting, and
>>> one we should consider and discuss.  I am curious to hear
> student
>>> opinions, and what your experience has been regarding
> technology.  Is
>>> there a balance in how we use this technology?
>
>>> One of the things I like in your note was your observation that
> "We now
>>> have the opportunity to explore a future of our own making.
> Jobs,
>>> school and families are not dreams we long for, but are
> realities within
>>> our reach."
>
>>> One of the questions I've been struggling with is how to start a
>>> dialogue, probably in the Braille Monitor, about whether these
> are still
>>> the widely-shared dreams of blind people.  I read the statistics
> about
>>> our unemployment, and in my job searches have certainly
> encountered
>>> discrimination, but I can't tell you of very many Missourians
> who are
>>> actively out looking for work.  Neither can I tell you about
> many who are
>>> employed.
>
>>> In my younger days there were blind people who were smart and
> articulate
>>> who simply would not tackle the challenge of going to get a job.
> Some of
>>> them were amateur radio operators and spent their days doing
> good by
>>> taking Western Union style messages and sending them free of
> charge
>>> across the country and the world.  The message might be as
> simple as
>>> happy birthday or as complicated as "I'm going in for surgery
> tomorrow.
>>> I will let you know how it goes.  I will appreciate your
> prayers." Still
>>> other amateur radio operators would connect their telephone and
> radio
>>> and help people talk to loved ones.  This, of course, was before
> the days
>>> of free long distance.
>
>>> The thing I want to focus on here was that the folks who spent
> most of
>>> their time doing this substituted these volunteer tasks for
> employment.
>>> They were not seeking jobs.  They were getting fulfillment but
> from a
>>> very different source because our society, whether through SSI,
> SSDI I,
>>> the Missouri blind pension, or some other program, was perfectly
> willing
>>> to give them at least a minimal level of support and didn't
> challenge
>>> them with the tough question "Why aren't you employed?"
>
>>> Today I think I see our young blind folks substituting the
> Internet for
>>> ham radio.  Maybe they are all about building websites to
> communicate
>>> something special they believe they know about blindness.  Some
> do their
>>> own radio shows.  Some make podcasts.  The shows and topics seem
> to be all
>>> over the place.  On one podcast I follow, which is usually
> technical in
>>> nature, one person put up a recording demonstrating how to
> change a
>>> diaper, while another produced a podcast of his dog guide
> popping the
>>> bubbles that are found in shrink wrap.  Both were similar--lots
> of
>>> rustling plastic but not a lot of information.  I do not object
> to what
>>> anyone wants to do for entertainment, but my concern is that
> these
>>> playtime activities are being substituted for what I see as a
> major life
>>> activity and responsibility, that being to earn a living and do
> these
>>> other things as time allows.
>
>>> I think the question I would like to explore is whether the work
> ethic
>>> which burned in so many folks of my generation still is
> prevalently
>>> found today.  If not, who put out the fire and how do we
> rekindle it? Is
>>> our safety net frequently being used as a means of permanent
> support,
>>> and, if it is, is there something we can and should do about it?
>
>>> Some folks I know claim they had to do upwards of a hundred
> interviews
>>> to get their first job.  Is this still true today? If so, I'm
> not hearing
>>> about it.  My fear is that, with all of the civil rights
> protections and
>>> advances in technology, we still have a significant number of
>>> intelligent blind people who aren't taking advantage of a world
> which is
>>> more receptive today than ever it has been in the past to
> getting us
>>> employed and accepting us as capable human beings in society.
>
>>> I think the dream we share is worth dreaming and that what we
> dream of
>>> is attainable.  Are there more effective ways for us to sell
> this dream?
>>> If so, how can our newsletters and our Braille Monitor help?  As
> I look
>>> at the most recent issue of the students late, it is perfectly
> obvious
>>> to me that some still buy the dream.  The question really is how
> many,
>>> and are there better ways for us to sell the dream of equality
> so that
>>> more young folks act on it?
>
>>> I see technology being the downfall for society in general, but
> this
>>> post presents a very serious issue.  We know far too many blind
> people
>>> still refuse to believe in complete independence, but how is
> this
>>> reliance on technology affecting the situation?
>
>>> What are student thoughts?  Do you see this trend, and if so,
> what can
>>> be done to tackle it?  What areas do you think need work, and
> can you
>>> propose any ideas to change a larger population of blind peoples
>>> mindsets?
>
>>> Bridgit
>
>
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