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Men Behaving Badly

Feb 02, 2015
by Caroline Miller
artificial intelligence, Come With Us If, Sam Frank, technocracies verssus politics
6 Comments

My computer is behaving badly this week.  It’s not anything I’ve done.  I haven’t stuck my tongue out at it.  I haven’t kicked the thing.  It’s having a fit on its own and I’ve got 3 experts working on the problem.  That a computer can upset a person’s life in a nanosecond is nerve wracking, as anyone who owns a computer knows.  That’s why, I stopped to read a long, long article on rapidly changing technology by Sam Frank in a recent Harper’s .  (“Come With Us If you Want To Live,” by Sam Frank, Harper’s, January 2015, pgs. 26-36) It proves that not only does technology constantly change but it does so at an exponential rate.

 The goal, according to Frank, is to create a “beneficial-slash-benevolent AI [artificial intelligence]” (Ibid pg 28) which one day might lead to immortality as mind merges with  robot.  That’s a big leap into the future, of course, but we seem to be on our way.  Certainly, language has changed to accommodate the new technology.  A “hedon,” for example, has nothing to do pleasure.  It’s an experiential utility.  Likewise, a “utilon” is the new term for a utility unit. 

 Unfortunately, to stay connected to the web-centered world, we are obliged to change with it.  That doesn’t mean in our language, only.  As Frank explains eventually  “The old institutions may largely break down or they may be handed over [to the new order] but either way they can’t just freeze.” (Ibid pg. 32)

 One utopian web designer Frank interviewed elaborates further.  He predicts that politics as a form of social structure will one day be passé.  The new “stabilizing force will be corporations, which will become even more like parts of a global government than they are today. (Ibid, pg. 35)  Facebook and Google and other “technocracies” will be the drivers of widespread abundance in a decentralized internet where every users is “his, her or its own mode.” (Ibid pg. 35)

 I’m not sure what a “mode” is but already I don’t like it.  Nor do I approve of this new vision of the future.  Do we really want a world of “distributed autonomous organizations” ([D.A.O’s) or   “modular decentralization,” whatever this means — particularly when these are instruments that enable  corporations to pursue greater profits with no concomitant ethical or moral codes?   

 What also gives me pause is that this brave new world is being conceived by designers who are predominately male.  What, I wonder, will be a woman’s role in the new order?  One young Turk is ready to define it.  Women, he says, “could be the prostitutes and the bedrooms could be mic’d with baby monitors in case of productive pillow talk.” (Ibid pg 34)  His is  a sophomoric view derived from computer games which few women would consider an improved status.  I’m beginning to think the reason my computer behaves badly is because some guy designed it. 

video game female

Courtesy of www.wallpapervn.net

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6 Comments
  1. Bill Whitlatch February 2, 2015 at 8:51 am Reply
    I have had the same email address for the last eight years. On January 10, my computer kept telling me my password was incorrect. I finally gave up trying to fix it and, thank god I have a daughter that could help her poor old computer-ignorant father. After reading your blog I think I might have been better off to succumb to emotions and blow it up ! The good news is I am back to reading your daily blog.
    • Caroline Miller February 2, 2015 at 9:07 am Reply
      Welcome back, Bill. You've been missed. Lucky you had someone of the younger generation( and a female too) to pull you out of your electronic troubles.
  2. Judy Farrell February 2, 2015 at 4:05 pm Reply
    Greetings again Carrie, Oh my, a reason to celebrate my diminishing time on this planet! My grandson and I were discussing the future over dinner recently. He is a senior at Portland State, and I always am encouraged listening to him talking about his business and finance classes. He is learning in-depth about corporations and banks, and the recognition of needed change. He is aware that current practice is supporting the huge economic divide and threatening our democracy. Fortunately, I live in the Concordia neighborhood where so many young folks are now living, having babies who are often in dads' slings (I always hope mom is at home soaking in the tub!); and I appreciate all the small businesses they are starting, the community meetings and meals.....so different from my life and a young mother. However, we also have what seems to be increasing crime in the neighborhood along with many homeless soliciting for money. Ah, those computer woes.....how I miss my telephone book; and yes, I couldn't get along without my daughter's emergency computer fixes! Then there are the iphones.....sometimes they come in very handy. When I went to pick up my grandson from his PSU apartment last Sunday, I forgot my little flip phone because I very rarely tote it around. I was supposed to call him upon arrival since there is a parking problem. So there was a couple kissing outside the apartment, and I waiting for them to part, asked if they could give him a call. Of course they politely agreed, and soon Sean and i were off to the movies (Selma, which brought back so many memories). But I have friends who do not hesitate to answer some goofy ring tone, chat up a storm, no matter what the setting....drives me nutty Again Carrie, thanks for you mind stimulating blogs. Judy
    • Caroline Miller February 2, 2015 at 4:34 pm Reply
      Looks like this last blog stimulated a lot of thinking. Thank you for checking in and sharing.
  3. margaret February 2, 2015 at 10:16 pm Reply
    Caroline, I don't even understand what the "mic'ing with baby monitors in case of productive pillow talk means"! But I understand the first part of his comment and the mentality is sad - do those kind of boys ever become men because I know plenty of great ones who treat women as equals. It's the industry they're in - unfortunately a very influential one that potentially impacts on the type of society that could be the future.
    • Caroline Miller February 3, 2015 at 8:16 am Reply
      Think the "mic'ing" means if a baby is the result of "pillow talk" you can hook it up to an electronic gadget and monitor the child while you're busy making another. My guess, anyway. Agree, this comment doesn't represent the best of the gender. But I'm inclined to think it was a little tongue in cheek. I hope so, anyhway.

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Contact Caroline at

carolinemiller11@yahoo.com

Portland, Oregon author Caroline Miller had distinguished careers as an educator, union president, elected official and artist/advocate.

Her play, Woman on the Scarlet Beast, was performed at the Post5 Theatre, Portland, OR, January/February 2015

Caroline published a serialized novelette, Marie Eau-Claire, on the website, The Colored Lens.  She also published the story Gustav Pavel,  a parable about ordinary lives, choice and alternate potential, on the website Fixional.co.

Caroline has published four novels

  • Ballet Noir
  • Trompe l’Oeil
  • Gothic Spring
  • Heart Land

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