How Much Freedom Are We Giving Up?
Author: Bill Garwood
How Much Freedom Are We Giving Up?
Nope, I’m not talking politics, I’m talking about freedom to do EVERYTHING by hand!
Last week, we took a trip to Nevada to see old friends we have known for years. But now they (like so many folks) have everything tied into their cell phones. While sitting in their living room talking over old times, they would literally be talking with other people about upcoming political meetings.
Many interruptions and loud voices from phones. Also, when it started to get dark, they shouted, “Alexa, turn on the lights." Right where we were sitting! I could have just reached up and turned a knob on the light, instead of yelling out to a “faceless someone” to turn on our lights. Now and then I would hear a voice come from the wall, saying someone is coming near the door. Ok, a watch…computer, that I get…kind of. I don’t want to see a dog-like machine barking at the front door!
We all joke about giving orders to a machine to do something. Amber from the Fish Tale tavern thinks about having to get things done at home and says (jokingly), “Siri feed the horses”. I agree that there are some chores that we would all like to have others do. But turn on a light? Maybe fix us a snack or wash the car. Besides, who are all these Siri’s and Alexas? My buddy's has a male voice that has an Australian accent. I can hear someone saying, “Hey mate, get us a few beers.” Just NO!
I’m not completely against having an electronic servant, but not to do everything for me. I will get up off my dead butt and shut off the lights. Of course, I will also use the TV remote to turn off more political crap but at least, for now, the TV remote doesn’t talk back at you. I could hear the remote say, “Hey! I was watching that!” when I want to go to bed. I could see myself saying, “Ok, but turn down the volume, I have to work in the morning”. No, thank you, especially if later there is screaming from the TV and me saying, “What the hell are you watching? Keep it quiet”.
Machines are doing enough work for us now; the auto workers know what I’m talking about. The machine / electronic welders are doing most all the jobs that people used to do, without even needing a break room. That’s just un-American! People need a place at work to swill their coffee or morning Pepsi. I just don’t even want to imagine machines standing around a water cooler discussing the recent football game, THAT is just disturbing.
So, people stay free. Get up and shut off your own lights. Yes, Clint, go chase your own rooster. Please let me NEVER see a robot sitting at the bar with a beer in front of it. “Siri, I’m going to bed. Try not to stay up too late!"
