Writingbolt's Creation

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Being naïve to praise is a dangerous trait. Someone claims to like what you make. So, you make more, hoping to keep the praise train going; maybe make some money. Suddenly, your creation is a hit, boosted in sales by the media and some wealthy investors. And, in a few years, if you’re not the fad of the decade, you’re among the richest in the world. People call you a genius and keep feeding the growth of your empire. Soon enough, you’re buying up companies that have nothing to do with your original “genius,” like you just won a fortune in the game of Monopoly and are itching to put up a dozen hotels.

Meanwhile, the rest of the world suffers from a misguided production line. The environment suffers. [Hello? Factories that cannot help but pollute. And, mistakes pile up in landfills, which take up more and more space, like faulty parking garages that collect tolls.] The economy suffers (because you’re raking in the most money while others are cutting costs, corners and employees to make ends meet). And, often enough, humanity suffers by becoming slaves to your latest “convenience.”

Here’s a smart invention. Door locks you don’t need tools or “professionals” to install. You just stick, paste and coordinate them with your “smartphone.” Yay, more electronic devices!…that eventually need new batteries or a charge and are sure to glitch and fail, sometime. You entrust your security to this system and find the stupid things on the floor when the “stick” you accepted (instead of solid steel screws and a little manual labor) looses its grip, a grip anyone could break with a little effort. ‘Can’t get a good signal to check a camera feed or disable a faulty alarm? Bummer. How smart is that “phone,” now?

Why didn’t I get a warning? Oh, because I depended upon an electronic gizmo to do everything for me. I stopped using my own brain and senses of awareness to prevent the threat. Instead of taking action to reduce the hazard, I put up a feeble defense system and let the bandits assault my castle. No worries. We’ll just improve the quality of your “flexible seal” and sell you the updated version of that security system, later. You just throw the old one on the landfill and wait for the mailman to arrive. ‘Gotta love free shipping!

You know what’s even more dangerous?

No. Not the mad-scientist sort who intentionally plots to take over the world. At least, so far, that sort of person hasn’t surfaced anywhere except in movies. But, anything seems possible, these days. Most of us really don’t know…enough. As they say in The X-Files, the truth is out there.

What’s more dangerous is lacking the empathy and/or conscience to see the problem before it arises. You know…not that you’d ever think of stopping production of anything you invent…because that would be counter-productive to your genius; your creativity.

[And, as a creative mind myself, who has fallen hard from excessive praise (though not nearly the levels of praise certain other wealthier folks have received), I acknowledge this.]

[If you think like a robot who is motivated (or programmed) to make more robots, are you going to see the error in your programming and stop production before you wipe out humankind?…if not all of nature, as well? You were built by humans…or, later, I’m sure, a robot…built by humans. Of course, you’re going to get stupid and keep producing; spare no expense to your Jurassic Park.]

I recently saw a video clip of Elon Musk talking about the future of robots. [It was featured with a news segment about robots replacing workers during this Covid-19 crisis; which went on to say the biggest and wealthiest inventors were busy producing replacements for human labor. If that isn’t enough to get your minds buzzing with concern…] He says robots will soon be able to do everything better than humans…everything. And, quote, he doesn’t know what else to say about that.

[And, you know what my response was? I felt the slightest cracking of madness setting in and was compelled to sing a lyric from that ol’ R.E.M. song about the “end of the world, as we know it.”]

Don’t you see? Don’t you get it? The guy’s deemed a genius, worth and amassing countless dollars for his creations. And, he has a mental condition that strips him of awareness for his own actions. He might as well be one of his own androids.
[And, maybe he is. Maybe his sterling-silver mother with her cunning smile and slicked back hair is the mastermind behind the robotic son. Dr. Alexa Frankenstein. There. I said it.]

[And, if you missed my earlier warning… They are talking about replacing human workers with robots due to a “labor shortage” during a “crisis” caused by some virus released in a Chinese lab; a lab in the country best known for housing countless factories which produce (American) “modern conveniences.” Forget talk about sweat shops. There won’t be any sweat left to produce if this production line continues…except the sweat of human fear. A man-made (even if it was accidental) virus puts the world in a panic and takes plenty out of the workforce. What a perfect opportunity for technological manufacturers to move in and take control. You think this wasn’t intended by someone? Coincidence?…I think not. And, if you need more distraction, let’s talk about a questionable vaccine mandate/solution. While you are taking sides on that issue, the factories will be at work making your replacements. I hope you were not trying to achieve something with the life you were given. Moo…Moo-ve along, cattle. Progress is prodding you toward your own demise. Though, it’s unlikely you have any chance of changing what is happening…if we are all truly in danger of rapidly dying from a hazardous virus that is taking us down, dozen by dozen, like an expert assassin. Wherever we go, there it may be.]

Lately, every guy given this grand status of technological genius has rather quickly turned into a dark, looming storm cloud of disaster.

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They didn’t finish school like the “smartest hard-working students” among us; they just came up with something “smart” and rushed right into production (from their “garage”). RUMBLE!

Glitches abound. Updates need to be made, constantly. But, someone keeps investing to turn this coal into a diamond. RUMBLE!

Everyone gets a copy! It’s free (or “affordable”)…for now. Why is it so popular? Because I just told you and am giving you a copy! RUMBLE!

Free (trial) service becomes one more monthly fee, increasing in cost every few years. Now, you’re renting what was “sold” to entice you. RUMBLE!

Everyone must use the latest invention because it’s no longer as-seen-on-TV. It’s mandated. If you don’t learn how and use it, you’re obsolete and unemployed. Services you expect to continue working are suddenly changed and placed under different rules you must now learn and afford. RUMBLE!

