In terms of self-reliance, the Internet is arguably the most important invention since the knife and the wheel. Never before in all of recorded human history has a single tool made so much available to an individual. And yet, despite the powerful role it plays in increasing our self-reliance, the Internet would not exist without everybody else.
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Hi Raam. I often think about this when I think or hear talk of people claiming to be super indeedant via th Internet, especially in terms of living the life in developinng economies am and avoiding tax. Along with everything elsI that keeps us alive, we should always be super gratefudrover the lives of others that contribute to our own.
I worked out (guestimation) that if a computer like a MacBook was completely produced in Australia, with minimum wages paid to everyone from the miners up, it would cost over 10,000 dollars. This is the tue value of the machine, and the fact it doesn’t cost that much is due to an international financial system that thrives on specialisation and inequality.
These thoughts and ones like it make me feel I’d rather exist most of the time in the real world…. the Internet should be more than an attractive way out.
I encouragdidn’t atlas entpeneurs to give back as much as possible and however possible. As should we all.
That’s fascinating. I’ve never thought about it that way. It certainly gives me a whole new appreciation for my MacBook Air, and iPhone, and iPad…
It also makes me feel even more responsible for using such amazing pieces of technology for good, for creating, for doing things that can improve the world as opposed to just consuming and using the technology selfishly.
I disagree. The Internet should be used as the incredible tool that it is, a global network that connects humanity, not an “attractive way out”. For the first time in human history, we’re all connected — our minds are all connected. What better time to be alive!? Access to this global network makes us a global citizen with great potential for influencing the direction of our species.
I refuse to polarize the Internet with the ‘real world’. They are not separate; they are one in the same. (See The Online/Offline Duality.)
Thanks for the thoughts! 🙂
*more* than an attractive way out.
the Internet is making all kinds of excellent things happen, it’speeding things up.
Agree the Internet is part of the world. howeaver it can only really manifest e creative and intellectual aspects of us, and we miss out on a lot when were fully focused on those. If we balance with nature and soulful/mindful activity, all is well. I say “me,” I mean “I” of course 🙂
Agreed. 🙂 We need to balance more. It can’t be an all or nothing.
I appreciate the circularity of these thoughts
I’m fascinated by circles, the way many fundamental things in existence are quite circular.
Absolutely True. Its a great leveler in the sense that everyone can get whatever information they need, and not just a special few!!
Yes, absolutely!