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Living Intimately
With Technology

By Deetje Boller
5-5-5
 
Hypothesis - The reason for the inertia and mindlessness of the American public is that machines have taken over every aspect of our lives. We all know that we're helpless to survive without dependence on the machines that have insidiously made their ways into every little crack and crevice of our existence. On top of that, machines are very strict and authoritarian taskmasters. Either you do things their way or they don't get done. This makes us users obedient slaves. Ergo, inertia and mindlessness.
 
Not only are people individually conditioned to be obedient by the machines; society is structured dependently on the machines. Sure, people could give up their electric toothbrushes for manual ones, they could give up electric can openers, even maybe electric hairdryers. But could or would they give up their cars, their radios, TVs, computers, electric lights, etc. And even if they would be willing to give them up, society the way it's set up now (e.g., suburbs) simply couldn't operate. It would collapse. That is, we know in our heart of hearts that there's no resisting the system, whoever may be in charge of the works. We've just simply got to go along with the program -- maybe a little resistant bleat now and again, here and there, a skirmish on a picket line, a group sit-down in an intersection or blocking a doorway. But come Monday morning, back in line, folks!
 
So we don't need to look to the culture wars for our oppressive forces, just look to your right and your left and above you and below you and in front of you and behind you and make note of whatever machine you see there. They've been procreating at a faster rate than we humans ever did or will and they'll continue to do so, so long as capitalism shall live.
 
So, though the earth may or may not be overpopulated, it is definitely over mechanized. Where do you think all the pollution comes from? It gets into the air, the soil, the water from exhaust pipes, from chemical sprayers, from war weapons, from pharmaceutical companies manufacturing their designer chemicals from petroleum, from Silicon Valley productions, and on and on and on. And please note, there is no indication that the industrialists have any intention of cutting back or even modifying their designs if that would eat into their ever increasing profit margin requirements as the financial markets get unrealer and unrealer (or should I say more and more virtual?).
 
So, guys, it's the machines that have taken our souls captive by meeting our bodily needs (in place of the slaves of yesteryear). Who'll be first to get rid of theirs? The hippies and Lou Welsh wandered off into the mountains in the 60s; but apart from them, who's breaking loose from their chains? Note: The higher up the hierarchy you go, the more deeply dependent you are on the mechanics of the system, i.e., the more deeply enslaved, trapped, compromised, restricted, etc. There, in the eye of the storm, hidden in plain sight, the potentates prance around in virtual reality, our untouchable slaves living in their own world inside the see-through beltway, twisting around in circles getting tighter and tighter as they get lonelier and lonelier, more and more dependent on their machines -- as Laura Bush says: Every problem Dubya runs into on the ranch he takes care of with the chainsaw. As below, so above.
 
This could be pretty depressing, I realize. But just think: wouldn't you rather be run by a machine than by a Tom DeLay? A Dick Cheney? Or Condoleeezzza? Or a Roberto Gonzalez? Or Rumsfeld? Or Dubya? Or Schwarzenator? Or any of those soul-searing demented puppets? Instead, a nice, well-oiled sane machine that doesn't talk back! So long as you don't try to make it do anything it can't do, you'll get along just fine. As for the pollution it emits?... well, maybe they'll design some attachable lungs and a comfy wetsuit kind of thing to wear at all times except when sponging off with St. Clean, and a straw-ingestible slurry containing all necessary nutrients from a sanitized plastic container. You wouldn't have to take off your earphones ever.
 
-- Deetje
 
P.S. So, the machines are in the saddle. Kind of scary, isn't it? Shit, look what they did to Baghdad, Fallujah. Hell, look what they've done to us! (e.g., when did you see your last con-trail?) Or, by extension: When did you last walk 10 miles? Weed a garden? Hang up clothes on a clothesline with clothespins? Handwrite a letter with a pen or pencil? Sing a duet? Or just sing a song to yourself rather than turn on the stereo? Do any solo stuff, i.e., without consorting with an electronic or moving-parts device?
 
What are you willing to do to keep supplied with the devices and the energy they require to run them: Sell your body? Sell your mind? Sell your time? Sell your life? Sell your soul? I'm here to bear witness that I've done all of those things and I can only assume you have too. The only way out I can think of is the one Virginia Wolf took, wading into the water with rocks in her pockets -- or just waiting till you die "naturally" (presuming you don't get hospitalized and hooked up to some breathing or feeding machine by some hospital employees under orders from some doctor who's out drinking something imported by ship, truck, rail and/or plane or riding around in a golf cart chasing the little white ball made in China or Uzbekistan).

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