WS 3371 Fall 2007

The Corrections is a strange short story. Much is not explained but the overwhelming inability to understand and “fix” today’s technologies was a large part. The Christmas lights that were talked of in the story sort of explain the history of many technologies. They have an introduction point from which they are built upon, improved or replaced by another technology that does the same job more efficiently. It talked of how humans are unfortunate enough to know that they want infinite life. They have control over the entire world and all of its creation. We are constantly changing and improving our surroundings so that they are better suited for our wants and needs.
“comfort” relates technology over time to the advancement of society and government. Without the luxuries that we have today we would not have the society that we have. Cleanliness and central heating are some of a variety of things that we have as a luxury but they contribute to health. The health of people and society and culture is all dependent upon what we have and want as “luxuries”. Many things that we have today have become necessities because everyone has them and it is the norm.

First off, I want to know the question!!! I read this half meaningful article to be deprived of the last punch line. So, I will try to reflect on this ‘to be continued…’ piece.

It starts off with the American viewpoint of, “To willfully designate as trash an object that you knew wasn’t trash. Modernity expected this designation and Alfred resisted it.” I say this is the American viewpoint because we are somewhat wasteful and with modern technology—we just don’t know what to use our old wore out items for.

This next excerpt sums up my parents frustrations with computers. “Because he didn’t understand the technology, he had no way to know the nature of the failure or to take steps to correct it.” I am currently feeling that way with deciding on what type of laptop to purchase. I don’t know anything about a Mac but I am encouraged and am interested in purchasing one. I have no understanding of them and would not know the steps to correct any problems.

In “The Corrections” I definitely agree with how modernity expected Alfred to chuck a mostly functional string of lights and just buy some new ones. I like how in the past, you would twist each individual light, replace them one at a time, essentially do a lot of work to salvage what you had. Then as technology got a little better (in the story’s case, one burned out light wouldn’t knock out the whole string) as soon as something goes wrong, you’re not expected to spend all that effort fixing what you had, you were just supposed to go out a buy a new one. This idea I think is applied in some sense to the human form itself. I think it was the part, “…eventually some of your internal hardware…became obsolete, and so, even though many other parts of you still functioned well, an argument could be made for junking the whole human machine,” that really illustrated this. And then Alfred describes how when he was pulled out of the water, even though most of him was in fine working order, people treated him like he was unable to function, much like the string of lights he was working on. Making a bit of stretch, it makes me wonder if technology and medicine ever get to the point of cloning body parts and such, will the human body be seen as worthless as soon as one part breaks, when it is so easy just to replace it?

A quick bit about the “Comfort” essay, I like how Huxley justifies comfort as a means to an end, in this case the end being enlarging the mind and mental labor. But I also agree that comfort in today’s society has become the end, where it seems a lot of mental labor is just to figure out how I can be more comfortable. However, I like comfort as much as the next person (and the next person being someone other than Huxley) and even though we might be pursuing comfort in excess, I’d hate to think what life would be like without central heating, indoor plumbing and horrible chairs.

Christmas lights are a definite pain, but at the same time it has always been a fun past time to sit on the kitchen floor and slowly untangle the strands. It's interesting how the excerpt gives such a great narration while at the same time highlighting the battle that exists with the wear of human machinery, and how as the body slowly breaks down we become more and more reliant on simple tasks being done for us. Or is it just that humans, with the introduction of more and more luxurious options, become lazy and believe that it is more worthwhile to drive to the store and replace a string of lights rather than struggle with faulty wiring? While the story doesn't give an answer to either of these questions, I believe that both can equally be assumed.
As time goes on, and products become cheaper (such as christmas lights), and luxury is available with the same decline in price, people will become more and more reliant on them because they can afford to.

As far as the "Comfort" essay goes, I don't agree with the enlarging of the mind coming to an end. I think it's more of a time when specialization's are being established (ex. a person that can further enhance plumbing systems has a mind that is dedicated to these systems and others like it while paying no attention to ergonomics). It's kind of like how college students are designated to choosing a major to study. It is possible that students could try and learn three or four different majors, but they would only be able to succeed so far in each before their life was over. Even though specialization has been around for thousands of years (blacksmithing, hunting, artwork, etc), they are now more focused in on a smaller scope (atoms and physical interactions).

