As we progress technologically towards the singularity, are we actually rotting from the inside out? Or, are we just figuring out better ways to cut out the rot and do a patch job?
I finally came up with a decent analogy of what can happen with people, relationships and civilizations on the planet and their rules and need to look right, versus actually taking the time to work on changing what is not right.
It is no different than when you see a colorful apple on the table, that looks fresh and good, yet, when you go bit into it, the inside is old, rotten and tastes terrible.
While this analogy probably is common sense to most, I never could connect the dots between how we tend to live our lives in the material world versus the goal to walk out in a spiritual sense that seeks the ethic of simply - love.
The revelation came forth as I spend each day working on something inside myself. People wonder, “Why do you always take some time to pray and meditate each morning and night?”
The reality is that if I didn’t, I would easily creep back into the old bad habits that I am working hard to change within myself.
The reality, is these changes take so much time, that one wonders at times, “why try?” as 5 minutes after leaving the state in meditation, one might have any gain erode back with the old behavior rising up seeming to say, “but I don’t want you to change! I want to be your best friend!”
An old alcoholic friend of mine, after he got sober, had a quote that resonates with me, “mark, I loved alcohol, but alcohol was not a good lover for me.” (As I write, I am thinking back to the time a guy shared his journey on the road of heroin addiction. I sat with my jaw dropped to my knees wondering “how are you still alive?”)
There were two triggers to the solution this morning – the first was an article about how people are being chameleons with creativity and innovation – how will innovation change? The second was reading about an "art" project where some guy was asking people to crowdfund him living a virtual reality life for 28 days.
WIth the first issue, I commented that I understood what the writer was discussing, as I am amazed at what one can create with the tools today, computer design, 3d modeling, rapid prototyping, 3d printing and the ease of design tools for graphics, writing and the ability to publish or push the ideas into the mainstream.
What I really don’t see is people really being creative beyond looking at pinterest or facebook and all retransmitting some trend issue for a few moments, until the next one comes along.
The irony was early this morning, I wrote today’s post about people clicking keyboard or cell phone buttons to be more “aware” yet, few and fewer are getting dirt under their fingernails with “how do you actually do it?”
It takes a lot of time, effort, and practice to be good at something.
Our modern world is becoming more about instant gratification than forgoing the short term for the possibility of something better in the long term.
The second subject about the aritis, triggered the thoughts about Relationship and trust – I see the world of trust eroding and falling apart further, as the world is pushing some model that perfection that is shown to the world as an “image” that has been manipulated as “reality.”
for some background, in 1994 i did lock myself into a space with video conferencing and not time limit to see "how long can i last, not living in the social or real world? just the digitial one. i think i was pondering how to use technology to make UBEME educational for kids to learn about people and technology.
These issues have me wondering how to take Augmanity into the realm beyond entertainment and the ability for people to escape known reality with sensory enhancement – and actually do something with the technology to help people change who they are – for the better.
If you have read the past few days, you are watching how the brain is putting together unrelated pieces to come up with a new use for a base new idea that can be used for really bad or good uses?
The question I am pondering is “how is the internet making us think we are more altruistic, when it is really making use a bit more selfish and masking what we are – via a skewed image we put out online?” (Yeah, even that last line had me go huh?)
Another trend I see is mainstream media dumbing down to sound bytes and pretty people on camera seeming to present a biased view of news and stories. I realize it is simply more profitable to do this, but is it really what is best for the people watching?
So we tend to be like that apple. We expect that perfect “looking” apple that I wrote about at the start.
We all gaze…. that is beautiful
From a distance…how pretty
Then we actually touch the apple…it is soft…too soft
Only then do we realize that too much makeup manipulation has been applied,
the once natural, beautiful product looked perfect...is not an "image."
Then we bite into that apple, squeem a bit, and look to see the rot inside.
We spit the rotten part out, without taking the time to wonder “why or how? Did that apple get so rotten?”
Then we seem to look for someone to blame for the inconvenience in our "busy" lives.
Instead of looking at ourselves, we seem to be looking more at everything else around us for what is wrong, not what is right.
The great news, is that all this has connected some dots in the problem solution in a new way. This is why you brainstorm each and every day, where once you might have had one or two good ideas, you develop bushel baskets of ideas. such it the effect of consistent brainstorm. the other is that few will seem to understand why you are the way you are. just shrug your shoulders, offer them a coffee and smile.
everyone has a story of interest within them. if you made it this far - http://www.ubeme.com/brainstormcafe/2014/4/12/30-days-in-a-holealmost