Every time I see something like this I’m reminded of Plato recording Socrates’ whinging that books are destroying society and no one can remember anything anymore.
Well, the interesting thing about that quote is that Socrates was completely correct. People used to be able to recall long epic poems from memory, not just one, but an entire book shelf’s worth of information. This ability was lost among people in general. However people, and society, adapted.
Although the argument you and a lot of other people seems to be making is the equivalent of saying “well, I’ve had cancer before, and the doctor said it was serious then, but I survived - so it’s going to fine this time as well”. I don’t think it holds up.
Well, the interesting thing about that quote is that Socrates was completely correct. People used to be able to recall long epic poems from memory, not just one, but an entire book shelf’s worth of information
I’m not convinced that people in general could ever do that. Or rather, not in any way that we’ve lost.
Ask a kid to tell you the lore from their favorite game, and they’ll recite books worth of information if you let them. You just don’t care about that content, so you think they’re stupid instead.
I think its message is only hindered by those viewing it. Not that their perspective is invalid, but I do think its far more likely the intent here was to highlight how the relationship between humans and machines has seemingly flipped.
The gods confound the man who first found out how to distinguish hours! Confound him too, who in this place set up a sundial to cut and hack my days so wretchedly into small portions!
I’d say that’s more to do with dropping stigma leading to better/more reporting rather than smartphones being some major cause of mental health issues. I’m sure they do cause some issues, but probably not much more than any other vice
And there’s a lot of things that were just straight up not recognized.
People bitch about how there’s “more” ADHD, but when I was a kid, the prevailing knowledge was that girls don’t have ADHD. Cue the meteoric “rise” in cases.
(There’s a million other things I could’ve used as an example but I used ADHD because I wasn’t diagnosed until I was 36.)
Every time I see something like this I’m reminded of Plato recording Socrates’ whinging that books are destroying society and no one can remember anything anymore.
Well, the interesting thing about that quote is that Socrates was completely correct. People used to be able to recall long epic poems from memory, not just one, but an entire book shelf’s worth of information. This ability was lost among people in general. However people, and society, adapted.
Although the argument you and a lot of other people seems to be making is the equivalent of saying “well, I’ve had cancer before, and the doctor said it was serious then, but I survived - so it’s going to fine this time as well”. I don’t think it holds up.
I’m not convinced that people in general could ever do that. Or rather, not in any way that we’ve lost.
Ask a kid to tell you the lore from their favorite game, and they’ll recite books worth of information if you let them. You just don’t care about that content, so you think they’re stupid instead.
i dont think this is commentary about phones, specifically. more like we work, machines play.
wrong choice of imagery by the artist perhaps
I think its message is only hindered by those viewing it. Not that their perspective is invalid, but I do think its far more likely the intent here was to highlight how the relationship between humans and machines has seemingly flipped.
Damn smartphones, ruining society!
Damn internet, ruining society!
Damn computers, ruining society!
Damn VIDYA GAMES, ruining society!
Damn TV, ruining society!
Damn radio, ruining society!
Damn Newspapers, ruining society!
Damn 2 piece swimsuits, ruining society!
Damn books, ruining society!
Damn clay tablets, ruining society!
Damn language, ruining society!
Damn alphabet, ruining society!
Damn humans, ruining society!
Damn society, ruining society!
Plautus, 250 BC
Looks at the world’s mental health issues post smartphone…
I’d say that’s more to do with dropping stigma leading to better/more reporting rather than smartphones being some major cause of mental health issues. I’m sure they do cause some issues, but probably not much more than any other vice
And there’s a lot of things that were just straight up not recognized.
People bitch about how there’s “more” ADHD, but when I was a kid, the prevailing knowledge was that girls don’t have ADHD. Cue the meteoric “rise” in cases.
(There’s a million other things I could’ve used as an example but I used ADHD because I wasn’t diagnosed until I was 36.)
Let’s look at mental health issues pre smartphone:
LGBT+? You’re insane.
Disobedient wife? You’re insane.
Now playing The Avalanches - Frontier Psychiatrist
Look at the world’s mental health pre smartphone.
This ain’t nothing new.
Smartphone or social media?