TECHNOLOGICAL FIX

In confronting big problems or minor human inconvenience / irritation, I look to technological ingenuity / engineering design / problem solving skills. I trust engineers and planners using technology assessment to find technology-based solutions to such problems. Such efforts have steadily brought nature under control and greatly increased human comfort.  (Note: critics say labor-saving “advances” have promoted unhealthy sedentary lives, social media etc. have promoted virtual interactions over in person, real ones, and out of control technology threatens both ecosystem and planetary environmental health.)

   ATTITUDINAL FIX

In confronting big problems or minor human inconvenience / irritation, I look to changing attitudes / behavior with education, drawing on existing social institutions. Defusing anxiety / mistrust conflict brings is a first step (humor can help!)  I trust in people coming together and cooperating; in their willingness to learn from each other — sharing worldviews, articulating values and goals. This can resolve conflicts and find non-technology or human labor /soft technology based “win, win” imaginative solutions. (Note: critics say this democratic, transparent process may be too time-consuming to tackle big urgent problems.)