Will/Can there ever be a backlash against technology?

[Braznor]

Because of all the spying by governments and/or hacking attempts coupled with increasing cybercrimes, is it possible the people of this world may chose to regress back into a less electronic environment?

Eg: Emails getting replaced by paper memos and private postal companies?

Eg: Physical distribution of media on DVDs/Blue rays replacing torrents.

Eg: People getting together to hold conversations rather than using cellphones or landlines?

Eg: Physical newsletters replacing content on controversial sites.

Eg: Libraries with physical books and offline discussion clubs get used more than search engines.

It certainly seems possible so for me, I would guess some people will start valuing the privacy of their information over instantaneous communication especially when everyone in the world can track their activities.

So will there ever be a backlash against technology?

 

[inf1nity]

i already removed myself from facebook.

 

[OinkBoink]

Technology, the internet etc. certainly have drawbacks, some of which you've mentioned.

The advantage of the internet as a medium of communication is that it allows an exchange of ideas in a clear and coherent manner and reduces greatly the possibility of exchanging fists.

Try to sit in between a bunch of astrologers and tell them that their "science" is crap. You'll be beaten down by their stupidity based on the fact that they are larger in number.

As another example, sit in a Zakir Naik show, and then try to tell them that evolution is indeed a real phenomenon. You'll again be beaten down by the stupidity of the masses.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I can definitely see things slowly move back to more physical methods. And the government is ready for that, that's why they have the surveillance drones. Though it's still harder to get that much details with those as you can easily just gather in a house and exchange USB sticks with information on it.

Of course the government just needs to make it illegal to perform activities in such a way that they can't see what you're doing. You are a terrorist unless you can prove otherwise.

 

[unokitty]

Because of all the spying by governments and/or hacking attempts coupled with increasing cybercrimes, is it possible the people of this world may chose to regress back into a less electronic environment?
...
So will there ever be a backlash against technology?

A backlash. Though, not the one that you are anticipating.

Shockwave Rider

Rumour had it that when he was arrested for the first Internet Worm, Robert Morris had a copy of Shockwave Rider on his bedstand.

Uno

 

[lxskllr]

Doubt it, but I'm hoping people will start getting a clue, and realize that corporations and governments aren't their friends. Tools to protect themselves are available today. They aren't always the easiest to implement, but they aren't exceedingly difficult either. How much effort is freedom worth?

 

[amish]

based on all my videogame playing, any backlash against technology will be brought on by religious zealots.

 

[PowerYoga]

based on all my videogame playing, any backlash against technology will be brought on by religious zealots.

or zombies. Nazi zombies.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

By the time mankind rebels against technology it will be too late. Skynet won't stand for any opposition.

 

[inf1nity]

IMO there wont be a backlash against technology, there's too much of it in our lives to do away with. What may happen, though, is that people might stop, or atleast lessen the use of services such as FB, myspace.

 

[lxskllr]

What may happen, though, is that people might stop, or atleast lessen the use of services such as FB, myspace.

Well, we got half of that :^D

 

[BladeVenom]

There's already been a backlash against nuclear power plants. We're now stuck with 60's technology in that regard.

 

[inf1nity]

Well, we got half of that :^D

i was just wondering... how did you feel when the NSA spying scandal was revealed?? Considering you made a thread(link for the curious) about it some time back but back then most people just called you a conspiracy theorist and laughed you off??

Were you rolling on the floor laughing and yelling-"I told you so" ??

 

[dud]

Yes, yes and yes but on a personal level. I grew up before the advent of the Internet and personal electronic devices. I remember what it was like to be able to watch only 3 TV stations and actually read books! As I age I find myself eliminating technology from my life every chance I get. I still spend too much time in front of a monitor ...

 

[lxskllr]

i was just wondering... how did you feel when the NSA spying scandal was revealed?? Considering you made a thread(link for the curious) about it some time back but back then most people just called you a conspiracy theorist and laughed you off??

Were you rolling on the floor laughing and yelling-"I told you so" ??

It's somewhat satisfying, but I'm disappointed in the MSM. Instead of the story being about the issues, it's about the soap opera of Snowden. People into technology are getting a clue to some extent, but regular people are still mostly in the dark, overwhelmed by nonsense.

 

[inf1nity]

It's somewhat satisfying, but I'm disappointed in the MSM.

whats the MSM? i googled it but i'm pretty sure you are talking about something other than what google gave me.

 

[lxskllr]

whats the MSM? i googled it but i'm pretty sure you are talking about something other than what google gave me.

Mainstream media. TV, talk radio, newspapers... The stuff "regular" people read, as opposed to technology centered outlets.

 

[JimmiG]

The information we involuntary share is nothing compared to what people give away on Facebook etc. It's similar to how the government in East Germany encouraged citizens to spy on each other and report, except now it's corporations who encourage, and we spy on and report ourselves instead of our neighbors.

 

[inf1nity]

lawl, when i googled MSM i got this-

 

[Jeff7]

There's always been backlash against technology. Bear in mind that at one point in time, bow&arrow was modern technology.

Propelling a small pointy stick at something using string and a curved stick? Why is that possibly superior to throwing a big pointy stick? Sure, the small stick can fly farther, but the big stick is a big stick. Why are you disrupting our simple, effective big-stick-based culture?

...time passes, bow&arrow is accepted...

Wait, you now want to put fire onto the end of the arrow, and fire that into the air? Are you intending to set the heavens themselves ablaze? What madness is this that you're attempting to push?


Go look up "chemtrails" or "HAARP" if you want to see some modern-day examples of backlash.



A technological alternative might be the adoption of some new Internet protocol that incorporates more encryption from the ground up. Or just widespread use of HTTPS and encryption in general, and some stiff penalties for misusing data you've been entrusted to keep responsibly.

Maybe. But not terribly likely.

 

[ultimatebob]

based on all my videogame playing, any backlash against technology will be brought on by religious zealots.

Ironic, given that the people with your username are the most famous example for shunning technology.

 

[Sonikku]

Technology is evil because it's putting honest, hardworking stagecoach whip makers out of a job and starving their families.

 

[dighn]

I love "technology" in the broad sense but I'm not so sure with the way personal information technology is going these days. But I also don't think there's going back in that aspect. You can be more offline for sensitive matters but most of us rarely deal with that sort of thing and efficiency trumps all. I think open source and encryption like people mentioned before are key to alleviating these concerns.

 

[Fritzo]

There already is a backlash against technology. You can join the group if you want: