I've come to some sort of conclusiony idea about all this

[Jasper]

I think technology will pick up where the surrealists could not follow in their main goal.  Technology will transform the mind and all that resembles it.  It's already done so when compared with how we used to live. 

Technology seems to dictate a huge amount of our culture and lifestyle.  More than I thought when I had this forum in mind.  Name one activity or aspect of life that is not altered or caused by modern technology.

And of course I mean YOUR life, not S'wada in Djambouti.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

Name one activity or aspect of life that is not altered or caused by modern technology.

Gardening. Unless you count hosewater as "modern technology".
Sex, excretion, and other elementary bodily functions.
Knitting.
Most of my other hobbies.

I mean, people CAN use modern technology to alter the way they do just about anything, but that doesn't mean it's necessary or even typical.

[Verbal Mike]

I agree with Nigel on the point that it's still possible to avoid it in ways and in part. Still, my own way of life simply would not be plausible without the Internet. When I have connection problems, I literally feel like I'm missing a vital organ, or a part of my brain.
Felix, I think you might be a bit too optimistic... Technology already has the potential to pick up the surrealists' goal, but it seems more likely to either destroy mankind or make life really, really boring forever.

[Jasper]

I didn't start with all that, did I?

Obviously it often sounds like I mean it to seem that way, but in this case I'm really just going as far as trying to show how alien out lives must look to someone who knows nothing of electricity.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

Agreed... I love the Internet, I'm grateful for it, because it makes the simplicity of my way of life possible. For me, a typical day would be taking the kids to school, goofing on the internet, making some beads, picking up the kids from school, walking to the store, making dinner, putting some beads in my online store, doing a bit of shipping with online postage, and then goofing on the internet some more or watching a movie.

I'm very familiar with the low-tech life because of how I grew up (crazy mom moved us to a wood-heated A-frame on an island when I was 12, I did a lot of huntering and gathering and didn't go to school or have friends) but I do like the high-tech stuff. A happy medium for me would be more or less what I have now, which is a mostly low-tech life + internets.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

I didn't start with all that, did I?

Obviously it often sounds like I mean it to seem that way, but in this case I'm really just going as far as trying to show how alien out lives must look to someone who knows nothing of electricity.

Well, you asked us to name one thing... after that, speculation is free.

[Jasper]

Granted.  I guess I was thinking too broadly, in larger aspects of life such as friendship, business, eating, clothing, schooling, talking, loving, etc.

[Nast]

A happy medium for me would be more or less what I have now, which is a mostly low-tech life + internets.

It is my dream to become an ancient and gnarled Chinese man, tending the rice paddies by day and porn trolling the internets by night...

One can only dream. *whistful sigh*

[Cainad (dec.)]

My dream is to build a castle with lodestone magnets built into the walls. There would be a big sign above the door:

"YUOR CELL PHONE CAN FUCK OFF"

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

It's my dream to be really rich and put heavy, permanent sculptures in public places, and see how long it takes the city to figure out what's going on.

[Jasper]

I've noticed a lot of atavistic themes in society lately, now that you mention it.  I think people are on the verge of being sick of technology everywhere.

[Richter]

It takes taking some things for granted before you realize how sick you are of them, and technology is offering, or at elast facilitating that. 
Being reachable any time and anywhere is a good example of this. 

I thik this makes people value peace, quiet and isolation more, in some time.  (Or my inner curmudgeon has jsut found validation  )

[Jasper]

There's that, along with the advent of modern society recognizing introvertedness as a distinct personality trait, and they're learning that it takes solitude sometimes.  Knowlege is sort of crystallizing everything.

[Triple Zero]

A happy medium for me would be more or less what I have now, which is a mostly low-tech life + internets.

It is my dream to become an ancient and gnarled Chinese man, tending the rice paddies by day and porn trolling the internets by night...

One can only dream. *whistful sigh*

how about Thailand?

life's cheap there, and they have internet. more internets than the Chinese do, in fact

[Jasper]

I think they were hoping for a rather less 3rd world locale.