> We happily use the machines and do not think about the people that lost > their jobs to them.
One the one hand, the Luddites tried to destroy the machines two centuries ago but they ultimately failed. Neo-Luddites are trying their best regarding modern technology now; but, the (lack of) results will probably be the same. However, some say we are playing with fire and we were very lucky a few years ago, Solar storm of 2012 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_storm_of_2012 and electronic machines will be fried eventually (unless we are able to find some effective countermeasures before disaster strikes). On the other hand, we are in a kind of a symbiotic relationship with the machines: we take care of them and they take care of us but they have been evolving lately a lot faster than us. With more good solar luck, it is just a matter of time before it becomes obvious that humans are no longer the most intelligent beings on Earth, at least according to some criteria... Unless, with the help of machines, we genetically modify ourselves successfully (although a GM human might not be considered human anymore). Right, it might be ethically abhorrent to most people but it is a Nash equilibrium strategy due to the fear that by doing so a potential adversarial country might get the upper hand if the other countries do not (and consequently it might become a likely inevitable strategy). In the meantime, we have a false sense of security because we think we can switch the machines off at will. Yet, this feeling might not be much different from the one used many drug addicts to fool themselves. One can test one's own level of electronic machines addiction resistance by trying the following just for an entire week: 1. Do not use your cellphone. or 2. Do not use any computer (e.g., cellphones, tablets, personal computers, ...). or 3. Do not use any service that involves an electronic machine (e.g., making digital phone calls, ... , using ATMs, using certain credit/debit cards or related services, watching digital television, driving (or be driven in) a modern car, flying (or be flown in) a modern airplane, ...) Are there any takers for going cold turkey for a week? On Sat, Oct 12, 2019 at 7:55 AM Björn Helgason <[email protected]> wrote: > > What is especially interesting regarding jobs lost to automation is it > happens so gradually and everywhere. > > People of all ages affected. > > There is often loss of well paid jobs and if the person gets a new job it > often pays less. > > This has been happening graduaĺly over decades. > > The effects are felt all over but there is no mass problem to fight. > > Often personal tragedies but noone to complain to or get assistant fron. > > There is no obe machine or program replacing individuals. > > More lot and lot of small instances here and there and the companies are > getting the added improvements and the owners and top brass get it all. > > We have all seen this happening and not any action against it. > > We happily use the machines and do not think about the people that lost > their jobs to them. > > Statistics show this happening everywhere over time. > > There is a qestion of safety nets or lack there of. > > We who had good jobs and got good retirements are not worried about our > future but are we looking at problems for future generations? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For information about J forums see http://www.jsoftware.com/forums.htm
