The Day That Albert Einstein Feared Has Finally Arrived

[WildernessWildChild]

This "joke" that was sent to me today really makes a statement....

The Day That Albert Einstein Feared Has Finally Arrived

Having coffee with friends.

A day at the beach.

Cheering on your team.

Having dinner out with your friends.

Out on an intimate date.

Having a conversation with your BFF

A visit to the museum

Enjoying the sights

That day has arrived……

 

[Sigma]

The world has had generations of idiots long before now, many times, but it's still a nice find.

I don't even have a phone though.

 

[EveWasFramed]

Funny, as well as apt.

 

[WildernessWildChild]

The world has had generations of idiots long before now, many times, but it's still a nice find.

I don't even have a phone though.

I genuinely appreciate seeing your "playing Devils advocate" point of view that I see in so many threads Sigma, your counterbalance is always tasteful, to the point, and non-confrontational.

+1

 

[Cavey]

I accidentally broke my phone a couple of months ago and never got around to replacing it. I feel happier now that people can't constantly keep tabs on me and I can actually go for a walk without being interrupted.

I find it 'amusing' that the more tools we create for communicating, the less we seem to actually interact with others or our surroundings and the more alone everyone appears to be.

 

[WildernessWildChild]

I find it 'amusing' that the more tools we create for communicating, the less we seem to actually interact with others or our surroundings and the more alone everyone appears to be.

So true.

Edit: Forgot to add that lately I've become aware I'm as guilty as the next person for misuse of gadgets for communicating, something I really want to change.

 

[randomdude]

Masses of people i know are like that. My phone is here for 3 situations: 1)Evading awkward situations, 2)Ignoring negative people that suck away your life force and 3) Taking and receiving calls.

 

[Limlim]

Myself personally, I fear the day where people believe that Albert Einstein actually made that quote without looking up for themselves that there is no proof of him making such a statement.

 

[EveWasFramed]

LOL!!!

 

[perfanoff]

That's not at all something an INTP like Einstein would ever say.

---

To build on that. His meaning in the quote that was misquoted was probably along the lines of: "I'm afraid technology will one day become more developed than people" Roughly along the lines of I, Robot. It all ultimately comes down on whether we will be able to merge with technology, or it will overwhelm us and proceed on its own.

 

[WildernessWildChild]

Myself personally, I fear the day where people believe that Albert Einstein actually made that quote without looking up for themselves that there is no proof of him making such a statement.

This kinda sucks. I went looking and found this as the most thorough answer....

Dear Quote Investigator: A friend sent me a link to a message on a website with the title: “The day that Albert Einstein feared may have finally arrived”. The message showed eight pictures of groups of people looking intently at cell phone screens. The people were ignoring one another and were oblivious to their surroundings. The images were being used to comically illustrate the following quotation credited to Albert Einstein:

I fear the day that technology will surpass our human interaction. The world will have a generation of idiots.

I was suspicious of this attribution and when I searched the internet I found another similar saying credited to Einstein in a web forum. This statement was also illustrated with an image of people staring at cell phone screens.

I fear the day when the technology overlaps with our humanity. The world will only have a generation of idiots.

I have a different fear. I fear the day that individuals will believe that Einstein actually made one of these inane statements. Could you examine these sayings?

Quote Investigator: There is no substantive evidence that Einstein made either of these statements. Neither appears in the comprehensive collection of quotations “The Ultimate Quotable Einstein” from Princeton University Press. 1

Both versions given by the questioner were in circulation in 2012. For example, a website called answerbag.com presented a version of the saying in a message with an attached date of October 21, 2012: 2

Einstein: I fear the day when the technology overlaps with our humanity. The world will only have a generation of idiots. Was he right?

Dates on websites are sometimes inaccurate because the retroactive alteration of text and dates is easy to accomplish. Sometimes the content of a webpage is altered, and the date associated with the content is not updated to reflect the modification.

A website called imfunny.net currently displays a composite image post dated November 3, 2012 with the title: “The day that Albert Einstein feared may have finally arrived”. The post consists of nine images including one displaying the quotation given below. Two of the images are shown at the top of this article. No name is given for the person posting the message: 3

“I fear the day that technology will surpass our human interaction. The world will have a generation of idiots.” Albert Einstein

Below are additional selected citations.

The “Talk” webpage for Albert Einstein at the Wikiquote website lists a third version of the quotation in a section titled: “Unsourced and dubious/overly modern sources”. The revision history of the webpage indicates that the expression was added by an unnamed person on November 3, 2012: 4

I fear the day when technology overlaps our humanity. It will be then that the world will have permanent ensuing generations of idiots.

In 1995 a movie called “Powder” included a quotation that was credited to Einstein which has a thematic overlap with the sayings above. Note that there is no substantive support linking this quote to Einstein:

It’s become appallingly clear that our technology has surpassed our humanity.

The quote in “Powder” was discussed previously on the QI website. Here is a link. It is possible that the existence of this expression influenced the development of more recent sayings ascribed to the famous physicist.

In conclusion, QI believes that Albert Einstein did not write or say any of the three variant quotations. Individuals who were aggravated by the behavior patterns of cell phone users probably facilitated the construction, evolution, and dissemination of this meme. The phrasing of the saying has changed over time and different sets of pictures have been attached. QI hypothesizes that the origination date was recent, perhaps as late as 2012. The efforts of the creators have been successful for now. The basic saying has achieved viral status with its dubious ascription.

(Many thanks to the following perceptive individuals: Guy MacPherson, Doug Wrotenbery, and M. Scott Gravlee who contacted QI and implicitly or explicitly expressed skepticism about these quotations ascribed to Einstein. Thanks also to Douglas and Matze who placed queries in the comment section. Their messages provided impetus for this investigation.)

I still find the overall message quite interesting though. Some days I'm on my game, other days....not so much.

 

[EveWasFramed]

I still think it was funny. And apt.
Wait, I think Im repeating myself.
I've turned into a ******* parrot. (D)

 

[Cavey]

Yup, it's the overall message of the article that I find interesting, not who the original quote is attributed to. Whether it was Einstein or some bloke down the pub, it's still relevant.

 

[WildernessWildChild]

I still think it was funny. And apt.
Wait, I think Im repeating myself.
I've turned into a ******* parrot. (D)

You never cease to provide inspiration for me Eve (lol)

 

[EveWasFramed]

OMG I think we're ALL changing our avatars tonight. I just noticed yours (and changed mine just a few minutes ago, lol).
Nice parrot btw.

 

[Edward W]

Sorry, I missed what's happening - I was on my phone.

What's Einstein done today?

Wait - everyones changed avatars? Thats my thing. Now I'll just be the funny one. What? Oh ha ha, well fine, if I can't have either I'll just go and make a leaving thread then...

 

[BrokenInside]

Did you all get my text message?

 

[perfanoff]

^ *checks phone* not yet

 

[BrokenInside]

*resends the text*

 

[Edward W]

Still not got it. I thought we were friends I have you on my buddy-list and everything.

I shall ignore you now if we pass by on the street. I'll pretend to be busy with my phone.