The minds behind the genius suffer some sort of breakup (divorce) which prompts further loss of emotional support (that’s tech support for humankind) and a plunge into increased mindless creation and spending of seemingly limitless capital. RUMBLE!

The next time you see the genius on your preferred glowing, radiating convenience, he (or she…but usually HE) is not looking so good (though, they always seem to look pasty) and seems to be hiding something…like they are afraid (if they still feel fear) to say something. RUMBLE!

KA-BOOM! We’re all dead, replaced by someone’s inventions. And, we never get to see all of the other lovely animals and plants of our world crumble and die under the metallic feet of “progress.”

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Invention is the drug that intoxicates the lonely genius. Genius is another word for alcoholic. Why? Because, once you are deemed and believe you are a genius, you can’t stop yourself from inventing, from creating MORE.

If you are an “inventor,” you’re still “small,” less dangerous, less senseless. Your ego is in check because you’re still working toward something. But, like an alcoholic, if you don’t curb your enthusiasm, you’re at risk of becoming a full-throttle genius, someone wealthier folks will pump full of their money to project a business model upon the world. If you are deemed a “genius,” “pro” or “expert,” you know it all; you don’t need anyone to tell you anything. You’re the master of your domain…until some more influential fool pushes you off your mountain. You’ll be too blinded by production and managing all you invent to see the bulldozer driven by the next “genius” in line.

And, if people hear about you, some will surely bow to your “greatness.” They will like. They will subscribe. They will comply. They will be assimilated. And, like many subscriptions, these days, they cannot withdraw from your contract. They signed on; they’re stuck with that decision.

[You’re an Icarus until you fall from the burning light of the sun as it melts your foolish wings.]

[Adolph Hitler wasn’t born a monster. He was driven to become a monster, fed by those who bowed to him, who cowered before him and agreed to do his bidding. Then anyone who still did not agree went to war with the guy’s amassing forces, and there was a ton of bloodshed and destruction before someone called an end to the conflict.

Jump ahead to modern times. Instead of sending countless bodies to their graves, we use remote-control war machines. Just like the old days of steering factory production toward assisting the military (all of those ads for war bonds and collecting scrap this and that to build weapons and support the troops)……

What? You don’t think all the recent talk about human-like robots, or androids, won’t also be given some combative purpose? You think there won’t be robot policemen and soldiers? Well, aren’t you just the foolish one.

And, who is leading this robotic army? And, what if every warring nation develops its own robotic army? Is that any different than every nation wanting its own nuclear weapons…just in case…and then dealing with some bossy nation like the USA, telling them to disable those weapons while leaving their own active and ready to launch at any time? And, what if we have to start worrying about “hackers” turning our robotic weapons against us? And, where will all the scrapped soldiers and weapons go? And, will any humans–other than the most wealthy who probably have a secure underground safehouse to preserve them–be around to celebrate some sort of victory?]

[If Einstein didn’t accept and believe in his genius, he would not have continued pursuing his famous theories until he died. He was drunk on pushing his brain beyond its limits.]

You’d think after countless movies and TV shows about this sort of thing we humans would see the light before the dawn. But, at best, those who DO predict disaster are written off as paranoid and cynical. Oh, that guy. He’s always ranting about something. That old coot. Shake your head. Fan your hand at him and move along. If it’s not making money, what good is it?

Keep buying your Mountain Dew Red, Blue and Color-Not-Found-in-Nature and slaving away at the general’s mill. You’re working toward…something. You’re affording convenience…until that convenience can no longer afford you.

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Let me just carve a slot in this heated subject matter to inject some thought about religion, about faith. In such a mad, pressurized environment of technological domination and social collapse, you’d think retaining a “faith,” believing in some sort of god, was impossible. You’d think we all would/should turn atheist. How can a god allow this madness to occur?

But, if you think a little further, a little bigger, a little outside the box outside the box…

What if this madness we are experiencing isn’t also intended by the same god(s)? What if our demise is as “written” as was our invention?…our creation?

[Read my next post for more on this subject. Or, you’d be here all day reading my diverting thoughts in one big slice.]

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[I could probably go on for hours with this feverish rant. But, having an ounce of conscience, something others in “higher places” seem to lack, I think I made my point. ‘No use getting fall-off-the-stool drunk in my outlook.]

If current conditions have anything to say about survival of the fittest, then, I guess, I am not among the “fittest.” I cannot compete with those bent on replacing humankind with machines, even if, right now, they are among the “wealthy” and “intelligent” minority who assume they will rule the universe (and let the rest of us fall where we may). I don’t have the same financial backing and other resources. I have failed at rallying others to my side. I don’t lead any party that can turn the tide (and am not interested in becoming the next “Hitler”). I guess, because I don’t swear allegiance to the forces that plot to ruin natural life as we may know it, I am doomed to get buried by the overwhelming majority of slaves to convenience (and whatever mad artificial world their masters conceive).

GET SMART, PEOPLE! Before it’s too late. [And, I don’t mean invent the next convenience that quickly turns into a financial empire (and ecological disaster).] Turn off the grid and find your heart, your spirit, your conscience. Or, soon enough, nothing you are told or sold will matter. Everything that makes sense will be just an illusion, nonsense in the fog of anesthesia carrying your poor excuse for a robotic body away while your replacement takes control. Does your life matter? Prove it.

The next time someone tells you that you are SO smart for crafting something, whether it’s a painting, a blueprint for a “new” type of house, a theory for our existence, a piece of computer software or the next synthetic human being, you flip a switch in your head and think twice about that compliment……or we all suffer.

[Lastly, here are a few thought-provoking images I am adding after I wrote this, inspired by the content.]