A narrative for humanity

Douglas Rushkoff witnessed the initial promise of the internet ⁠— a ‘social medium’ for thoughtful encounters and the democratizing of knowledge.

Source: https://rushkoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/unnamed.jpg

It’s since become ‘social media’; a system that colonizes our minds and enriches a handful of ethically challenged developers. Rushkoff says we need to reaffirm that we are social beings and reappropriate technology to support and cultivate what he calls ‘Team Human.'1

Yuval Harari comments that we won’t currently have a narrative. The last century had 3 narratives

1. Fascist story: struggle between nations
2. Communist story: struggle among classes
3. Liberal story: struggle between liberty and tyranny

 Understanding the liberal narrative is nuanced.

The big heroes of the story were the people. Now people hear big ideas and technology. They are no longer part of the story of the future. The future doesn't need the common person. The future is artificial intelligence, bio-engineering. Can technology empower people to do more interesting work? Humans will require high skills and education. In thirties movement was from farm to tractor factory. Learning the job of factory worker was possible. Transition to engineering software or developing video games will be more difficult.

Knowing people better than they know themselves is a future possibility. Looking "under your skin" for bio measurements; heart rate, blood pressure, and brain activity. "Surveillance capitalism" is monitoring what is happening inside your body. It has great economic value. It offer good potential for best and cheapest healthcare. There is great danger for abuse to manipulate and control people. It may provide not only healthcare but guidance in all the decisions we make. I am advised by an algorithm that knows me so well. 

Yuval Harari comments on money as a fictional story, an entity that only exists in the minds of humans. The story told by bankers to enable people to trade effectively. We trust in the story of the dollar. We trade. We cooperate.



and explore the role of stories in being human.

1(2019, December 19). Get thee behind me, tech: putting humans before social media .... Retrieved December 27, 2019, from https://www.cbc.ca/radio/ideas/get-thee-behind-me-tech-putting-humans-before-social-media-1.5402307