One of today’s popular truths is that people (especially young people) are so mired in technological gadgetry that they are missing out on important things. Actually, I think many of the technological gadgets rank high as the most important things, but to those who want to make sweeping judgments about how the quality of life is being destroyed, my hesitancy to agree would probably be seen as annoying. Or maybe “non-judgmental” which is seen as a close cousin to moral relativism. Heaven forfend!
Anyway, some anonymous author has put together a collection of pictures showing assorted young people at the beach, at a major athletic event (why they had to single out Michigan fans I do not know!), eating dinner in restaurants, and visiting an art museum, and of course in every instance they are texting, playing with their Iphones, and completely ignoring what is immediately in front of them.
The pictures may represent a legitimate argument against the high-tech world of today, but the anonymous author was not content merely to let them do that and perhaps add his opinion. But no. Preceding pictures is a solemn invocation of Albert Einstein.
The day that Albert Einstein feared has finally arrived.
And for all you morons who don’t realize how “prescient” Einstein was, after you have dutifully scrolled through through the pictorial indictment of smartphone culture, the author invokes a famous Karsh photograph of Albert Einstein, which has been superimposed with the following “quote”:
“I fear the day that technology will surpass our human interaction. The world will have a generation of idiots.”
I will grant that the above quote expresses a legitimate fear, but there is no evidence Einstein ever said it.
Attributing fake quotes to famous and respected people is an online phenomena that will never die, because it appeals to a very common human tendency to want things that are liked (or popular) to actually be true.
So if people like whatever the thing is that is said, many would want Einstein (or some other famous person) to have said it, because that makes it more persuasive. As was the case with the famous but fake “bee quote,” invoking Einstein imbues an otherwise unremarkable opinion with genius.
What could be more popular than that?
OTOH, I might merely be revealing myself as an old poop, throwing cold water on other people’s beliefs. Perhaps in the future, truth will be determined by popularity, and people who take issue with it will become undemocratic. Elitist. Maybe even “enemies of truth.”
Here’s the image (simply click below to see the full size version).
Comments
6 responses to “Another Einstein truth I’m too moronic to appreciate”
“OTOH, I might merely be revealing myself as an old poop, throwing cold water on other people’s beliefs. ”
Heh – I’ve been one of those for years. Especially with those pass-arounds that go around and around and around. Sigh. Oh, and never mind cold water. I throw ICE water.
Although I can’t really disagree with the particular fake quote above. Seems everyone in the online world believes that opening a Hallmark card will give you a virus. And that…oh nevermind.
Just, if you are emailed by some potentate in the 3rd world who wants to leave his fortune to your management, ignore him. Please?
Just to make sure I’m not doing something wrong…
If I use a mobile device to send message to people, how is “technology surpass[ing] human interaction” ?
I mean, if the guy used that quote, he might be implying that these are all kids playing Angry Birds, or something.
But text-messages, IM, email, web-browsing, and such are also available on smart phones. Most of them have a human being on the other end. Most involve interaction with that person, in some way.
I especially get annoyed by the constant stream of “This is Some Hippie-Dippie Energy Woo! – Einstein” ones that go around Facebook.
No, Einstein didn’t say that.
And no, he was kinda daft outside of his area of expertise (see his political opinions, eg. re. “peace”).
(And SJ’s right – all those people look to be interacting with people … just via the mediation of the Internet.
Plus I don’t think that was an “intimate date” photo – when a couple sits *next to* one another, they’re doing so to be all touchy-feely. I’d be more likely to believe that one if they were across, not beside.)
I stopped bothering to check quotes long ago.
I think Internet quotes are best explained by Abraham Lincoln.
You must take with a grain of salt any quote you read on the Internet.
@ Veeshir:”I think Internet quotes are best explained by Abraham Lincoln. “You must take with a grain of salt any quote you read on the Internet.””
Thank you. I needed that laugh. Indeed our Abe was a prophet extrodinaire…
There is an alternate view expressed in Connected which says that gadgets have promoted greater, and wider, interaction. Less face to face chatting, more over the wire gabbing.