The Ancients must be laughing at us!

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by panzerman, Nov 29, 2018.

  1. panzerman

    panzerman Well-Known Member

    We seem to be intoxicated on technology. I see people texting while driving on the highway, saw a woman walk into a street sign while on her phone. Our police found that twice as many people are killed by distracted driving then impaired. I would be shocked at how this is cutting into productivity in the work place! The smartphone has to be one of the worst inventions ever. What do you guys/ gals think?
     
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  3. ancient coin hunter

    ancient coin hunter 3rd Century Usurper

    My daughter was in the same class as Steve Jobs' daughter and he gave the classroom a demo of the first i-phone a couple of days before its unveiling at MacWorld. Things have gotten a heckuva lot worse ever since as far as distractions/texting/jaywalking while on the phone. It's certainly changed society and not always for the better.
     
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  4. CoinBlazer

    CoinBlazer Numismatic Enthusiast

    As a millennial, I see a different perspective than most members here...
     
  5. TyCobb

    TyCobb A product of PMD

    I wouldn't blame the device. I think it just brought to light out how dumb and easily distracted some people are.

    Now excuse me while I try to make this traffic light.
     
  6. Clavdivs

    Clavdivs Well-Known Member

    I would say that productivity has increased dramatically due to technology - smartphones included. When I was a kid I thought the coolest thing was Capt. Kirk pulling out his communicator and speaking to someone without wires... never dreamed that I would see Facetime, etc... it's just amazing.

    My daughter eats her cereal every morning with her cousin who is 2000 miles away.. they see each other, they talk.. it's really great.

    My older daughter has homework sessions with her friends .. again awesome.

    I work from home... I manage 65 computer technicians in various countries... from my home office.. I see and talk to them all day long.

    Every new invention can be used incorrectly or abused.. I think the ancients would be proud of us.. although explaining the Kardashians would be difficult.
     
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  7. Pishpash

    Pishpash Well-Known Member

    We need a coin gif from @TIF to keep this legal :)
     
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  8. ancient coin hunter

    ancient coin hunter 3rd Century Usurper

    To be honest I'm almost as guilty as everyone else is. So I'm not really a tech curmudgeon. I'm rarely without my google phone, but I try not to text, spend too much time on social networks, or play games on my phone, especially when it can be dangerous for other folks, either drivers or pedestrians. But heck, I use my phone to snap the photos I post on CoinTalk!!!
     
  9. coin_nut

    coin_nut Well-Known Member

    Every day I see people using their smart phone while driving a motorbike or car. It is very common to see a group of people at a table all engrossed in their phones, zero conversation in so called "real time and space". And the kids; I see some of them who can not go more than a few minutes without their faces glued to a phone screen. This is Thailand I am talking about. I think the phone addiction is much worse here than it is in the states.
     
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  10. TIF

    TIF Always learning.

    I would but I'm under the gun from every angle right now, maximum stress, and for the next few weeks won't be able to do much on CT other than click "like" and make a few comments here and there
     
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  11. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    I kinda like the simpler times, when the Italians poured molten bronze into a vat of water to create AES Rude as proto-coinage for their trade and payments... Yeah, the Legions were paid with this!

    ROMAN REPUBLIC COINAGE:
    Italia Aes Rude  - bronze ca 5th-4th Century BCE 29.7mm 32.4g.jpg
    Italia Aes Rude - bronze ca 5th-4th Century BCE 29.7mm 32.4g

    This would be about an Uncia in value...

    (there, now we are legal @Pishpash ... :) )
     
    Last edited: Nov 29, 2018
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  12. Numisnewbiest

    Numisnewbiest Well-Known Member

    The last time I took my granddaughter out for lunch (she's 19), I didn't even have to mention her phone - she already knew not to turn it on or even let me see it while we were together. Nothing says "you don't matter enough" like being with someone and they're chatting away with someone else on their phone.
     
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  13. Ken Dorney

    Ken Dorney Yea, I'm Cool That Way...

    I truly think that smart phones have changed our human society in many ways in which we have not considered. There is the obvious. I get e-mails (and indeed many people here respond via phone, their messages contain a tag line advertising it as such).

