It's our way or no way at all!
It's interesting that while reading this chapter on computer technology how humans, well at least those who live in a technolopoly try to accommodate everything to ourselves that it seems like we never know what it is we exactly want in life. In my opinion it seems like we do whatever it takes to make the humankind species sovereign in comparison to all other creations of species on this planet. I think postman does a good job showing this through the use of computers. In a broad spectrum we have the tendency to take an object and turn it into something that reflects ourselves and our cultures. Like postman said if we do in deed take objects and reflect our characteristics on them (i.e. culture) they of course can never in return somehow portray any negative aspects while being associated with us because in return we as an individuals are also reflected on negatively as well. I think what postman was trying to say is one of the ways that we tend to reflect ourselves onto objects that are clearly not like us but what we claims as what represents a part of us in some aspect or another is through the use of personification. As Postman demonstrates the computer is one such clear example, probably the best example that illustrates our tendency to apply personification to objects if they somehow represent us in a positive way. For instance in postman's example about bank computers shutting down we associate ourselves by claming that we are like the machine in terms of intelligence or as the machine represents our intelligence and when these machines break down we suddenly have no ties with it because it insults our intelligence as a species. I think the computer serves as the best example for this idea of personification well just because it's more difficult for me to apply this logic as to why we even apply this idea to other simple objects such as teddy bears and etc. Maybe it's because sometimes our personification through simple objects such as teddy bears represents the caring and nurturing side of humankind.
Comments
Kisha, I really liked your post, and in many ways, I agree with you. One part specifically reminds me of something from my life that is kind of funny. I have this problem with my laptop where it will sometimes just shut off, for no apparent reason when I am in the middle of working on stuff or watching a movie, and then I have to restart it and it is such a pain. When this happens, I am so overcome with anger that I want to throw it right out the window and assume complete detachment from it, and the only reason I don't is because of its price of course. But on the other hand, when people are like "Man, your computer sucks!", I feel sort of insulted because the laptop is kind of a part of me and represents an object of my personification. Its the same way I would feel if someone insulted my dog.
Posted by: Tyler S | March 4, 2009 12:00 PM
I agree with you as well Kisha. There is something about humans that we like to consider objects as part of us. An example from my life is my car. I am always talking to my car like it is another person. I have even named it LuLu and I consider it to be apart of me. There is also another car in my condo's parking lot that I consider to be my cars boyfriend because it is the same make and model as mine. I feel a little weird for doing this, but I will probably keep doing it anyway because it is just something that humans like to do.
Posted by: Kathryn N | March 4, 2009 1:21 PM
With over 300 million people in our country alone, we strive for individuality. Personally, I take a lot of pride in the car I drive. I love making it my own, something that no one else can claim as their idea. I also have a very strong "relationship" with it, because I feel it is a part of me. When I drive it, it is an extension of my being. If you aren't into cars, then you can't understand the feeling. However trivial that may sound, it just goes to prove that people, at least in America, can have bonds with their inanimate objects.
Posted by: Drew | March 4, 2009 1:45 PM