From: Dickey, Michael F (michael_f_dickey@groton.pfizer.com)
Date: Mon May 06 2002 - 08:52:47 MDT
Mike wrote, in relevant part:
>I did become greatly concerned at the sort of
>messages that this broadcast is trying to send in the area of promoting
>the romance of a primitive pastoral existence over modern life.
"You might find it consoling, then, to hear that I know of at least two
libertarian economics professors who have worked the show into their
lessons,
all with the aim of demonstrating to their students exactly how *un*romantic
(or, at least, how dreary and uncomfortable) life was only a very short
while
ago."
T.0. Morrow
----------------
That was the impression I got from the show as well. While it did not
preech that message that life without advanced technology was hard, short,
painfull and sad, I think your average viewer had some sense of that,
especially when one of the couples said that they didnt even have time to be
romantic. I always say that to any technophobes I talk to, when you spent
your whole life farming there was no time for reading, writing, painting,
singing, etc. etc. etc., let alone sitting around and thinking how romantic
your 'natural' lifestyle was. I think it could have done a better job of
showing how bad life was, as most of those families would have froze to
death over the winter, had a kid or two die already, and some would have
probably been motherless, as she would have died during childbirth. But it
definately did not romanticize the life, even though they missed it when
they left. I can see how you could see some luddite themes in there though
"life in this century is boring" "we feel so disconnected now" I would have
some advice to these people, READ, get some HOBBIES! Appreciate your free
time, immerse yourself in everything that makes living and bing human
worthwhile. I want more modern conveniences, I have to prioritize my
hobbies, damn it.
My thoughts were it was too bad people are so disconnected from technology
that they do not realize the conveniences they provide, its a shame that
these people had to go through that to realize how usefull a washer and
dryer were. Transuhamnisists should have a 'technology appreciation day' to
promulgate just such an appreciation.
Michael
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