Are we being assimilated?

[BJ Wagner]

We’ve all noticed how many people around us spend most of their day with their eyes glued to their smartphones or iPadular devices. Most people would rather spend hours texting one another than simply talk on the phone and have the same conversation in mere minutes. 1’s and 0’s are replacing consonants and vowels. Video games, once the bastion of the loner, are now being played in groups of people of all ages from the four corners of the planet. Game consoles rarely get turned off, staying in standby mode while their all seeing eyes watch us, silent judging humanity and waiting for some gesture or spoken phrase to be uttered so they can spring back to life. On forums, chat-rooms, street corners, and rally’s, individual opinions which not popular with The Collective masses are ridiculed and threatened to be silenced.

I fear our planet is under attack. Hiding behind the moon, a Borg Cube waits. Unable to discern humanities reality from fiction, since most of the population is just as outspoken and passionate for both, they have begun a silent invasion—turning our own technology against us. Fearing reprisal from Earth’s mightiest defenders, Kirk, Sisko, Kal-El, Tony Stark and others, The Borg have decided to assimilate humanity without an all-out assault.

We may be doomed. It may be too late. Surely there must be others who see this? Surely I’m not the only one who’s followed the white rabbit? Technology is the enemy, people! Humanity is the only way! We must unite! Before it’s too late we must... DO NOTHING. TECHNOLOGY SHOULD BE EMBRACED WITHOUT QUESTION. WORK FROM HOME. PLAY VIRTUAL REALITY GAMES INSTEAD OF GOING OUTSIDE. CONSUME MASS QUANTITIES AND BE HAPPY. INDIVIDUAL OPINIONS ONLY LEAD TO CONFLICT. EMBRACE THE COLLECTIVE OPINION. RESISTANCE IS FUT… NOT POPULAR WITH YOUR PEERS. 100010100101001011010101110101010101

 

[Jedi_Master]

Considering the fact that one of the mods on this site uses an avatar name comprised of ones and zeros and another is name "Locutus" I would say we are well on our way to dronedom.

 

[RandyS]

I'm not as worried about people staring at their cell phones (although, yes, they DO do it too much anymore) as I am they're staring at their cell phone while driving. As a disabled person who has to rely on my girlfriend (who doesn't do this) and a friend (who does) to get around, I am worried about putting my life in his hands. Repeated threats to sue the hell out of him if I'm injured in an accident due to his distracted driving have done no good. He's even had accidents due to this very thing and hasn't learned a damn thing from it. Luckily, I was not in the car at those times.

 

[BJ Wagner]

I'm not as worried about people staring at their cell phones (although, yes, they DO do it too much anymore) as I am they're staring at their cell phone while driving. As a disabled person who has to rely on my girlfriend (who doesn't do this) and a friend (who does) to get around, I am worried about putting my life in his hands. Repeated threats to sue the hell out of him if I'm injured in an accident due to his distracted driving have done no good. He's even had accidents due to this very thing and hasn't learned a damn thing from it. Luckily, I was not in the car at those times.

Saw two people texting and driving just this morning on my morning jog--and that's just in our neighbourhood! Some people need to learn to care for the safety of others.

 

[Spot261]

I'm not as worried about people staring at their cell phones (although, yes, they DO do it too much anymore) as I am they're staring at their cell phone while driving. As a disabled person who has to rely on my girlfriend (who doesn't do this) and a friend (who does) to get around, I am worried about putting my life in his hands. Repeated threats to sue the hell out of him if I'm injured in an accident due to his distracted driving have done no good. He's even had accidents due to this very thing and hasn't learned a damn thing from it. Luckily, I was not in the car at those times.

I'd strongly suggest finding another friend to get you round....

 

[RandyS]

I'd strongly suggest finding another friend to get you round....

I've already looked into public transportation. My girlfriend can't do all the driving since she works five days a week. PT is expensive here though. Currently I'm waiting to see if I qualify for a disabled person discount that one of my girlfriends' friends told me I should. Apparently it involves being on a two month long waiting list.

By the way, I like your location. I wish I was wallowing in ice cream.

 

[Kor]

Hiding behind the moon, a Borg Cub waits.

I would be more worried about the Mama Borg, not some little cub.

Kor

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

Borg cubs are cute though and they assimilate you with cuteness! Like kittens.

 

[Spot's Meow]

Glancing at my Wii game console in standby mode, I've realized you are right, so I went ahead and smashed it with a hammer. No more orange glowing light to spy on me.

 

[sojourner]

The OP might as well be complaining about everyone staring at those new fangled TV's. 3 channels of entertainment in stunning black and white! It'll be the death of us all.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

As soon as Central Control has approved my viewpoint on this issue, I can answer.

