I think the issue with “don’t worry about things you can’t control” is, in this tech forum, not as valid as you might think.
We are building technology, to suggest no agency is helpful in avoiding any feeling of responsibility or guilt — perhaps rendering your comment within the realms of waxing philosophical.
Who better to worry about this than the people of hacker news?
From a pure mental health standpoint, sure, it’s solid advice but I think it’s narrowed the context of the broader concern too much.
An alternative to learned helplessness of “nothing you can do” is to encourage technologists to do the opposite.
Instead of forgetting about it, trying to put it out of your mind, fight for the future you want. Join others in that effort. That’s the reason society has hope — not the people shrugging as people fall by the wayside.
Depression mediation by agency feels more positive, but I don’t have a lot of experience tbh. Just a view that we, technologists, shouldn’t abdicate responsibility nor encourage others to do so.
That culture, imo, is why a large section of tech workers, consumers and commentators see the industry in a bad light. They’re not wrong.
EDIT: to add, “what problems can I personally solve” also individualises society’s ability to shape itself for the better. “What problems can I personally get involved in solving”, “what communities are trying to solve problems I care about” is perhaps the message I’d advocate for.
I think the point is to start considering a back up plan and then...hakuna matata.
Cat's out of the bag. There is no legislation that will stop this. Not unless/until it has some obscene cost and AI gets locked down like nuclear weapons. But even then, it's just too simple to make these things now that the tech is known.
I sure don't know the answer but we just don't know what's coming next. Gonna have to wait and see.
Sure, I would include a broad set of things under "what you can control", including joining an organization, donating, voting, etc. The OP is excessively worrying about things they truly can't control, like the long-term political implications of emerging technologies.
We are building technology, to suggest no agency is helpful in avoiding any feeling of responsibility or guilt — perhaps rendering your comment within the realms of waxing philosophical.
Who better to worry about this than the people of hacker news?
From a pure mental health standpoint, sure, it’s solid advice but I think it’s narrowed the context of the broader concern too much.
An alternative to learned helplessness of “nothing you can do” is to encourage technologists to do the opposite.
Instead of forgetting about it, trying to put it out of your mind, fight for the future you want. Join others in that effort. That’s the reason society has hope — not the people shrugging as people fall by the wayside.
Depression mediation by agency feels more positive, but I don’t have a lot of experience tbh. Just a view that we, technologists, shouldn’t abdicate responsibility nor encourage others to do so.
That culture, imo, is why a large section of tech workers, consumers and commentators see the industry in a bad light. They’re not wrong.
EDIT: to add, “what problems can I personally solve” also individualises society’s ability to shape itself for the better. “What problems can I personally get involved in solving”, “what communities are trying to solve problems I care about” is perhaps the message I’d advocate for.