"The Corrections:
While reading, I knew that I've been in Alfred's shoes before. Not necessarily replacing Christmas lights but I know I've upgraded or bought new products to replace the old ones if the old ones were broke or simply because the newer version of that product has more functions and uses than the older version. I just looked around my room and noticed that all but one technological item in my room are upgrades or new versions of what I previously owned. I would consider myself a person that wants to have the newest and best items on the market.... and I know I'm not the only one.

In general, every technological innovation that we have read and discussed about throughout the semester has made our society more connected and have made things a lot more convenient/easier for us. I am always waiting and wanting to hear about the newest technology that will change the way we live. I can't wait to see what new comes out in the year 2020...2009 even.

As I read the "Comfort" article, I heard my chair begin to groan underneath me... Seconds later it buckled on one side. Perhaps my suspicions about Huxley being a sorcerer were right after all. Or maybe its just a sign about the illusion of comfort. Either way it still does not help me decide what I should do with the seat. A while ago, during a ride on the metro transit, I noticed a sign outside a small shop reading "Chairs Re-Glued" and thinking what a strange idea that was. Perhaps I'll go investigate this business and see what kind of artifact continues this dead trade. Hopefully this person will still be available. I would hate to walk in to find " a sea of blood and bone chips and gray matter", the remains of someone waiting for an answer to the same questions I have been asking for the past few years. Why comfort, why planned obsolescence, why consumerism?

As for Huxley's statement about discomfort disrupting the thought process, I would have to disagree. While I sit on the floor and finish my nights homework, I find that the discomfort created by this situation helps to focus my efforts. Instead of lounging in my comfy chair and taking my time with the work, the lack of luxury motivates me to finish as quickly as possible, so I can move on to something else.

Like the guy in the story, I am always interested in trying to fix malfunction stuffs. Although I have absolutely no idea about how the machine works, I'll be enjoying look into this part and look into that part, see if by breaking some functioned parts into pieces will make the malfunction part into work. (of course, the situation just get worse, more parts broke apart). Guys like we tried to fixed new technologies with the out of date knowledge towards the subjects.
In my opinion of view, since the technology is greatly improving, new stuff comes out everyday. Its hard to keep up with the most current new technology, so even if we know how to fixed a thing 10 years ago, your skill of fixing that thing won't be apply to 10 years later.
For example, you knew how to fix a TV 10 years ago, do you know how to fix a LCD screen TV 10 years later? your knowledge of fixing TV will be out of date if you don't keep up with it.
I'll be just like the guy in the story, i'll just go out wait 20 minutes and get a new strand instead of wasting more time trying to fixed the old thing. Time is money!

so now, unless the broken goods are expensive items, i'll be like the guy try to fix it, however if the thing is a cheap item like chrismas light strand, i'll just go out and buy a new one!

I kind of feel like Alfred sometimes. It seems like such a waste to throw something away because of a couple of faulty wires. I also feel like sometimes the time it takes to replace those faulty wires is wasted when you could go get a new one so much more quickly.I also feel like this story is questioning how "modernity", as Alfred puts it, makes everything expendable, from christmas lights to humanity. What good is someone if they don't know how to fix some of the most simple technology?

Well this wasn't one of my favorite articles that we have read this semester, but it did make me us my imagination some. I just didn't like the jumpy nature of the article, I was often confused about what was goin on.

I thought this quote was interesting, "The human species was given dominion over the earth and took the opportunity to exterminate other species and warm the atmosphere and generally ruin things in its own image, but paid this price for its privileges." This got me thinking, are we really that bad? Are we really that selfish? I would probably have to say yes we are. Thoughout most of our existance humans have been doing what it takes to become more in power. Technology has been an important part of this journey for power. Now we are devistating our environmets because we want the faster sports car or the house that is 3 times the size we need. I am wondering if we will regret paying the prices to have dominion over the earth in the near future

First, let me say: I have the same problem with my christmas lights.

I see this piece as a way to show people where they are headed when they get older. The older we get, the harder it is too keep up with the new. It seems to me that Alfred is not just sad and scared, but he is also very insightful and maybe even slightly sarcastic. Something that would have been easy to fix in the past now boggles his minds and frusturates him. That to sit in line for a new set of christmas lights is inthinkable, because they should work and he should be able to fix them in the first place.

This type of behavior and thinking can also been seen in everyday society. We are constantly trying to keep up with everything. But eventually, it will all pass us by, and all we cana do is go to the store and buy something new.

