I am still amazed by the fact that the part of counterculture led by Stewart Brand with the Whole Earth Catalog/Review and The WELL so completely decided that technology is the way to go. I am still amazed by the fact that we code monkeys still believe it, even as we are used to build the systems that bless and curse us from the sad heights of beaurocracy and power.
Is technology the only way to personal freedom in a mechanical world? Can we really use the System to get out from underneath it? Are we not its builders? By legitimizing ourselves to culture/industry's foolishness, do we not legitimize the System?
That all depends on your definition of technology, freedom, and system. What ever happened to Fanatic Life and Symbolic Life Among the Computer Bums? What happened to all the grand dreams of the people and the people who followed them?
Does an understanding of Foucaults biopolitics, or any other deeply complex theory really make a huge difference in someone's quality of life? No! (at least not unless one's quality of life is furthered by being willing and capable to explain complicated theories for a salary).
Technology rarely turns out as we expect.
Either technology can't ultimately help people where they need help, or I'm selfish. Both.
The people who talk about technology, freedom, and culture, why are they comfortable academic types and businessmen, at least now that the sixties are over? Do I have to answer their questions? I don't think so (is this how the world of ideas advances? By subsequent generations deciding that the past generations' questions are defunct? How silly. Now it's my turn. The questions of the past are defunct.).
I choose to be tethered to the practical. I choose to refuse the goal of enlarging my mind under the pretense of doing something good for humanity. I choose to get to work as much as I can in my current situation, wherever I am, to benefit my fellow humans. I choose to use whatever tool is best, and I choose to competently evaluate what is best, but not so much that I get distracted in evaluation and development.
I am a Scavenging Geek Luddite.