[JKCalhoun]

I get where you're coming from — the naively thought part. You may though just have to get a good deal more cynical. Perhaps you already are.

Tech fascinated me as a kid—and, because of my age, we're talking Apollo-era tech, promises of a moon base, the introduction of the Metric system is U.S. schools, elementary school libraries full of science books for kids on chemistry, electricity, model rocketry, etc.

I have come around to see, as I get older, that tech for tech's sake is often a hollow thing. Its biggest cheerleaders are (of course) the ones that stand to make a lot of money from it.

Change for change's sake follows in stride—is disruptive, unasked for, often benefits a few.

I dislike my modern cynicism on tech but it has also served me well.

[wiseowise]

Completely agree with every word except for

> tech for tech's sake

what we're seeing is tech for greed's sake, not tech's sake.

[intended]

Hell, tech used to be.. it still is.. the thing I am interested in.

It meant a cool future to look forward to.

This for sure isn’t that.

[nativeit]

To quote several other people who have made thoughtful pieces around this in the past: the futurism espoused by people like Elon Musk seeks to engage with the aesthetics of Star Trek, whilst ignoring entirely the post-scarcity socialism that Roddenberry’s worlds very clearly represented.

That’s not quite as apt today, as it seems he’s just as happy to engage with the aesthetics of Blade Runner while also cheerfully engaging with the fascist dystopia of Blade Runner…

[insane_dreamer]

My journey has been the same as yours.