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From: taylor@hplabsc.UUCP (Dave Taylor)
Newsgroups: mod.comp-soc
Subject: Re: Some thoughts on technology
Message-ID: <533@hplabsc.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 7-Aug-86 05:03:43 EDT
Article-I.D.: hplabsc.533
Posted: Thu Aug  7 05:03:43 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 9-Aug-86 04:12:56 EDT
Reply-To: hplabs!ihnp4!whuts!6243tes
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Laboratories
Lines: 42
Approved: taylor@hplabs
Reference: <445@hplabsc.UUCP>

This article is from ihnp4!whuts!6243tes (Terry Sterkel)
 and was received on Wed Aug  6 17:50:34 1986
 
> However, technology is just one more tool in the hands of an individual
> or individuals.  No technology is self-creating or self-directing -- 
> 
> ...a description of a low-tech murder
> 
> the science-fiction "killing machine" (robotic battle tanks, and so on)
> are not signs of evil technology.  A machine which has no good purpose,
> having been built for evil ends, is a product of the minds and the hands
> of men.  And the responsibility for moral judgements lies upon them.
> 
> 						Steve Rice

Either I am missing the point or others are.  

The "medium is the mAssage argument" I have been pressing is not one of 
ethics, morality, or even evil.  My contention of the last few weeks is 
that;

1.  Technology, especially that which forces changes in basic functions, 
    such as word processing software results in subtle changes in the way 
    we are, and

2.  we can objectively, and subjectively, measure this impact even on 
    recognized masters of a trade such as the authors Clark, and Anthony, 
    and

3.  the increase in hackerism in "programming" vs.  specification driven, 
    system engineered software, and

4.  I have expressed deep reservations on the rest of us (mere journeymen, 
    novices, and *grade shool* children) if the masters can be so readily 
    driven to machine mediocrity.

Thank you for your patience in this argument.

			Terry Sterkel, AT&T Bell Labs, Whippany, NJ

[opinions are obviously only my own; not necessarily those of my employer or 
 those of my associates.]