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Nostalgia, as referred to in my first assignment essay, To strive to be human in a cyborg's world, is not the way — Whether outright rejection from older conservatives, or subtle fear and anxiety from young liberals.

We've used technology as an excuse to become more primitive, but it's meant to be a companion. We've finished the icing before the cake's ready. Human cognition was always supposed to continue developing, not stop. Now, let's not ignore the benefits that the internet has contributed such as: communication, connection, and exchange. ...Done. No, I joke. You and I wouldn't be able to share this experience with others, as with many. ...but these pros are only a veil covering the eyes of the cons. I feel this also has something to do with our current ties to past subcultures; seeing it more as a guide than a reference for how to act in a technological and mass-manufactured world. Though art, music, and writing can be in their rightful place: Niches; Respected as human crafts and specifically sought after transcendent experiences, rather than main forms of entertainment. It hurts the cash flow, but so do their respective industries. Technology is supposed to be a thing, not the thing. The internet is not consciousness - it's only meant to be a second one. Yet, we abuse it as if our own. A shared collective unconscious, locked in our intuition, thrown away — as if an old iPhone. Artificial and lacking in meaning, it seems we haven't gotten over our love of plastic.

Consciousness is meant to be spiritual, inspirational even. Not “#inspo”. We must push through the decadence of 20th century life, and become stronger, in order to endure the queer first draft of the 21st century. There will still be a future after this; Maybe it will be one rejecting technology — after its horrors had gone too far, or to jump off the burning bridge that would be its sharp decline. Maybe just a fairer world. But we have to push in order to make it there. Do you really think computers are going to be ‘high-tech’ in twenty years? Really?... Well, if we have phones I'll be surprised. We're not in the past anymore — although creating it everyday — but we can use transcendent truths and philosophies to inform our judgements, and turn raw information we receive into assimilated knowledge. Using critical thinking of course. The world doesn't have to look so different to never be the same; Our progress as a species lies, not in academia or the streets, but in our own abilities to rationalise our thoughts, and use them to transform our lives: Being models of self-respect to each other. Not loving, or caring, but admirable to each other — Strong together. So if you want to help the world, read a book. Talk to people who have opposing views, befriend them, be curious, detach from ideologies that do not necessarily represent your values, act in service to doing what's right — transcending all biases.

The problem isn't the opinions we have, but the systems we use to achieve them.

Take away the sands and all you have is glass.

© 2021 Levi Kouakou