Do9es the use of too much technology undermine our values?

• Sardaukar

  14 Mar 05, 23:58

  Does the use or overuse thereof of high technology within a military institution such as ours undermine our values and human spirit?
  
  This is a good question to ponder,that is what I feel.Does the use of too much high technology unwittingly undermine the best of our human capabilities and spirit,our moral values as warriors or soldiers?To define;soldiers are those that fight for the sake of fighting.We are warriors in that we fight for a cause which is Singapore,though that may not be the root cause we are fighting for,more likely it being our families and friends,people that give us a driving cause rather than our nation.
  
  I post this simply as a reflection for the day.A good question?I don't know,but post away.
• the Bear

  15 Mar 05, 00:42

  i don't know what you mean by undermining our values and then go on about fighting for the nation as opposed to other things...
  
  but here's what i figure.. it's not just the military.. everyone's guilty of overreliance on technology such that the technology becomes the end itself rather than the means...
  
  looking at this from a soldier's point of view, the soldier gets soft and becomes unable to stand without the use of technology...
  
  is that what you mean?
• suntze

  15 Mar 05, 15:18

  
  

  Does the use or overuse thereof of high technology within a military institution such as ours undermine our values and human spirit?
  
  This is a good question to ponder,that is what I feel.Does the use of too much high technology unwittingly undermine the best of our human capabilities and spirit,our moral values as warriors or soldiers?To define;soldiers are those that fight for the sake of fighting.We are warriors in that we fight for a cause which is Singapore,though that may not be the root cause we are fighting for,more likely it being our families and friends,people that give us a driving cause rather than our nation.
  

  Sardaukar,
  
  What you mean by values, etc? Soldiers generally don't fight for sake of fighting (there might be a crazy few who do). It is fair to say that soldiers do fight for a cause and it could put their lives on the line. It may be for country, family and comrades or for extremist believes (ala AQ). Nobody fights simply for its own sake.
  
  Also I don't know how one can possibly use "too much" technology. Technologies are simply tools, be it the bow and arrows or the latest high tech gadget. Perhaps over-confidence in technology and not paying sufficient attention to the soldiers, strategies and contingency planning may be justifiable concern.
  
  If that is what you mean, I agree as often, one gets the impression that little else matters besides our latest toys.
• Fairyland

  15 Mar 05, 18:59

  There are many examples of this phycology.....from none other than the advertisement by Mindef PR.
  
  Remember the picture of the Howitzer against the red evening sky......not a soldier in sight. Like they know where to point and fire off on their own.
  
  The navy advertisement about the MCVs and the technology that makes us forget there's a sea? As if those vessels operate and deploy on their own......
  
  It's still present today and I don't think it's healthy. So when things go right.....blame the system and the design engineers.
  
  Need to check it.