I absolutely agree that "social problems have technical solutions" is almost always wrong.
But there are things that apply. For example, a social problem like inter-group warfare can be greatly reduced by the technology of better communications systems.
With your "works on my machine" example, you seem to be making the case that a software team's inability to see all ends, or the deadline pressure that causes them to miss bugs, belongs in the same category as a software design decision, like surveilling a user over the internet through the camera on their phone. That waters down the meaning of "political" a bit too much for me.
Douglas Adams begins his wonderful book "Last Chance To See" by stating that the first ape to use a twig to extract insects from a log was using "twig technology", and that everything since has been advancements in "twig technology". I love the metaphor and Adams was a very amusing writer. But, technology is a thing. When a person uses a device and they personally have almost no understanding of how it works, they are using technology.
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Date: 2023-02-06 02:04 am (UTC)But there are things that apply. For example, a social problem like inter-group warfare can be greatly reduced by the technology of better communications systems.
With your "works on my machine" example, you seem to be making the case that a software team's inability to see all ends, or the deadline pressure that causes them to miss bugs, belongs in the same category as a software design decision, like surveilling a user over the internet through the camera on their phone. That waters down the meaning of "political" a bit too much for me.
Douglas Adams begins his wonderful book "Last Chance To See" by stating that the first ape to use a twig to extract insects from a log was using "twig technology", and that everything since has been advancements in "twig technology". I love the metaphor and Adams was a very amusing writer. But, technology is a thing. When a person uses a device and they personally have almost no understanding of how it works, they are using technology.