Technology

I like playing video games...

Tech was ruined in the 90s when capitalistic influences (microsoft being the dominant force but far from the only one) propagandized the industry and eventually populace at large with the idea that competition in the industry is what drives innovation.

Granted, much of their work was already done for them thanks to western influence perpetuating this ideal for ages. But when the frameworks for open standards, interoperability, and collaborative development were being proposed and put into place they were shot down and/or actively sabotaged

As a result 40 years later we have this mess. A landscape filled with nightmare tech. Fragmentation everywhere, design heavily influenced by a small handful of sociopaths with no empathy and active disdain for users, the idea of open standards is something that requires government intervention (and still rarely occurs), interoperability is something that has to be hacked around and frequently breaks as a means to encourage purchasing a competing product.

What could have been. Tech designed for people’s needs rather than tech designed to extract income

I work in a coffee shop; I already feel sufficiently dehumanized by the amount of people who answer my "how are you today?" with "cappuccino to-go". I would hate to work in a café where you order via your phone.

I watched a documentary about the Unabomber and had the same thought

Tech could make our life easier, if only the fruits of increased efficiency would go towards us all instead of the few rich people at the top.

Imagine VR so real that someone severely allergic to cats can know what it's like to give one scritches and feel it purr. Imagine someone who is paraplegic knowing what it's like to swim or climb a mountain. Now imagine how much money Mark Zuckerberg will make when it's $22.95/month with ads and requires you to put in your Social Security Number.

God, same. I'm to the point where I don't even want a phone at all anymore. I'm so tired of just... everything.

Tech definitely is. Gate-keeping, stupid pricing, etc. done by few corporations and individual isn't.

Yep, I also been growing older and I have nostalgia for old times. But I'm well aware that grass is only greener on my memory, as it has always been.

technology has the potential to make life so much better, there are two problems.

Tech that makes life better, usually doesn't create much value. Because it's either, already been created, and if it has, it's probably enshittified by now.

Go use open source FOSS tech, it's great. Contribute to the improvement of society by not using terrible technology and begin using good technology, it's free!

I think this headline is slightly misleading. Here are some better ones:

• Reclaiming Humanity in the Age of Overbearing Technology
• When Convenient Tech Becomes a Burden: A Call for Human-Centric Design
• How Modern Tech Erodes Human Interaction

"Science" and technology under capitalism are regressive forces for violent control.

• What is “Makhaevism”?

Consumer technology I can see being very toxic and also toxic for the environment because people don’t know how to recycle or purchase correctly. Commercial tech like IoT is going to help save the planet and support the majority with them knowing.

I saw the writing on the wall when we started getting itunes updates that no one wanted.

We'd all be better off if we learned to question tech as a gift and see it for its grift.

I remember Andrewism's take on Luddites dispelling a lot of common misconceptions (and results of propaganda, iirc) on the topic

Tech doesn't make the world better. It's a tool that's been used to make rich people richer. Everyday people coming together for a greater cause makes the world better.