[stylist] Off-topic Uncle Ray, bioethics and mother nature

[Bridgit Pollpeter]

Chris,

I completely agree with you.  Human interaction is necessary, and
nothing can replace it.

Dr. Kurzwile is the one who insist we will be able to live for 700
years, and that we will experience new levels of comprehension all via
technology.  It is all very interesting, but I will always question
technology's place in our lives.

While those of us like yourself and me still hold dearly to
old-fashioned means of communication and activity, unfortunately,
statistics are showing more and more people who think they are finding a
social outlet all while sitting at homes on their computers.  I read in
some magazine that a study showed over 60% of Americans who frequent
websites like Twitter and Facebook, but who do not participate in any
person-to-person interaction believe they are being social.  To me, this
is alarming.  It is a false sense of communication and a social life.  I
have many friends and family members who will only communicate through
texting or Facebook, which I hate.  These forms of communication are
nice especially for emergencies, but I will always prefer speaking in
person over a written form.

Technology has allowed for many, many good things, but it comes to a
point when we need to step back and realize a few things.

In terms of medicine and science, technology has been a tremendous
asset.  From a business perspective, technology and the internet have
allowed for consistent communication, but in terms of social and
personal pursuits, I think we are reaching a point where technology is,
in essence, beginning to rule us.

I know too many people who are constantly "plugged in" and it does not
always lead to a better life.  I'm not that old, but I'm old enough to
remember when we didn't have constant access to everything- day and
night.  We didn't have 24-hour anything.  We already know that
technology has played a role in the obesity crisis.  I actually did a
study on this recently.  Between 1979 and 1999, the rate of people
struggling with obesity remained relatively normal, it has been within
the last ten years that obesity grew at an alarming rate with a 40%
increase, and one leading factor was the rise in technology.

I'm by no means against advancements in technology, but I believe in a
balance in all things.  I commend your family for recognizing the
importance of true forms of communication and pursuing physical
activity, but not all people practice this.  It is sad to me.

Not that I have the brain to understand everything Dr. Kurzwile says,
but according to the interview I watched, he is projecting technology
will eventually be a tool allowing us to live for hundreds of years, and
that we will one day be permanently connected to technology giving us a
longer life span, smarter brain capacities and access to all sorts of
experiences via virtual reality-like means.  I appreciate those like Dr.
Kurzwile who have the imagination and intellect to develop new potential
outcomes for us, and I certainly appreciate all he has done for the
blind, but I am not of the mindset that just because we can do something
we should.  I understand this is one mans vision, and much of it far
from being a reality, but certain elements are already in place allowing
for more, what I consider, dependence on technology.

At the very least, this all makes for a very interesting discussion!  I
am in your corner- nothing can every make up for experiencing life
first-hand.  Whether you can visually see or not, I can't imagine a
world where we created, communicated and experienced all through
technology.  It certainly could enhance some things, but it can not
replace first-hand interaction.

Bridgit
Message: 5
Date: Mon, 27 Jun 2011 09:38:20 -0400
From: "Chris Kuell" <ckuell at comcast.net>
To: "Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: [stylist] Off-topic: Uncle Ray, bioethics and Mother Nature
Message-ID: <C57F358FBC884925ABC80F79E056521C at ChrisPC>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
	reply-type=original

Bridgit,

Your post was interesting. I've heard Ray Kurzweil speak several times,
and 
while I feel deeply indebted to him for all he has done to improve the
lives 
of blind people, I primarily appreciate his genius and ability to dream.
In 
fact, I might even refer to him as an artist of sorts, based on these
two 
characteristics.

I do hope that someday his dream of nano-robots comes to fruition, as it

could lead to the end (or at least diminishing) of a lot of pain and 
suffering on this globe. However, I don't fear that humans will live 
forever, and I personally don't see any bioethical issues. But of
course, 
I'm not an evil villain, at least not to most people.

