CATHARSIS

I'm glad you like Yuba. "Technology" is one of the things that sets humans apart from other creatures on this particular ball of dust, and the way we react to the "technology" of our day (from ploughs to steam engines to COBOL) is one of the things that sets us apart from the other humans on this particular ball of dust. Sometimes our interactions are positive. Sometimes they're frustrating. Some people even claim to have attained spiritual enlightenment through their interaction with machines.

That's weird. But that's their business.

To me, computers and telephones and cars and airplanes are all wonderful toys. Sure, they have their down sides. "Mouse" may sound warm and fuzzy, but I just can't get into hugging my monitor in an effort to gain reaffirmation of my personal worth. (If you do, you may want to seek counseling. And don't forget to take your monitor. Both of you need to be there for the counseling to work.)

So the hardware and software are just toys. Or "tools" to you engineer-types. But the way we use them, like the way we eat our food or put on our clothes, often shows the funny side of us as humans. Animals are basically programmed to follow a predetermined set of instructions. If you're an ant, you find a leaf and take it back to the colony. Excitement is finding a different kind of leaf or fighting off an enemy attack.

But humans are different. We don't come with all the instructions. So we compensate by constantly adapting to the situations we encounter. Even when we don't have to. We try to use a blender for more than just liquifying veggies (crushed bowling balls, anyone?). Or we wear a polka dot tie with a plaid shirt. Or we use a spreadsheet for quantum mechanics instead of financial reports. Why not?

Over time we've used this natural curiosity to build up a dizzying array of methods to help us try to cope with a world we still don't completely understand. Most people (including me) think this is great! Now we don't worry about understanding life. Instead, we can concentrate on understanding technology and forget about the "big picture".

Simplification through complexification. A motto for the twenty-first century.

Fortunately, when the complexity of our lives turns us into simpletons, we can usually laugh about it. Eventually. But of course, it's much easier to laugh when an "intelligent" machine make someone else look stupid.

Just don't laugh out loud unless you're sure you can outrun him.

If you've had a "close encounter" with technology, let me know. Send an email message to me at: jayhall@xmission.com. I'll try to respond.