> If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.
I always found this quote fascinating, because it kind of assumes that people obviously wanted cars, but didn't know it.
I often wonder what would happen if we went back to those people, showed them how it is to live in a city now (concrete everywhere, roads everywhere, buildings everywhere) and asked them if they would ever want that.
Sure, not everything was perfect then (and not everything is perfect now). But did they really miss TikTok? Not convinced. We make social networks because it's profitable, not because it's benefiting society. Actually the very first reason why we make tech today is because it's profitable.
Because everybody is addicted to TikTok doesn't mean it's desirable.
>I often wonder what would happen if we went back to those people, showed them how it is to live in a city now (concrete everywhere, roads everywhere, buildings everywhere) and asked them if they would ever want that.
Sure, but also show them improved sanitation, cheaper food, safety, etc.
> If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.
I always found this quote fascinating, because it kind of assumes that people obviously wanted cars, but didn't know it.
I often wonder what would happen if we went back to those people, showed them how it is to live in a city now (concrete everywhere, roads everywhere, buildings everywhere) and asked them if they would ever want that.
Sure, not everything was perfect then (and not everything is perfect now). But did they really miss TikTok? Not convinced. We make social networks because it's profitable, not because it's benefiting society. Actually the very first reason why we make tech today is because it's profitable.
Because everybody is addicted to TikTok doesn't mean it's desirable.
>I often wonder what would happen if we went back to those people, showed them how it is to live in a city now (concrete everywhere, roads everywhere, buildings everywhere) and asked them if they would ever want that.
Sure, but also show them improved sanitation, cheaper food, safety, etc.
I'm pretty sure they wouldn't trade their way of life for our concrete. It's just hard for us to see because we are used to living in concrete.