What modern invention/innovation do you wish had *never* been developed?

[LizzieMaine]

In film, the use of cutting that is not congruent to story line. In action films the cutting is usd o not form flowing story lines an action but are "not right" this is used as a tool to create confusion and add tension to the scene. It i the antithesis of a Peckinpah type scene where slow motion is allowed to render the rsults as horiffic as possible. Todays editing it frustratingly frenetic. It's like a psychotic person with ADD that been administered adreneline.

Along these same lines, plague take the person who invented modern hand-held film/video camera technology. I literally can't watch films made with such techniques -- they make me nauseous, and in really bad cases (any "mumblecore" film, for example) they trigger migraines. But that doesn't matter, what matters is that it's all "edgy" and "arty" and crap.

 

[nice hat dude!]

Along these same lines, plague take the person who invented modern hand-held film/video camera technology. I literally can't watch films made with such techniques -- they make me nauseous, and in really bad cases (any "mumblecore" film, for example) they trigger migraines. But that doesn't matter, what matters is that it's all "edgy" and "arty" and crap.

Hey I thought you'd like that,anybody that spells Canada....Quebec(haha)

 

[Hunter_aka_Scotty]

TV Dinners.
Anime.
Shoes that light up or have wheels on them.
Down jackets or clothing.

 

[GoetzManor]

Cell phones. I hate them a great deal. My wife and I do not and will not own one.

For me personally, I don't think it's cell phones so much as smart phones. The idea of a phone on the go is a fantastic idea. Ideally, the cell phone excels in the hands of adults, but in today's society where parents are becoming more hands off, it is necessary for kids and teens to have them. I'm only 24 but I miss pay phones.

I do think smart phones have allowed kids and some adults to "slack off". They can pretty much do anything for you, so you can essentially tune out while using them.

Just my two cents.

 

[nice hat dude!]

For me personally, I don't think it's cell phones so much as smart phones. The idea of a phone on the go is a fantastic idea. Ideally, the cell phone excels in the hands of adults, but in today's society where parents are becoming more hands off, it is necessary for kids and teens to have them. I'm only 24 but I miss pay phones.

I do think smart phones have allowed kids and some adults to "slack off". They can pretty much do anything for you, so you can essentially tune out while using them.

Just my two cents.

Just a thought,it happened before cell phones,you can't even attend school without a calculator,must have a laptop for university.Makes one wonder

 

[sheeplady]

I tend to think it's less about the technologies themselves (or whatever the invention is) and more how it is used. There is nothing inherent in television, cell phones, or any other number of things that makes them bad (in my opinion), but more about how they are used. If you ignore all decency, social rules, and humaneness, you can make anything into an instrument that's bad for society. For me, it's less about the annoyance of the cell phone, or the ATM, or the automated machine menus; and more about how the people and organizations who use these things excessively or against human decency.

We've just changed the person who reads at the dinner table and refuses to interact with anyone and is plain downright rude for someone who uses a cell phone at the dinner table and refuses to interact with anyone and is plain downright rude.

 

[fashion frank]

I do think smart phones have allowed kids and some adults to "slack off". They can pretty much do anything for you, so you can essentially tune out while using them.

Just my two cents.

Are you kidding , slacking off is an understatement , they totally tune you out !

I work at an ive league university and I can't tell you how many times I have almost hit some kid crossing the street because they have their face in a screen and their head in their a%& !

What I can't stand about all of this face to screen ,ear to midiflie player is this , what the hell ever happened to social skills , gone from our younger adults because the don't see you, hear you or connect with you on a personal level , they are so rude all from no interaction with people.

I have said it before this country has no more " class" like it used to have and all this techo crap is ruining our kids ,plus they have no idea how it used to be to watch a great variety show like Carol Burnett or whoever ,ther were so many good shows back then .

All the Best ,Fashion Frank

 

[nice hat dude!]

Are you kidding , slacking off is an understatement , they totally tune you out !

I work at an ive league university and I can't tell you how many times I have almost hit some kid crossing the street because they have their face in a screen and their head in their a%& !

