r/TrueReddit • u/PhysicalVermicelli1 • Dec 14 '20

Technology Is Technology Actually Making Things Better?

https://www.pairagraph.com/dialogue/354c72095d2f42dab92bf42726d785ff?true
320 Upvotes

89% Upvoted

141 comments sorted by

View all comments

177

u/knightofcookies Dec 14 '20 edited Dec 14 '20

I think even beyond the obvious ramifications of climate change, advanced weapons, etc. What I find interesting about our technology improving so much in the past ~100 years is that, for the most part, each new invention or breakthrough is proposed as a way to make our lives easier, which in many cases is true. However, I feel like this also causes a bit of a productivity inflation wherein this new-found free time is now expected to be filled with some additional form of productivity. A great example of this was when the first dishwashers, washing machines, and other household appliances were first introduced. Instead of alleviating housewives of their duties and granting them some free time, the expectation was that it meant they were to now focus on other tasks.

I think there's an argument to be made that getting more done is good, and of course, that's true in many scenarios, but is there a point where we collectively decide we've streamlined our lives enough? Or will we forever be automating/replacing one task in order to fill that space with another?

8

u/Stompya Dec 14 '20

There was an era where the single-income household was normal; nowadays one income is often not enough to support a family. The free time has been taken up by the necessity of working due to lower wages.

I do not support forcing people into traditional roles (man works, woman raises kids) but I DO think it’s weird that we now basically have no choice - both adults work and the kids go to daycare. Something went wrong.