    I think I am at really interesting age. I am 50. I remember all the 'old days'. I am of that age where there are numerous Hollywood movies about the 'nostalgic past' (though for me they yesterday). But today younger crowds seem to communicate in stilted and bizarre acronyms. I often have to ask my kids what they are saying, what they mean with their texts to me. Its seems to me it takes more time for them to explain. I dont know. I guess I am just old fashioned or too old.

    I remember a time when smart phones were first invented, my wife and I were in San Jose, we were waiting in line in a popular restaurant and everyone had their phone in their face. Not speaking to one another, just ignoring the world around them and tapping on their phones. Very strange at the time but very common now.

    I believe the smart phone is detrimental to society and I am sure many would agree with me, but many here are younger and wont see what I do.

    I am sure for most under the age of 25 they would have lost interest in this post after the first 20 characters. Its just the way it is.
     
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  14. 7Calbrey

    7Calbrey Well-Known Member

    We have to accept the dark side or inconvenient of new technology. Just think of the advantages. Remember cars, planes and even electricity. Life keeps on developing. I love it.
     
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  15. Jwt708

    Jwt708 Well-Known Member

    The would surely be impressed by our ability to explore space.

    [​IMG]
    Septimius Severus, Nikopolis ad Istrum, AD 139-211
    AE, 3.11g, 16.5mm; 2h
    Obv.: AV KAI [CE] CEVHPOC, laureate head right
    Rev.: NIKOΠΟΛΙΤΩΝ ΠΡΟCICT; crescent and one star
     
  16. Eduard

    Eduard Supporter**

    I do not know if this correct or not, but this is my perception: if only a fraction of the human inventiveness, resources, and money were put into finding a cure for some of the more cruel types of cancer, instead of into developing yet another iphone, app, laptop, or whatever electronic device they will come up next, humanity would be much better served.
    I know that I would
     
  17. Plumbata

    Plumbata Well-Known Member

    Smartphones are extremely sophisticated, with their functionality and usefulness counterbalanced by the almost insidious way the intuitive tap/swipe user interface has been exploited by teams of behavioral psychologists and programmers whose sole objective is to keep peoples' eyes and attention focused on their product, game, social network or other frivolous diversion for as long as possible. Gotta get those advertising dollars (and data to bundle up and sell).

    This well-engineered interface exploits our natural reward circuitry, encouraging smartphone addicts to incessantly seek the next hit of dopamine from a fresh "like" or comment on one's newest vapid selfie, or excitingly-displayed new updates, news, messages, or helpful reminders that you could be playing a rousing game of Candy Crush instead of actually doing something in the real world.

    I love the access to the internet when "out in the field" for informational enlightenment when there's a zone of ignorance that oughta be remedied, for monitoring business, and to research unfamiliar antiques and collectibles, but I've never downloaded facebook, twitter, or any such nonsense on the phone save some messaging apps for communicating with my European antiquity sources.

    It's a useful but dangerous tool (like Nuclear energy) and unfortunately some users of smartphones and similar tech can't resist and let it scramble their brains and enslave them. I prefer a nice forest or stream over algorithms, but maybe I'm just a Luddite; I hear they have virtual nature now, ya don't even have to get up, put your boots on or get your hands dirty anymore! :banghead:
     
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  18. Jwt708

    Jwt708 Well-Known Member

    Biggest thing I dislike about smartphones is the new expectation that I'm always available!

    [​IMG]
    Aurelian, AD 270-275
    Ae Antoninianus, 21mm, 3.9g, 6h; Rome mint.
    Obv.: IMP AVRELIANVS AVG; Radiate bust right.
    Rev.: ORIENS AVG; Sol advancing left holding globe, two captives below
    In Ex.: XXIS

    This reverse could be interpreted as Smartphone personified, holding the Earth and trampling it's conquered slaves. ;):D
     
  19. Numisnewbiest

    Numisnewbiest Well-Known Member

    You absolutely nailed it! Young people who grew up with this will never understand how they've been programmed to think it's normal to base their idea of self-worth on such meaningless and empty things ("likes", "retweets", etc).
     
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  20. YoloBagels

    YoloBagels Well-Known Member

  21. Orange Julius

    Orange Julius Well-Known Member

    Hahaha... behold! Celli Invicto!!!
     
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