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Dear Mr. Coville, I just got off the phone with my 30 year old son, after asking if he remembered your name from the books we used to read. I am writing just to share with you a recent experience related to your writing.
In one of your "Alien" books I read that the superior beings (can't remember much about them) were afraid of Earthlings but one guy always stood up for the Earthlings. He said that the main problem with Earth people was they were always using new technology before they were developmentally ready. Well, that was the meaning of what he said. That has always stuck with me as rather profound. I could definitely see it with television, which has wreaked a lot of havoc with our society. So last week I attended talks by two Nobel prize nominees who are women advocating for peace and non-violence. It occurred to me that you could say the same thing about drones. We are far from mature enough as a race to use them for their best and highest purpose, which certainly cannot be blowing people up or even peeping on them.
Finally I just read in the NY Times Review of Books an essay about technology and "Post Humanism". The author, Leon Wieseltier, wrote, "Every technology is used before it is completely understood. There is always a lag between an innovation and the apprehension of its consequences. We are living in that lag and it is a right time to keep our heads and reflect."
You may want to read the essay. Thank you for your storytelling.
In one of your "Alien" books I read that the superior beings (can't remember much about them) were afraid of Earthlings but one guy always stood up for the Earthlings. He said that the main problem with Earth people was they were always using new technology before they were developmentally ready. Well, that was the meaning of what he said. That has always stuck with me as rather profound. I could definitely see it with television, which has wreaked a lot of havoc with our society. So last week I attended talks by two Nobel prize nominees who are women advocating for peace and non-violence. It occurred to me that you could say the same thing about drones. We are far from mature enough as a race to use them for their best and highest purpose, which certainly cannot be blowing people up or even peeping on them.
Finally I just read in the NY Times Review of Books an essay about technology and "Post Humanism". The author, Leon Wieseltier, wrote, "Every technology is used before it is completely understood. There is always a lag between an innovation and the apprehension of its consequences. We are living in that lag and it is a right time to keep our heads and reflect."
You may want to read the essay. Thank you for your storytelling.
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Connie -
First off, my apologies for taking so long to respond. There was a glitch with the guestbook and I wasn't getting notifications of when new messages were being posted. We've got it fixed now, but I am waaaaay behind on answering people.
That said . . . many thanks for this message. You've put me in with some good company, and the Wieseltier quote is both wise and thought -provoking.
All best,
BC
First off, my apologies for taking so long to respond. There was a glitch with the guestbook and I wasn't getting notifications of when new messages were being posted. We've got it fixed now, but I am waaaaay behind on answering people.
That said . . . many thanks for this message. You've put me in with some good company, and the Wieseltier quote is both wise and thought -provoking.
All best,
BC