What I can't stand about all of this face to screen ,ear to midiflie player is this , what the hell ever happened to social skills , gone from our younger adults because the don't see you, hear you or connect with you on a personal level , they are so rude all from no interaction with people.

I have said it before this country has no more " class" like it used to have and all this techo crap is ruining our kids ,plus they have no idea how it used to be to watch a great variety show like Carol Burnett or whoever ,ther were so many good shows back then .

All the Best ,Fashion Frank

Hey FF just a short blurb to quote Mr.James Powers as it's one of the best I've ever heard
"Cranial Rectal Insertion" gotta love it!!

 

[Amy Jeanne]

I tend to think it's less about the technologies themselves (or whatever the invention is) and more how it is used. There is nothing inherent in television, cell phones, or any other number of things that makes them bad (in my opinion), but more about how they are used. If you ignore all decency, social rules, and humaneness, you can make anything into an instrument that's bad for society. For me, it's less about the annoyance of the cell phone, or the ATM, or the automated machine menus; and more about how the people and organizations who use these things excessively or against human decency.

We've just changed the person who reads at the dinner table and refuses to interact with anyone and is plain downright rude for someone who uses a cell phone at the dinner table and refuses to interact with anyone and is plain downright rude.

All of this. I love my iPhone. My husband is deployed and without it we'd not have the great communication we do. I love being able to keep in touch with him pretty much any time we want. Letter-writing is good and all (and we do it!), but we love our phones for the contact. I also love to be able to answer my own questions right on the spot and take photos of anything, anytime lol (within limits, of course, since I mostly photograph buildings!! haha!)

I guess I am one of the few responsible iPhone users because I don't use my phone AT ALL while driving or while walking in most public places. When I am around friends I NEVER whoop out my phone and have an extended text-fest in their company. I feel that is rude. I usually let my husband know where I'll be and for how long and when is a good time to reach me. He does the same.

 

[sheeplady]

I guess I am one of the few responsible iPhone users because I don't use my phone AT ALL while driving or while walking in most public places. When I am around friends I NEVER whoop out my phone and have an extended text-fest in their company. I feel that is rude. I usually let my husband know where I'll be and for how long and when is a good time to reach me. He does the same.

Exactly- I don't answer the phone when I have company or am out, unless I am expecting an important call or have a good reason to pick up. I also don't use the phone while driving, just like I don't load CDs, eat food, or change the radio station while driving or any other number of dangerous or stupid things.

The phone doesn't take away a person's manners; a person chooses to act like a rude or dangerous idiot while happening to use a phone. If you took their phone away, they'd find some other way to be rude.

 

[fashion frank]

Hey FF just a short blurb to quote Mr.James Powers as it's one of the best I've ever heard
"Cranial Rectal Insertion" gotta love it!!

The doctor looked in Curley's ear and stated , "you have vacancy of the cranium " !


All the Best , Fashion Frank

 

[LizzieMaine]

Those of you who use your cellphones and suchlike devices responsibly should be commended for it. I only wish there were more of you, so I wouldn't have to glare balefully down the aisle while shining my flashlight at some chowdahead who doesn't understand there's a time and a place for such things, and the middle of the movie ain't it.

In general, though, my feelings about most of this modern tech remain those of Samuel Johnson when confronted by a dog dancing on its hind legs: "Wonderful, wonderful -- but I wish it weren't possible."

 

[Amy Jeanne]

Same with iPod. I LOVE my iPod!! ALL my music in a tiny device that fits in my pocket??!! A music-lover's dream.

But I NEVER listen to it in public. EVER. I don't even use the headphones!! I like being aware of my surroundings. I use it in my car while driving (through a device that allows it to play through the speakers!) and at home through my stereo. I make playlists so I don't have to fumble around for certain songs while driving. I put it on whichever playlist strikes my mood and GO! It's really not hard to be technologically safe and considerate

 

[nice hat dude!]

