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I described that they've destroyed a lot of 'old' (not really) buildings around here, and how my memories connect to physical places
As I'm walking around my childhood neighborhood, I'm flooded with early memories of everything.
I want to share a particular one, on the theme of computers.
It's a warm feeling of cozyness and warmth. Sitting inside, in the glow of the screen, the machine humming beside the table. Possibly playing some game. With everybody safe, the family together, with no worry, happy and content with everything.
How strange to experience that in nostalgia, imagination and memory. The buildings and the orange light glowing from small windows, cozy looking homes between patches of trees, with families inside, taking shelter and cover.
(Wittgenstein was somewhere along the lines that words and language set the boundary for philosphy, because we cannot express anything that is 'beyond' them. So I'm sort of fumbling here.)
Let me remark that what made me happy was more than the machine: computers are and were an extension. What I mean is that you can easily drop too deep into 'non toxic' cyberspace too. These devices are primed for unhealthy escapism and we should be aware of that. This is the main reason why I'm so into the 'offline first' thing. It helps to create this healthy balance.
You get way more meaning from the real world with your 100 000 000 dollar biochemical wonder vessel than anything. I can't but underline what is the 'real' hardware here.
With balance we can extend ourselves as far as the technology actually allows us, as human beings.
In excess it becomes a process of externalization and alienation: something that I personally deem unhealthy.
Some 10 years ago I got really fed up with the useless consumerism and how it's becoming almost a social requirement; people are more admirable if they use _more_ resources and not less. What the hell? And how silly is that?
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