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No technology is inevitable

October 22, 2024

The “inevitability” of technology—that some tech has to be developed because someone will think of it eventually—is a crock of bullshit we’ve all been fed by greedy capitalists.

I heard an example once that illustrates this principle well for me. If you know where this example originated, please do write me an email and let me know.

I can imagine a shit-in-eye machine: a machine whose sole purpose is to take a piece of literal shit, and places it in your eye. That’s all it does: it puts shit in your eye. Is anyone going to make and sell this machine? Of course not, despite the fact that I have thought of it, because it’s a stupid and harmful idea, and no sane person would want such a product.

No technology is inevitable. Just because you thought of it, doesn’t mean it has to be made.