Comfort was a strange reading and I admit I read it too fast, got to the sea part then to how he was debating suicide and realized I must read it again. I get the first part. I understand how wasteful we can be because it is easier to drive down to the market and replace your old christmas lights. If we have an easier option and access to replacement technologies that is the more popular path to take. Everything we do now a days is quick and not fixed by 'us'. Its quick to buy a replacement because we don't know how to fix it and most likely will make it worse if we try to fix it. It's affordable to buy a replacement and with cars and internet shopping it is quick and a lot less frustrating than fixing something yourself. Most of us don't even know how to fix some of the technology we own. My computer is not working so well but its beyond me how to fix it. However, its really fulfilling when you are capable of fixing something with your hands.

The last part of Comfort took a few re-reads but here are my thoughts. When the reading said, "It came a time when death became the last opportunity for radical transformation and a portal to infinite" I think he was comparing himself to technology, the lights. Old technologies die, aka get replaced, but they still live on in history because they are the reason for that technology to advance and continue to be used. The same with death. We celebrate the person and some believe in an afterlife. The love you have for someone who has past on lives with you for ever and molds who you are as a person.

However, to inflict pre mature death would be a violation of privacy. People would analyze and research possible reasons why, warning signs and focus on the suicidal incident rather than the life of the person. Just getting rid of a technology that has not yet run its course leads to rash conclusions on what made the technology not work without looking at the technology as a whole and getting to know all the parts and inner workings.

Thats what I think I got from it. As for the question...dunno.

I’m kind of scared of the day when technology surpasses my ability to understand it. I guess I am more afraid of being like that old man; alone, trying to keep myself busy with silly knickknacks.

I am not at the point of not being to understand technology but I am noticing my dad is detaching himself from new things. It is kind of sad how older generations are shunned from society by their children and to some extent innovations.

To some extent technology is advancing to a point where for I no longer get an intuitive sense of it anymore. I don’t know if it is me being used to older technologies or that technologies are made for younger generations (though I am not “old”). Maybe I mentioned it in another blog but I don’t remember so here goes again. For Thanksgiving I played xbox 360 with my buds and initially it took us about a half an hour to figure out how to connect the controller. Then once in the game there were soooooooo many options to choose from. This is not isolated case.

Eventually we all settle in into a comfort zone with certain technologies, movies, music, habits, etc whether by choice otherwise.

I have felt like Alfred, why would we go through all of the lights to find the one light that is not working, when you could just go to the store and buy a new strand. As Americans we are very wasteful, especially when it comes to replacing technologies. We have a tendency to just replace the older technologies the second that something goes wrong with it. One other thing that I have noticed is how we are obsessed with having the newest of technology and will replace a technology just because there is a newer better model out that we want to have.

Yeah we do seem to move along to a new technology rather quickly, but its not an instant thing, and sometimes we choose to not adopt new technologies all together. I can think of a few examples of a superior technology that was not adopted. Betamax, made by Sony, was a competitor to VHS, made by JVC. Like the more recent Mini Disc, also by Sony, the Betamax was considered by many to be superior. Neither of Sony's formats took off however. Today we have the HD DVD and the Bluray (also by Sony). Everyone I know still uses standard DVD discs, and no one is sure whether HD DVD or Bluray will win the battle, if either.

Comfort is an interesting article. This class has really opened my eyes to the new technologies that have caused a ripple effect throughout the years. It's amazing because most these resources were available to us 200 years ago, but we've just decided to use them for our advancement. Our technology advancement has caused us to get lazy -- we're all about convenience.

This class has totally indirectly dealt with how we've dropped one technology for the next. Automobiles caused roads to be created. We definitely need roads to commute from one place to the other, but now we also have airplanes. Beepers, another technology, that has totally been phased out by cellular phone. Chatrooms that have totally been phased out with social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook. And unfortunately, I believe this will continue forever.

Aldous Huxley made some interesting observations in his piece.

I like the part about how people of stature would live in cavernous estates, but would sleep in small chambers that could be more easily heated.

I look around and wonder what I could stand to live without. Power windows? Air conditioning? How much electricity do we need to use? Is energy consumption a status symbol? That would be an interesting concept.

People who can heat and light their huge mansions, while driving their Escalades and running a huge generator for no reason are the coolest!

