Tools have forever pushed and accelerated the accomplishments of the human race.
Consider levers, wheels, pulleys, paper, ballpoint pens, hammers, pliers, telegraphs, etc. We could spend the rest of the day naming tools of advancement, both simple and complex.
Enter the cell phone in its current iteration, perhaps the most powerful tool yet invented by our species. It now has the power to quickly make available to us any morsel of the sum total of human knowledge, show us our location on the planet, reliably predict the weather, immediately communicate with others at any point around the world, provide pictures of our favorite celebrities enjoying their vacations. And so very much more!
Tools have always been “neutral” in that their ability to affect good work or harmful has rested in the mind and hands of the user. That remains the case for the little computer-communicator we all carry around with us.
What’s different with this latest tool of our conjuring is that we seem enamored with it to the point that many are willing to let relationships with other humans slip away due to the adoration of the tool.
Imagine a person staring persistently at their pliers while ….. walking down the street or driving or eating a meal or sitting on a train or attending a meeting or while in a room with their very favorite person.
A little disconcerting, huh?
As is always the case, we get to choose…
*If you’d like to read more of nc’s blatherings, go to nc’s Recursive Learning.
