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Comment by UncleEntity | Hacker News Reader

> While that does simplify computers so that more people can use it in the short-term, it also strips away the whole purpose of computing, which is to empower people with a more advanced tool.

Back in Sumeria they used to go on and on about how this newfangled writing thing would destroy civilization because it took the personal element out of interpersonal communication.

Just because the majority of people don't concern themselves with learning the intimate details of how a computer works doesn't in any way imply their lives aren't "empowered" through their interactions with one. Having the world's knowledge at one's fingertips (or voice prompt) is arguably a lot more valuable than having the requirement to construct a complex query to find out where writing was invented.

You can lead a horse to water...

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> Back in Sumeria they used to go on and on about how this newfangled writing thing would destroy civilization because it took the personal element out of interpersonal communication.

I remember reading an old rant by someone (I want to say letter sent to a newspaper) who complained that the grammophone will destroy music.

In a sense it did: I'd wager that being able to play an instrument or sing well is rarer these days than it was before the gramophone.

That said, I'll still take Spotify and access to all the music in the world over random neighbors playing the fiddle any day.

Not me! Sometimes, but not every time.

I grew up in a family of musicians and I really miss the social element of just plunking down next to someone to share in performing a song. Closest experience I’ve had to it is couch multiplayer video games, but it’s still not the same. Still do see the occasional person with a guitar on the porch, but I can’t help but think it would a lot more common and a lot more fun without recorded music.

We still consume music but we don't play it ourselves anymore. We are missing on the many benefits(i.e. enjoyment, meaning, mastery). Same with drawing, painting and many other arts.

Speak for yourself.

I'd like to highlight that synthesizers are very easily available now. As for physical instruments... it hasn't really improved or worsened significantly in the last few decades.

There being less easily available music wouldn't lead to more people learning how to make it. Just people coping without it.

Who is this "we"? I know lots of people who play music recreationally. Same with drawing, painting and many other arts.

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