 

[rhubarbodendron]

it's only too true. The other day there was a sudden rainstorm and about a dozen people gathered under the roof at the entrance of a shopping mall. All of them were staring on their phones instead of taking the opportunity to talk with each other.
I have a smartphone for business (and never use anything but the camera), but privately I own a stupidphone and I'll have one as long as they are available. I don't need a machine to think for me, I needn't be online 24/7, if people want to talk with me, they have to wait till I found a parking space and I don't need navigational aid either as I can read a map and plan my route beforehand. If I want music, I use the radio (or my guitar) and I prefer human opponents in games.
I guess they'll put me in a museum soon...

 

[SPCTRE]

 

[Kemaiku]

*reads through thread*

I mean, short answer is no. But there's more shouting at clouds going on than I thought there'd be.

 

[Jedi_Master]

*reads through thread*

I mean, short answer is no. But there's more shouting at clouds going on than I thought there'd be.

YOU ARE NOT OF THE BODY!

 

[BJ Wagner]

*reads through thread*

I mean, short answer is no. But there's more shouting at clouds going on than I thought there'd be.

I not not mean this thread to be taken seriously in any sort of way. There are quite a few people on this site with a great sense of humour and just wanted to see what fun social commentary people might have on the impact technology is having on their lives. I apologize if reader think I'm being serious or alarmist. But I've said too much, my PS4 is giving me a disapproving gaze.

 

[Spot's Meow]

I would be more worried about the Mama Borg, not some little cub.

Kor

It's taken me a whole day to realize that the OP meant to say Borg Cube rather than cub. I was thinking of a baby Borg (even though that makes no sense).

 

[BJ Wagner]

It's taken me a whole day to realize that the OP meant to say Borg Cube rather than cub. I was thinking of a baby Borg (even though that makes no sense).

Curse you spell check for not interpreting me properly? When will it become self-aware and do what it wasn't programmed to do!

Cube.... It's supposed to be Cube!!!!

 

[thestrangequark]

Part of my body has been replaced by a computer, so I am a cyborg, and that makes me awesome.

Also, all the whining about people glued to their phones is the stupidest luddite crap in the world (unless they're driving or walking into fountains, of course -- then they deserve face serious consequences in the former case and serious mockery in the latter). I mean, think about it: what is someone glued to their phone doing?

Are they texting friends and loved ones to see when and where to meet? Are they texting someone across the country? Across the globe? Are they on Facebook or Twitter -- again, hearing the ideas and voices of people from places and cultures they probably would never have had access too just a generation before? Are they communicating in a way we never would've thought possible just a couple decades ago? Are they utilizing tools like maps and calculators or playing games? Well, that's nothing new, only the mode of access has changed. Are they reading books? News? Are they consuming information for knowledge or pleasure? I mean, I know your original post was partly in jest, but never have more individuals been more capable of expressing their opinions!

I mean, seriously, smart phones are the way most people in the world access the internet. They are facilitating the sharing of knowledge and ideas (good and bad) entertainment, and information, and allowing us to explore the world in a way we never have before. And people think they're contrarian and cool for saying their turning us into morons and drones. It's silly.

 

[Gov Kodos]

Part of my body has been replaced by a computer, so I am a cyborg, and that makes me awesome.

Also, all the whining about people glued to their phones is the stupidest luddite crap in the world (unless they're driving or walking into fountains, of course -- then they deserve face serious consequences in the former case and serious mockery in the latter). I mean, think about it: what is someone glued to their phone doing?

Are they texting friends and loved ones to see when and where to meet? Are they texting someone across the country? Across the globe? Are they on Facebook or Twitter -- again, hearing the ideas and voices of people from places and cultures they probably would never have had access too just a generation before? Are they communicating in a way we never would've thought possible just a couple decades ago? Are they utilizing tools like maps and calculators or playing games? Well, that's nothing new, only the mode of access has changed. Are they reading books? News? Are they consuming information for knowledge or pleasure? I mean, I know your original post was partly in jest, but never have more individuals been more capable of expressing their opinions!

I mean, seriously, smart phones are the way most people in the world access the internet. They are facilitating the sharing of knowledge and ideas (good and bad) entertainment, and information, and allowing us to explore the world in a way we never have before. And people think they're contrarian and cool for saying their turning us into morons and drones. It's silly.

While there is something to be said for not needing the banal chatter of polite elevator talk, it's vastly over stating the value of online conversation to think there is much more valuable communication going on around the internet than before it came along. The volume of conversation may have gone up but the weight of gold to dross doesn't seem to have changed very much.