Technology’s gift

It is said that: Ignorance can be cured, but Stupidity is forever. Way back when, we were ignorant of how things could be. Counsequently, our lives were hard. Because of this we tried to be smart and create things to make our lives easier, called devices. Once we began to rely on our devices, we left the realm of the ignorant, and embarked on our great journey of stupidity.

We called our devices; Technology. We looked on this, as the age of intelligence. A horribly huge misnomer, because that’s when we stopped using intelligence all together, in preference of machines. Don’t believe me? Ask the clerk at the register of your favorite store, to figure out your change using an abacus. I know how, but that’s just how I am.

At first, our knew technologies, created a new class system. The folks who knew how to use it, and the people who had to remain smart because they didn’t have it. The more tech you had, the stupider you got. The real issue was, the smart people wanted the stupidity of the other class. I don’t know why? I like to think, and maybe you do as well. Then again, how many of you are reading this on your phone? I’m just saying.

As technology grew it created another major breakthrough; The Stupid Circle. A Stupid Circle, is when people repeatedly improve something, long enough, that it returns to its original state.

Spy Game

An example might be the CIA. They had to make top secret calls, so codes were devised. The codes were broken, so secure lines were invented. These were hacked, and scrambling was added, which was decoded, and so on, and on, and on.

Until they realized in the early 1970’s that the most secure way to make a secret call was from one public phone to another. There was simply so much traffic on this system that it became impossible to locate the secret call. Of course, in this case, technology kept getting stupider. Everybody started getting cell phones, so the phone company discontinued public phones. Sure, they’re not secure, but they’re convenient. Then again, if some super spy wants to hear me tell my aunt Tillie to remember to take her meds. Who am I to argue?

Getting it there

Another one of my favorites comes from the world of shipping. The US Post Office started the idea of sending letters from one place to another, but sending packages was slow and cumbersome. In 1907, UPS focused on sending packages and made a million bucks doing it. They were cheap, but far from secure when sending valuable stuff.

For precious cargo, folks turned to Wells-Fargo, who had more experience, being founded to transport gold during the California gold rush.

I’m not sure I would have done that. I’ve seen the movies. Wells-Fargo stages were being robbed every hour or so. It would probably have been cheaper to just sell your gold to the bandits and have them transport it. I’ve checked. There are absolutely zero movies about bandits being robbed, by Wells-Fargo employees. But I digress

Seeking problems for every solution

When international economies became involved, folks turned to Brinks, due to their expertise in maintaining security over great distances. Now brinks had trucks. That slowed the robbers down a bit. This worked until the stupid government took all the gold for themselves, and handed out bank notes in exchange. Enter, John Dillinger, and Bonnie and Clyde. These folks ignored the gold and went to the bank and took the notes. Much easier to carry.

But this is a post about stupid circles. The circle we’re in is about transporting valuables and not stealing them. Not that stealing isn’t fun. I personally avoid it, but I don’t like to judge. If that’s your thing go for it. But I’d better get back to the point.

Here’s Hoping

Anyway, the shipping circle ends with the Hope Diamond. In 1958, jeweler Harry Winston was donating the fabulous blue gem to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. The media, was all-a-flutter, and many thought it would be stolen during the move. Security was crazy.

The Brinks Company offered to protect the gem, and ensure delivery, for a very large fee. In fact, Harry probably would have had to cash in the diamond to have Brinks transport the diamond. Kind of dumb if you ask me. But again, if that’s your thing…

 Harry, on the other hand, acted with utmost intelligence, and dropped the jewel in the mail with two dollars and forty-four cents postage. Nobody knew he sent it, so nobody thought to check the mail to steal it. It arrived safely. and completely without fanfare. The stupid circle is complete. That rock was most secure by being shipped in the least secure method.

Now you might say, “Wow, that’s amazing,” or maybe, “Why are you bringing this up now?” Then again it might be the ever popular, “Hey! Don’t forget, you owe me five dollars.” If it’s the third thing you will have to wait until November 31^st. Wink, Wink! Otherwise, sit back and let me tell you about the most recent Stupid Circle, which I have encountered.

It sure is phoney

Remember the telephone? When I was young, it was beige, hung on the wall in the kitchen, and had a bell that rung when somebody called. In the seventies, Phone Mate invented a machine to record messages when folks were out. But people do not like to talk to one another, so the machine was more often used to monitor calls. If they were in a good mood, you might be lucky enough for them to actually pick up the receiver and truly talk to you.

The phone company got mad. They didn’t want people using machines they couldn’t collect money for. That’s Un-American. They created a service that told you the caller’s number. Of course, they charged you for the service as well as rental of the machine that displayed it.

People were actually paying large amounts of cash to avoid talking to other people. This from the communications company. Hey folks, you’re not communicating if you don’t talk to anybody.

Either way, through the miracle of technology, and monthly payments, you could ignore someone, without actually having to hear their pesky voice. The plot just keeps getting stupider.

Well, somebody won’t like it

To make things more confusing, the people you ignored, started complaining about it. Even though they didn’t actually want to talk to you, they were angry about you not wanting to talk to them. You heard right folks. However, once again stupidity and capitalism prevailed.

The phone company created an additional service (which they charged more for) that stopped your number from being displayed on someone’s machine. That way if someone wanted to know who was calling, they had to answer. Because they couldn’t tell otherwise. The circle keeps growing.

Of course, all these features were included on cell phones. So, no one talks to anyone. But do they?

Text me… Better yet don’t!

Don’t forget about texts. Texts should be easily ignored. But for some unknown reason, they can’t be ignored. We have to know. After all those years of ignoring others’ voices, we still can’t avoid their words.

And the stupid circle keeps turning.