12 Comments
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Simo D's avatar

There will always be those who look at modernity and think "what have we become?" But that never changes the fact that we must always find meaning and a place in our world.

Retreating will never stop the progression of technology and culture.

Instead, we must look for what is positive, what gives us meaning and what options we have to adapt.

We must choose where we put our attention and what we allow to affect or influence us.

Times of turmoil = a time for opportunity; there is a historical precedent in that, too,, if you just choose to see it.

Personally, I applaud the café-goers; they know whats up. They are choosing meaningful, tangible relationships over algorithmic conditioning and endless scrolling.

Linda Jackson 🌏's avatar

Neru fiddled while Rome burned.

History repeats itself with all of us raising glasses in cafes.

We are well and truly fucked.

Elizabeth Silleck La Rue, Esq.'s avatar

I think many of us feel the same way. Certainly my friends and clients (who are emigrating out of the US) do, and so many of us are forced to keep chasing the algo because we depend on being "seen" for our livelihoods. If I could extract myself from that while still paying my bills, I would too.

At a fundamental level, the AI takeover is indeed robbing us of creativity and diminishing the value of humanity, as you observe. Expertise is dismissed. We drink in sensationalist ridiculosity - like Musk and Milei and Trump using chainsaws as props. Nothing really seems serious, even as atrocities are committed.

You're not alone, sir. And yes, we are getting crotchety, because that's the only appropriate response to the baseline idiocy that is the new normal.

Russell Max Simon's avatar

Thanks Elizabeth :)

Matt McMann's avatar

While frightening, very well said. Thanks much for sharing.

Kylan's avatar

Good piece. I have a general feeling that things are going to get better - but that they'll get pretty bad first (to put it mildly). Hopefully that's just the pessimism talking.

Jeff Giesea's avatar

This piece is a whole vibe. Beautifully expressed.

Catriona Law's avatar

Well said. I too am deactivated from social media - happily - and yet look with despair as though I’m behind a glass wall watching everyone around me fall prey to the absolute trash that is being lauded as creative content.

This is most prevalent in my role as a high school teacher where an actual conversation spoken without reference to memes is long gone in most classrooms (and with a significant number of other teachers!). Not to mention the reliance on AI as a newfound pedagogical tool 😭

Dr. Julie Kellogg's avatar

A tad fatalistic with champagne and a nice sunset. As others have said, a whole vibe and I tend to be in agreement with you. Nice piece.

Marieb's avatar

We decide if we are fucked or not!!🙂💪 Spain knows exactly what fascism and controlling minds do,so you are in a country and maybe even more in one of the best region filled with people around you who has the right energy. Look around and you will find the inspiration you need.

Carol Mossa's avatar

Provocative piece.