TITLE: Messages Rather Than Conversations
AUTHOR: Eugene Wallingford
DATE: September 10, 2016 10:41 AM
DESC: 
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BODY:
Kevin Kelly, in
<A HREF="http://kk.org/thetechnium/amish-hackers-a/">
   Amish Hackers</A>:

<BLOCKQUOTE><EM>
 One Amish-man told me that the problem with phones, pagers,
 and PDAs (yes he knew about them) was that "you got messages
 rather than conversations".  That's about as an accurate
 summation of our times as any.  Henry, his long white beard
 contrasting with his young bright eyes told me, "If I had a
 TV, I'd watch it."  What could be simpler?
</EM></BLOCKQUOTE>

Unlike some younger Amish, I still do not carry a smart phone.
I do own a cell but use it only when traveling.  If our home
phone disappeared overnight, it would likely take several
days before my wife or I even noticed.

I also own a television, a now-d&eacute;class&eacute; 32" flat
screen.  Henry is right: having a TV, I find myself watching
it on occasion.  I enjoy it but have to guard vigilantly
against falling into a hypnotic trance.  It turns out that I
form certain habits quite easily.
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