Item — HN Reader

Although an interesting read, I can't help to think that this is just another person who sees new tech and it's direct impact.

He seems to ignore the fact that computers and be used for other stuff than gaming, and that gaming or DIY/tinkering may result in people starting with that other stuff.

2 comments

And television can be used for something other than viewing reality television shows. But what's the common use case? Computers can be used for other stuff than gaming or (the hobby horse I choose to ride) getting your dopamine hit when someone "likes" your social media post. But what's the common use case? What are the phone zombies looking at as they stagger down the hallway staring at their phones? My guess is that they're not reading a selection from their religious or philosophical canon.

I wouldn't be surprised to find that arsenic has some beneficial medical properties. I won't, however, be adding it to my morning coffee.

In 1985 I'm sure they didn't use computers for gaming. I think it's a little more profound than that, I think its about people mindlessly letting tech run their lives, never stopping to think the impact.

I found it surprising that people had these concerns about radio and tv in the past, just as we today have about computers and cellphones, etc - eg: just watch parents with their kids and tablets.

In 1985 I'm sure they didn't use computers for gaming.

Umm, am I misreading your sentence? Because the 1985 me would like to discuss the finer points of Atari's Star Raiders that I had on my Atari 800. Oh, you mean professional computers used for professional stuff like accounting? Yeah, those ran things like Spacewar! just fine. But again, I probably missed something in what you're trying to say.

I found it surprising that people had these concerns about radio and tv in the past

TV was first described as a "vast wasteland" over 50 years ago (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newton_N._Minow). One could say that "they" will always have something negative to say about technology. OTOH, turns out "they" are often right to a large degree. For every Sesame Street are at least a half dozen reality shows.

I meant generally accessible gaming as it is today. But maybe you're right and it always has been this way.