As much as I have the general vibe of a luddite (strange hobbies, socially maladjusted, unfathomable fashion choices, etc) I have to hand it to automation: it’s nice that computers have made some boring things in our lives less boring.

I side with the writer and philosopher John Gray, who in his terrifying work of eco-nihilism Straw Dogs balances the fact that human beings are a plague animal who are wrecking the biosphere that supports them with the idea that we have made our lives easier through technology. Gray, in particular, calls anesthetised dentistry an “unmixed blessing”.

I would add some other unmixed blessings to that list: I like watching videos of cool birds on YouTube; I’m happy when my phone gently reminds me that it’s time to get up and go for a walk after I’ve watched too many cool birds on YouTube; and I have no problems........

© The Guardian