Another potent myth of civilization is that the individual
components of its technological apparatus are neither good or bad in
themselves. Although technology can be
used in good or bad ways or directed at good or bad goals, the technology
itself is entirely neutral.
[Still waiting for someone to tell me how a nuclear weapon
can be neutral. Or sarin gas. Or surveillance technology, or…]
Consider this recent news item, a story that would be
humorous if not for the fact that a human being was killed by an addiction that was
intentionally crafted by corporate chemists and marketers.
A young woman in New Zealand died as a direct result of a 2
gallon per day Coca Cola habit. The article
cites a corporate statement that strongly evokes the neutrality meme: "We believe that all foods and beverages
can have a place in a balanced and sensible diet combined with an active
lifestyle" and that “grossly excessive ingestion of any food product,
including water, over a short period of time with the inadequate consumption of
essential nutrients, and the failure to seek appropriate medical intervention
when needed, can be dramatically symptomatic…”
Corporate addiction technology is just neutral chemistry. Manipulative corporate propaganda is just psychology.
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