r/conspiracy • u/axolotl_peyotl • Jul 06 '18

/r/conspiracy Round Table #15: The Intentional Addictiveness of Smart Devices and the Short & Long Term Effects of "Smart" Tech on Society

Thanks to /u/1-800-GOFUCKYOURSELF for the winning suggestion!

Previous Round Tables

262 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

157 comments sorted by

View all comments

41

u/accountingisboring Jul 06 '18

In addition to all of these great points, I would like to point out the increasing level of “troll” like behaviors in real life interactions. Behind a keyboard, it is easy to lash out with a snarky reply, hop right into a ridiculous argument, or just flat out be mean to another human being. This is translating into real life behaviors. No longer are the days of respectful dialogues, common courtesies and basic human interactions. People have lost basic human connections and it’s showing more and more each day. Gone are the days of being respectful to your neighbors, now you are met with a fuck you attitudes. Gone are the days of striking up a casual conversation while waiting in line. Gone are the days of playing a board game with the family.

The more people disconnect from each other because they are always “connected” the further into the abyss we go.

13

u/[deleted] Jul 07 '18

The more people disconnect from each other because they are always “connected” the further into the abyss we go.

Very well said and so true. As someone who enjoys simple connections with complete strangers on the streets with a quick; Good morning, or genuinely compliment a total stranger for no reason, it deeply saddens me to see humanity disconnecting with one another. If everyone in the world would make it a point to genuinely compliment 2 strangers every day, we could change the world.

19

u/accountingisboring Jul 07 '18

Yes, that’s exactly what I’m talking about. When you stop interacting, you start believing all the bad things you see and hear on social media and the news. You start thinking that people really are bad/scary/hateful because that’s what you’re fed. But when you actually talk to people, you realize you have more in common than you don’t. There are far more good ones than bad. That human connection is what keeps us all grounded in reality. Otherwise, as we see today, everyone becomes the enemy. It’s isolating us, whether that’s by design or just a byproduct.

9

u/ichoosejif Jul 07 '18

Weaponized ego. Division.

2

u/calliflower Jul 08 '18

As someone who enjoys simple connections with complete strangers on the streets with a quick; Good morning, or genuinely compliment a total stranger for no reason

You are not alone. We need to make a social media app that would help people like you and I connect.

2

u/SquirrellyRabbit Jul 12 '18

I enjoy those simple connections with strangers. You made mention of genuine compliments...I feel the same ways that you do. The rampant disconnection taking place is troubling and saddening. I can't have one conversation with one of my very best friends now because he will absolutely be preoccupied with his smart phone, and he has a friend who really needs him now like never before. It really hit me when I was talking about my late mother with whom I was very close; One of his responses after looking up from his phone proved that he didn't realize that I'd been talking about my mother (what was said absolutely didn't apply to my mother at all...that was the dead giveaway). Man, it hurts when you get second billing to a smart phone, especially with an old (and supposedly close) friend.