The human body, even under ideal situations, has a finite lifespan. 
Oxidation, a process that is intimately tied to 'the circle of life',
may be 
deterred, but it can't be stopped. Even if we never experience illness
with 
'new technology', in time our organs will fail, our bones will become
more 
brittle, our brains will lose connections and we will die.

In 1910 the average lifespan for an American male was 49, and today it
is 
around 74. this 50% gain was due to the many medical advances in the
20th 
century--including vaccines, antibiotics, better surgical techniques,
better 
understanding of anatomy and physiology, and a host of medications. If
you 
or I had been born in the first decade of the 20th century, we never
would 
have seen our tenth birthday. With the development of these new
medications 
and treatments, back in the 40s, 50s, and 60s there was much talk about
the 
fountain of youth and finally barring the grim reaper from ever showing
up 
at our doors. But of course, it hasn't happened. Most researchers in the

field of longevity believe 120 is about the upper limit.

Tremendous strides have been made, and more will undoubtedly follow, but

mother nature will always keep things in check. New diseases and
epidemics 
will arise, as will natural disasters, war, famine, drought, etc...Our 
planet is only capable of maintaining so much life, after all. As the
human 
population has ballooned, other species become extinct every day, as do 
various plants, forests, jungles, and even the ice on our poles. We have

(and will likely continue) to shift the balance on our planet, but a 
correction will come--it always does. Life on this remarkable planet
will 
continue for many millions of years, I have no doubt, but humankind may
be 
destined to be only a blip on the overall timeline.

Getting back to the present, indeed technology has invaded every one of
our 
lives. I think in part this is because it is helpful--after all, who can

argue that being a blind writer today isn't a hell of a lot easier than 
being a blind writer 25 years ago? Who doesn't love having a cell phone
to 
call a cab or a friend for a ride when you need it? Microwaves, CT
scanners, 
MRI machines, scanners and personal and mainframe computers have added
so 
much to our lives. But, we are also being manipulated by corporations to

consume more than we need, to buy the latest and greatest, to not fall 
behind... and honestly, I think most of us would benefit by taking a
step 
back and asking why?

Technology is definitely a large part of our lives, but I am not really 
concerned that it will supersede human interaction, or interaction with 
nature, for that matter. I don't care what kind of chips they may
implant in 
my head or in my computer or handheld in the future, when it comes to
sex, 
to quote another Ray, "Aint nothing like the real thing, baby..."

I have 2 teenage kids and they are definitely enmeshed with technology.
They 
go on facebook and/or twiter several times a day. They text their
friends 
constantly, have iphones so they are constantly watching stupid youtube 
videos about cats who bark and dogs who talk... but last night my
daughter 
was hanging out with her friends at a bonfire, and my son was at play 
rehearsal, and then went out for a party with the cast. There's no
replacing 
human interaction. And likewise, as much as I love my computer, my VR 
Stream,  and enjoy keeping in contact with my many friends, there's 
something God-like in working in my garden, turning over the soil,
growing 
vegetables from seed to my dinner plate. There is nothing as cleansing
as a 
hike in the woods or a walk on a long beach, the sounds of the ocean and
sea 
gulls blotting all thoughts of facebook or youtube videos.

In late 1996 I was blind in one eye and losing ground fast in my other.
I 
had a vitrectomy scheduled in 3 weeks, and as I left the opthamologist's

office I went to a travel agent and booked tickets for myself and my
family 
to go to Arizona that weekend. I wanted to see the Grand Canyon while I 
still could, which is exactly what I did, and it was spectacular, as
well as 
very emotional for me. Seeing something big and timeless helps one to
gain 
perspective on life. As it was time to go, I walked to the edge of the 
canyon for one more look. I stood there, gazing through the fog in my
left 
eye as my wife loaded our kids into the rental car. I heard a soft
crackling 
to my left and turned to see an odd-looking deer not five feet from me.
It 
checked me out, nibbled on some grasses or something, then stood tall
and 
poised for my next move. We stood there for what seemed like minutes but
was 
probably only seconds, and I marveled at the creature as I thanked God
for 
allowing me the opportunity to experience it.

Technology will never replace the magic of that moment.

chris