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I miss scarcity

This is not a complaint. Or, if it is a complaint, it's half-aimed at me. Mostly this is a reflection.

In the old days, I got to know music really well -- in great detail, sonically, musically, reading all the credits, the liner notes, etc. A friend would have an album I didn't, so I'd go to his house to listen. We'd talk about the music. We'd talk about how album sides hung together or didn't. We were thrilled by double albums.

Now, a torrent of information is everywhere. I listen alone, often to a single song, often not listening to anything over and over again.

You will tell me, "That's your choice." I'd half agree. It's like agreeing that "It's my choice not to live off the electrical grid." 

As I read and teach about AI, I am learning that our tools often prioritize speed and information glut. It seems, initially, like a cornucopia but it becomes a wash of "content." I must admit, I'm losing my talent for managing all this content, and I'm losing my love for it. And it's making me into a different person, somewhat, and I am not so sure I want to be that person. End of reflection.

Wizard Conjuring Cosmic Chaos Art Print featuring the drawing Let There be Content by Benjamin Schwartz

hilde45
onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
5,433 posts
 

@hilde45 great post!

As a thought experiment imagine a technology that could download the physical, mental and emotional experiences of listening to a piece of music directly into your brain.  Press an icon on your digital device and after a second or two of flashing lights and seemingly random tones you feel that you've just listened to entire symphony.  It would be near instantaneous and completely frictionless.  You would have a real memory of listening.

For some people that would be nirvana.  You wouldn't need hi-fi equipment.  That alone would be a tremendous saving of time and money.  No more debates about power cords -- Yeah!  Nor would you have to spend hours sitting in a chair actually listening to music.  Talk about mundane activities.  Of course there would be some older people who would claim that somethings not right with the digital memory brain download technology.

daledeee1's avatar
daledeee1
676 posts
 

I grew up in the classic rock era.  We had lots of records and nice equipment.  Fast forward.  Done raising kids.  Sold all the albums.  Sold most CD.

NOW, I really love streaming.  The sound is good, even in the car.

I miss the liner notes but can look them up.  What is the most enjoyable is listening to complete albums new or old, to refresh or discover.  I must admit, I have skip the clunkers.

newbee
4,843 posts
 

ghdprentice, John Galt appears (so to speak as no one knows where he is) in Ayn Rand's 'Atlas Shrugged'. An interesting book and person with a point of view. Google's AI has a paragraph on this.

stuartk
4,010 posts
 

@mitch2 

As with the many other innovations we have seen in our lifetimes, the AI train is leaving the station and you can choose whether to get on, or not.

Alas. If only this were true. 

 

@ghdprentice 

Meaning is produced by embodied beings who care. 

Very well said. 

parkergetdean
1,036 posts
 

@stuartk missing the AI train is not among my 10 top worries. 

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