Those of you who use your cellphones and suchlike devices responsibly should be commended for it. I only wish there were more of you, so I wouldn't have to glare balefully down the aisle while shining my flashlight at some chowdahead who doesn't understand there's a time and a place for such things, and the middle of the movie ain't it.

In general, though, my feelings about most of this modern tech remain those of Samuel Johnson when confronted by a dog dancing on its hind legs: "Wonderful, wonderful -- but I wish it weren't possible."

I caught that Miss Lizzie(haha)

 

[this one guy]

In film, the use of cutting that is not congruent to story line. In action films the cutting is usd o not form flowing story lines an action but are "not right" this is used as a tool to create confusion and add tension to the scene. It i the antithesis of a Peckinpah type scene where slow motion is allowed to render the rsults as horiffic as possible. Todays editing it frustratingly frenetic. It's like a psychotic person with ADD that been administered adreneline.

If I understand you correctly, I see it used excessively in movie previews to the point that I scarcely know what the movie will be about from the coming attractions. It's like strobe flashes of scenes accompanied by hard rock.
I would get more out of reading a review in print.

 

[Widebrim]

Along these same lines, plague take the person who invented modern hand-held film/video camera technology. I literally can't watch films made with such techniques -- they make me nauseous, and in really bad cases (any "mumblecore" film, for example) they trigger migraines. But that doesn't matter, what matters is that it's all "edgy" and "arty" and crap.

I presume that you are referring to its "modern" use, rather than how it was employed at its inception. Held-held cameras were used very effectively in the late-'40s/early-'50s in films like Body and Soul and The Set-Up. Their usage today, however, often denigrates the art of cinematography...

 

[sheeplady]

Same with iPod. I LOVE my iPod!! ALL my music in a tiny device that fits in my pocket??!! A music-lover's dream.

But I NEVER listen to it in public. EVER. I don't even use the headphones!! I like being aware of my surroundings. I use it in my car while driving (through a device that allows it to play through the speakers!) and at home through my stereo. I make playlists so I don't have to fumble around for certain songs while driving. I put it on whichever playlist strikes my mood and GO! It's really not hard to be technologically safe and considerate

I use my headphones extensively on the bus, although I often have them in my ears but not on. It prevents conversations with odd people- I once had a guy follow me home and I was pretty sure I was going to end up on the news because he gave me the major creeps (luckily I scared him off). Headphones in my ears means I can pretend I don't hear them, and if my music is off, I still know what is going on.

A lot of people I know (particularly women) use their headphones in the same way- off but in. Really, I don't care if I look rude if it prevents some idiot from latching on to me.

 

[LizzieMaine]

I presume that you are referring to its "modern" use, rather than how it was employed at its inception. Held-held cameras were used very effectively in the late-'40s/early-'50s in films like Body and Soul and The Set-Up. Their usage today, however, often denigrates the art of cinematography...

Exactly. That jiggle-jiggle-swish-swish "Oooh, lookit this ruff-an'-raw found-footage effect I learned how to do in film school, ain't I the most artistic little thing?" effect. A picture from a few years back called "Rachel Getting Married" was the worst thing I'd ever seen along these lines -- I was physically unable to watch it without getting sick, and that's an dangerous thing when you're running the projector.

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

For me personally, I don't think it's cell phones so much as smart phones. The idea of a phone on the go is a fantastic idea. Ideally, the cell phone excels in the hands of adults, but in today's society where parents are becoming more hands off, it is necessary for kids and teens to have them. I'm only 24 but I miss pay phones.

I do think smart phones have allowed kids and some adults to "slack off". They can pretty much do anything for you, so you can essentially tune out while using them.

Just my two cents.

Funny innit? The "smarter" the phone the dumber we get.

 

[Widebrim]

Funny innit? The "smarter" the phone the dumber we get.

I remember a line from Welcome to Mars, when the lead character (transported from 2008 to 1973) accidentally said, "I wish I had my phone on me." His police Lt. (ironically) replied, "Who the heck would want to carry a phone around with him?" More truth to that line than the character realized...