Our postmodern consumerist society seems designed to kill empathy, to break meaningful connections between people. Everything becomes transactional, mechanised - empty of real significance in a mental landscape saturated by global media. There is a void where the sacred used to be, which no amount of shopping on credit can fill. We have replaced community with convenience, sincerity with cynicism, as society becomes more claustrophobic and isolating.
Turning ourselves into bio-computers in the quest for more intelligence - what could go wrong? It’s love, wisdom and empathy humanity needs, more than information processing.
Thanks, Kevan. I’ve always been curious about Seoul. Do you think the locals’ friendliness has something to do with their strict laws and pressure to socially assimilate? I also thought of Seoul as one of those highly manufactured tech dystopian cities - is that an unfair assumption?
Well, after living here for 15 years (not in Seoul but smaller cities) I figured out how to navigate sidewalks, public transportation and culture. Love the great public transportation. Love the fact that Koreans take their jobs seriously for the most part. Kids are celebrated: they have a children’s holiday in May. Koreans are very good at running cafes as they strive to be small business people. Fun fact: until 2019 Korea had more cafes in total number than the USA. My favorite cafes in Nanaimo (Canada of course) are run by Koreans.
Our postmodern consumerist society seems designed to kill empathy, to break meaningful connections between people. Everything becomes transactional, mechanised - empty of real significance in a mental landscape saturated by global media. There is a void where the sacred used to be, which no amount of shopping on credit can fill. We have replaced community with convenience, sincerity with cynicism, as society becomes more claustrophobic and isolating.
Well said, Martin. 100%.
https://www.activistpost.com/node-without-consent/
Turning ourselves into bio-computers in the quest for more intelligence - what could go wrong? It’s love, wisdom and empathy humanity needs, more than information processing.
Great article.
Currently visiting South Korea for two months and hanging out in the big city, Seoul, at the moment.
Very comfortable to get around and survive as a tourist. People are friendlier here than big Canadian cities.
Thanks, Kevan. I’ve always been curious about Seoul. Do you think the locals’ friendliness has something to do with their strict laws and pressure to socially assimilate? I also thought of Seoul as one of those highly manufactured tech dystopian cities - is that an unfair assumption?
Well, after living here for 15 years (not in Seoul but smaller cities) I figured out how to navigate sidewalks, public transportation and culture. Love the great public transportation. Love the fact that Koreans take their jobs seriously for the most part. Kids are celebrated: they have a children’s holiday in May. Koreans are very good at running cafes as they strive to be small business people. Fun fact: until 2019 Korea had more cafes in total number than the USA. My favorite cafes in Nanaimo (Canada of course) are run by Koreans.