I am so tired of all the recent “turn back the clock” initiatives spreading across the mainstream media.  Just as I don’t want to milk my own cow, use leeches when I am sick, walk to work, or churn my own butter, I see absolutely no reason to turn off my lights, leave my Smart Phone off, or go without tech for a day.  Progress is progress no matter what we desire and artificial and invented causes that tell you we all need to “do without” are just silly.

On Sundays I offer comments on some of the most interesting information technology stories that I have found on the web that week.  Please feel free to join in the discussion or suggest other stories.

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Today’s comments are associated with a well written, but misguided discussion of “No Tech Day”.  A movement that seeks for you to go without technology for one day a year.  It is equally aimed at this year’s semi-religious Earth Hour coverage that spammed Google News and all of the variously named groups that want you to give up tech to somehow help the developing world (Google news).  Give the story a read here:

arstechnica.com – Fasting from technology: Saturday is No Tech Day By Nate Anderson

“No Tech Day is a time to set aside the luxury gadgets for 24 hours "to raise awareness of how much we all rely on and use gadgets in our everyday life, and think what life is like for people in the developing world who do not have the same access to technology and energy.”

There really is not much to say besides that I think this is all very silly.  Time marches on.  The developed nations are “developed” and thus have tech.  The developing nations are by definition, under developed, and thus lack it.  No matter how many lights, computers, and cell phones get turned off for an hour, day, or week there will still be starving and underprivileged people.  This all smacks of the sort of superficial actions that people push onto others out of guilt for doing so few substantive actions that might actually help. 

I want my tech.

I want my lights on at night.

I want my iPhone on 24/7/365.

I also want people to have food to eat, clean water, access to education and the pursuit of happiness. 

Explain to me again how denying myself the first three will in any way, shape, or form help the last?

What do you think about this topic?  Do you agree or disagree with me? Do you have a recommended news story for next week? Please share your ideas below.

That is my Information Technology Thought of the Day (ITTOD) for March 28, 2010  by Scott Coughlin.

Image Credit: nativevillage.org

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