Just about everything we do in the 21st century is backed by technology. Everybody has a desktop, laptop, or hand held device. Many people have all three. But for some people, this is just too much.
Welcome to the anti-tech backlash. And if someone abuses technology, it only intensifies the backlash. It could come so subtle, like texting while driving or leaving your cell phone to ring in a public place, like a movie theater or church. Then they’re far more serious episodes that cause some to hate today’s technology. In Boston, while on the subway, someone took pictures up women’s skirt with their smartphone (it’s called upskirting). There were no laws preventing or condemning this perverse behavior. Luckily, Massachusetts lawmakers are trying to combat this trend, but it’s an uphill battle because culprits who do this hide under ‘Free speech’ and ‘freedom of expression’.
Then there’s Silicon Valley itself, technology capitol of the world. There’s a growing disillusion between techies making six and seven digit figures and minimum wage workers who feed them, clean up after them, and serve them. Add to that the rent crisis in that area. It’s easy for techies to pay extremely high rent and real estate over there, but what about those only making minimum wage? Don’t they have a right to decent housing and other opportunities? Then there’s the fear dilemma, and how far will they go. When I was in high school, I was always told, “Robots are going to take your job one day.” Look at how advanced and humanistic robots have become in the last 20 years. A month ago, I read about this firm in Sweden urging employees to get an RFID chip in their hands. With the chip, they had access to doors, copiers, even lunch. Many fear this could be a trend, to the point where employers will one day require employees to get chipped. That way, they could follow you 24 hours a day, and if you get out of line, they’ll take the chip off and you won’t have a job. Yes, technology has been good to us, but they’re a lot of dangers as well. Do anti-techies have validity in their concerns?