RETHINK TECHNOLOGY:

A MEDITATION ON PINOCCHIO

Thomas Mahon

When I was five, in the late 1940s, I listened over and over to the soundtrack recording from Disney’s Pinocchio. Especially, “I have no strings,” and “When you wish upon a star.”

I loved the story of the little wooden head, and how after some bad starts he finally broke free from his prison of strings. (Looking back, I think I really identified with his situation then.)

Pinoch proved himself brave, strong and true, and earned his freedom as a real boy.

That was then… Today I read about some of the new developments on Pleasure Island (renamed Silicon Valley) where I worked for nearly fifty years.

I read how in the coming Metaverse, real boys and girls will be turned into digital avatars.

And in the Neuralink universe, boys and girls will have their minds and souls replaced by a chip from Uncle Elon (mimicking the Blue Fairy)

Mothers, don’t let your children grow up to be avatars or cyborgs. Not when Nature is in such desperate need of our attention and concern.

© 2022 Thomas Mahon

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