Comments on: Some of us are wired to think the world is going to hell in a handcart. And some of us are not http://www.RexBlog.com/2008/09/21/18287?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=some-of-us-are-wired-to-think-the-world-is-going-to-hell-in-a-handcart-and-some-of-us-are-not Rex Hammock's Blog Sun, 15 Jan 2012 04:37:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Megan http://www.RexBlog.com/2008/09/21/18287/comment-page-1#comment-296955 Megan Tue, 23 Sep 2008 02:45:05 +0000 http://www.RexBlog.com/2008/09/21/18287#comment-296955 I think the world is going to hell in a handcart (I had never heard anyone say "handcart" before. I always thought it was "handbasket.") but I don't think it's because of technology. I also think that the people who allow themselves to be dumbed down by technology would be dumbed down anyway by something else, even if technology never came along. Innovation is always good, we just need to be willing to take responsibility for its side effects. I think the world is going to hell in a handcart (I had never heard anyone say “handcart” before. I always thought it was “handbasket.”) but I don’t think it’s because of technology.

I also think that the people who allow themselves to be dumbed down by technology would be dumbed down anyway by something else, even if technology never came along. Innovation is always good, we just need to be willing to take responsibility for its side effects.

]]> By: Derek Lim http://www.RexBlog.com/2008/09/21/18287/comment-page-1#comment-296866 Derek Lim Mon, 22 Sep 2008 04:37:47 +0000 http://www.RexBlog.com/2008/09/21/18287#comment-296866 I find I'm always thinking, no matter how inexorable the slide to hell is, that there's something to be fixed and the eventual possibility of a reversal, even if that possibility is infinitesimally small. I guess that makes me an Engineer. One of the things I find when talking to (or arguing with) Scientists is that they regard that possibility as idle, or that the existence or absence of that possibility has little bearing on their actions. It's something not often worth considering, certainly not worth considering to any great extent. Engineer friends, on the other hand, seem to take that possibility as a starting point and extrapolate a whole net of natural consequences, almost unconsciously it seems, that are the basis of actions in the now. Both approaches quite often lead to the same action, especially if the Scientist and Engineer are arguing at the time. Exchange of ideas. I find I’m always thinking, no matter how inexorable the slide to hell is, that there’s something to be fixed and the eventual possibility of a reversal, even if that possibility is infinitesimally small. I guess that makes me an Engineer.

One of the things I find when talking to (or arguing with) Scientists is that they regard that possibility as idle, or that the existence or absence of that possibility has little bearing on their actions. It’s something not often worth considering, certainly not worth considering to any great extent. Engineer friends, on the other hand, seem to take that possibility as a starting point and extrapolate a whole net of natural consequences, almost unconsciously it seems, that are the basis of actions in the now. Both approaches quite often lead to the same action, especially if the Scientist and Engineer are arguing at the time. Exchange of ideas.

]]> By: Mark Alves http://www.RexBlog.com/2008/09/21/18287/comment-page-1#comment-296796 Mark Alves Sun, 21 Sep 2008 18:24:15 +0000 http://www.RexBlog.com/2008/09/21/18287#comment-296796 It is said that there's as much spiritual growth in the final years of life as there is physical growth in the first. Growth and decline together. It is said that there’s as much spiritual growth in the final years of life as there is physical growth in the first. Growth and decline together.

]]> By: Rex Hammock http://www.RexBlog.com/2008/09/21/18287/comment-page-1#comment-296793 Rex Hammock Sun, 21 Sep 2008 17:47:14 +0000 http://www.RexBlog.com/2008/09/21/18287#comment-296793 @Ken, @Jackson: It's a good thing we have optimists and pessimists. I think that both responses are baked into our DNA as our ancestors needed both to survive. I think fear (and the fight or flight response) is good and keeps us from being careless. I think having some folks who are crazy enough to see opportunity in any situation are termed "fearless" only when they succeed, often against great odds. I think most people are best served by following their own instincts, be it pessimism or optimism. Oh, and here's one of my observations of life: Engineers marry Scientists. @Ken, @Jackson: It’s a good thing we have optimists and pessimists. I think that both responses are baked into our DNA as our ancestors needed both to survive. I think fear (and the fight or flight response) is good and keeps us from being careless. I think having some folks who are crazy enough to see opportunity in any situation are termed “fearless” only when they succeed, often against great odds. I think most people are best served by following their own instincts, be it pessimism or optimism.

Oh, and here’s one of my observations of life: Engineers marry Scientists.

]]> By: Ryan Svoboda http://www.RexBlog.com/2008/09/21/18287/comment-page-1#comment-296792 Ryan Svoboda Sun, 21 Sep 2008 17:33:56 +0000 http://www.RexBlog.com/2008/09/21/18287#comment-296792 I always knew there was a reason that even though my major is Computer Science I prefer the title of Software Engineer :) I always knew there was a reason that even though my major is Computer Science I prefer the title of Software Engineer :)

]]> By: Jackson Miller http://www.RexBlog.com/2008/09/21/18287/comment-page-1#comment-296791 Jackson Miller Sun, 21 Sep 2008 17:29:06 +0000 http://www.RexBlog.com/2008/09/21/18287#comment-296791 You know what I struggle with? How can I distinguish "fearless" from "careless". (That sound you just heard was me falling into the depths of existential depression.) You know what I struggle with?

How can I distinguish “fearless” from “careless”.

(That sound you just heard was me falling into the depths of existential depression.)

]]> By: Ken Stewart http://www.RexBlog.com/2008/09/21/18287/comment-page-1#comment-296790 Ken Stewart Sun, 21 Sep 2008 17:25:07 +0000 http://www.RexBlog.com/2008/09/21/18287#comment-296790 Rex, this is a wonderful piece about the natural balance life itself seeks. As a natural observer, I have enjoyed watching the proverbial seesaw on the playground tilt back and forth in my limited studies of history and review of today's news. Let me ask, I was most likely born a glass is half-empty kind of personality, but have been rigorously training my mind to seek opportunity rather than defeat. Obviously, when times get tough, and our behavioral energies get sapped, we resort to our most natural behavior patters. Would you think there are some role our environment plays in our mentalities? Warmest Regards, K Rex, this is a wonderful piece about the natural balance life itself seeks. As a natural observer, I have enjoyed watching the proverbial seesaw on the playground tilt back and forth in my limited studies of history and review of today’s news.

Let me ask, I was most likely born a glass is half-empty kind of personality, but have been rigorously training my mind to seek opportunity rather than defeat. Obviously, when times get tough, and our behavioral energies get sapped, we resort to our most natural behavior patters. Would you think there are some role our environment plays in our mentalities?

Warmest Regards,
K

]]> By: Mike Cane http://www.RexBlog.com/2008/09/21/18287/comment-page-1#comment-296787 Mike Cane Sun, 21 Sep 2008 16:45:36 +0000 http://www.RexBlog.com/2008/09/21/18287#comment-296787 An excellent post, Rex, but it misses the point that human behavior really isn't amenable to engineering. Just look around! I love you too. Ha! An excellent post, Rex, but it misses the point that human behavior really isn’t amenable to engineering. Just look around! I love you too. Ha!

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