Americans are spoiled with technology. We have so much to attribute to our technological advances. Computers, cars, cell phones—the list goes on and on. However, at some point these technologies become “old” and almost obsolete (the big bag car phone). It is rather disappointing to see how technology doesn’t “keep” up with our wasteful nature. I think society has lost something with the gains made in technology. Today, people are less “handy”. Instead of fixing something—like Christmas tree lights, people just throw them away. Humans have lost great “handyman” skills just because of better technology. For instance, when my cell phone wasn’t working properly earlier this fall, I had to call the company to fix it. Now we so heavily rely upon others to help us with technology. Overall, technology is a great thing for all of mankind. However, we all must not let ourselves be carried away. With each new innovation, something is lost from the human race, and it can never be recovered.

ooops
Adding my name would help.

Aldous Huxley made some interesting observations in his piece.

I like the part about how people of stature would live in cavernous estates, but would sleep in small chambers that could be more easily heated.

I look around and wonder what I could stand to live without. Power windows? Air conditioning? How much electricity do we need to use? Is energy consumption a status symbol? That would be an interesting concept.

People who can heat and light their huge mansions, while driving their Escalades and running a huge generator for no reason are the coolest!

When I was reading Corrections, I liked that there was a correlation made between Alfred and old Christmas lights. The Christmas lights had a few problems, many that seemed to be unfixable; just like Alfred. Alfred has a bad shoulder, he can’t see in one eye, and he doesn’t have much energy, just how the lights do not stay on for very long. But instead of abandoning the Christmas lights, to just throw them away, he holds on to them. Much like his life, he has become old, people treat him differently. He never really imagined his body to wear out, just like he never imagined the Christmas lights to go out when he bought them. Is death the only portal to the infinite? I guess only time will tell.

I'm for advancements in technology so long as they legitimately help someone accomplish a worthwhile task. For example, hand lotion warmers = bad use of human ingenuity, the telephone and light bulb = good use of human ingenuity. I can see how Huxley might think that the enlargement of the mind might be coming to an end, but I'm sure there are still many worthwhile inventions out there waiting to be discovered.

Alternatively, I agree with Rob in that I find being uncomfortable can be a motivating factor. Sometimes I, too, will purposely start my homework in an uncomfortable position or go to a place that I am not familiar with in because I "get to go home when I'm finished."

Man, after looking for about fifteen minutes for the sentence or two hidden under that strip of paper at the end of "The Corrections", all proves fruitless. I can only hope blindly that it was covered because you intend to tell us all what the question is in class as a way to make us think impromptu about a very thought-provoking ending.

In any case, i attempt to remember everything that i have and to be happy and grateful for it all to prevent myself from taking it for granted (not always that easy), and admittedly i never thought to be happy for the springs in my bed mattress or for chairs. Aldous Huxley's essay was very interesting in this regard. Also, i kept laughing a lot when he mentioned all the lolling people did or didn't do, given the context of "lol" in modern society. Lol!

I am a person who has trouble doing tedious task and is much more accustom to throwing out the tangled mess of xmas lights and buying new; Though I do find satisfaction in fixing things. Simplicity is getting replaced with convenience. Modern devices reaching levels complexity far beyond the understanding and abilities of society, even the technologically apt. A computer engineer can do nothing about a single fried band on a circuit board that was assembled by a machine. We replace every day devices with technology that exceeds our everyday abilities and skills. Still we seek the omnipotent mouse trap of all mouse traps that will more efficiently complete the task. Man kind is exerting more and more control on everything around it. We constantly make all aspects of life more accommodating and comfortable. Society is trending towards a culture of constant comfort and instant gratification. What ever happen to living simply so others can simply live? Honestly do people really need lotion warmers?

Aren't we all like Alfred? Isn't it human nature to be like Alfred? I believe that mankind is previlaged with the urge to improve his life and his suroundings. Although some recent technological invention are a bit unnecessary but we can't deny the fact that alot of individuals take the benefits of the technologies for granet. The technological advancement of the modern society are the reason that we are able to sustain decent lifestyles and not have to worry about things that are a major issue in undeveloped countries. With the increasing population, technology is the reason that individuals have the opportunity to better their lives and the lives of the others. So when it come to throwing away malfunctioned items, I have no problem to upgrade. Every technology has its place and its time. Once a better technology is available there is no reason to hold back just to preserve nature. Technology is the reason that we can continue our survival and still lower our damage to nature. Overall Technological improvment is awesome!