Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Ray Bradbury
submitted by student - Ray Bradbury writes about the impact of technology on society in some of his short stories. In both "The Veldt" and "The Pedestrian", the protagonist is punished for "disagreeing" with technology in some way. Is Ray Bradbury's perspective realistic? Do you see our world in the world of his stories? Explain.
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I absolutely agree with Ray Bradbury's perspective. I believe that technology is impacting society tremendously, in more bad ways than good. This is what Mr. Bradbury I think is trying to portray through both stories. It makes me wonder though which side he was actually on. When I look back at the stories it seems to be he could be saying that technology is controlling society but also that it would be a bad idea to turn against technology because in both stories the main characters end up in some kind of trouble. Does anyone else have any thought on that?
I agree with Julia ^ ....I think technolgy is not a bad thing or a thing that should be removed from everyones day to day life. Technology helps in many ways in science and reaserch, and improveing the way of life, but one connection in both storys is the charecters depend so much on it, and i think technology can even be classifed under an addiction if used improperly, or over used, in such a way Ray Bradbury's charecters do. In conclusion, technology is great but no person she relie on it.
I agree with Julia and Annie. Technology is impacting everyones lives in both good and bad ways. Techology helps with research, improving communication and much more. Although, technology is causing people to become very dependent. If technology was taken out of society then we will not know how to survive on our own. Ray Bradbury's characters are very dependent on technology and it eventually turns on them. Like Annie said, technology is good for society, but it should not be our only way of surviving.
I disagree with both of the above people, if we didn't have medical technology, just because technology is "bad" and "messing up our kids", thousands if not millions of people would die unnecessarily, just because we were too stubborn to agree that technology is changing our society in a positive way. It is not just in medical technology, breakthroughs in computer technology allow us to communicate faster than ever, without this technology, we would still have to wait for letters to send and be received. People are just unwilling to accept that technology is good for us,and this is their disadvantage.
i agree with everyone. i agree with both ides, that technology is good and bad i some ways. we do everyday overuse technology like computers, cell phones, or ipods instead of going outside or reading and stuff like that. people are just consumed with the new inventions and spend hours a day watching tv or texting o surfing the web when there are much better and more things to do that could help us stay fit or get smarter. but also technology has benefitted us like :D said above, with the medical technology helping cure people and computers and phones keeping people in touch and able to talk instantly instead of waiting for a letter to be delivered.
I agree with everyone. Although technnology is sometimes good, for example cancer research, sometimes it is bad too. It seems as if technology is taking over out lives. Everyone is either on the computer, watching tv, txting, etc. We will start to depend on technology too much. Even simple things like digital clocks or microwaves. People didnt have those before and they were fine. We depend on technollogy way to much. If the power goes out even for only a few hours, things turn to chaos. We have come to depend on teechnology too much to live without it. Ray Bradbury is almost writing the stories with this message as a warning, so we dont end up like the characters in the future.
I also agree with Ray Bradbury. If our lives continue to stay this way earth will be justlike the story of "the pedestrian." If we think of the earlier times people didn't have tv's computers, cell phones,etc. They had alot more time to go do excercise outside and make/do alot of things by hand, they did not sit on a couch the whole day "rottening" thier brains. And now that technolgy is bringing newer and better things that help humans, people will want to buy them and soon enought humans will be doing nothing themselves. So I definatley agree that if we keep up our need for technology our lives will turn out to be like the ones in the stories.
I've said so in class and I will day so again, Ray Bradbury seems to whine when he writes. all of the stories we have read have been him complaining about something. It follows the basic theme of "those darn "x" bein' mean to those darn "y". For example, in "The Man" it was "those darn skeptics bein' mean to those faithful people". In "The Veldt" it was "those darn kids bein' mean to those parents". In "The Pedestrian", it was "those darn tv-watchin' people bein' mean to those non tv-watchin' people. I am getting sick of his whining. He seems to have the naive perspective of the grumpy old man who is trying to cling to the remnants of "the way things were". He must know that he can never stop the progress of technology, and if he thinks he can, he's insane.
I agree with everyone above. I really think he is trying to make everyone realize that if we keep letting technolgy get in the way of everything, it would just be like The Pedestrian. People will be against other people who don't believe in the technology as much. I compared The Pedestrian as almost being like a school. If you don't ahve the best technology, you aren't "cool" enough and people look down on you or against you, like the car looking down on Mr. Mead for not having the same beliefs as him.
In respones to Connor P., you have brought up a very interesting point about Ray Bradbury whining when he writes. But, does that seem like the tone of his writing, or the points he tries to get across? I do not think he is whining or complaining, but just making entertaining stories about, not what he necassarily thinks will happen, but what people could imagine happening. I was not in your class, so I cannot really understand your point of view entirely, but I think the message Ray Bradbury intended to get across was not yours.
I agree that technology is going to mostly, negatively affect our world. It is already starting. So much "new and improved" technology is coming out, but is it realling helping the society? The obesity rates have gone up, not just because they are not exercising, it is because they are too busy watching their favorite tv show while eating an unhealthy snack. They have even come out with a new 3D tv. People are going to spend more time wating that tv, than going outside and enjoying the fresh air. Like the "poliece officer" in the Pedestrian said," Just walking?" and "Their is air in you house." It doesn't understand because Mead wasn't doing what everyone else was doing. He got brought to an insane house because he didn't want to "swim with the crowd". He was a writer so he understood the importantce of excersise and fresh air. Also he was probably an older more expirienced man, so he saw how much his town changed so greatly, and if we don't act now our town will probably end up like that.
I think that Ray Bradbury does a good job of portraying the fact that technology has taken over our lifes. Also, I agree with Megg. Technology is both good and bad.Technological advances can help find the latest cancer cure, or even help the enviornment. However, lots of people Watch t.v. during their spare time. People forgot about the pleasure of going outside and getting fresh air. Technology can both help and hinder soiety
Ray Bradbury's perspective on technology in the future is sureal . He makes it seem like technology is bad for society when really it is helping save lives and making every day life easier. I do not see the future looking like ray bradburt describes it because i feel its impossible that one day poeple wont be out at night. Its so unrealistic . Altohugh many people spend time watching tv and on the computer, there is still a percent of them that are outside , shopping, clubbing etc .
some of the things in his stories are more belivable then othes. i do not see the futuer being as it was in the 'veldt' however i do understand that you can be so attached to technology that its hard when you suddenly turn it off, or if it breaks and you feel like your going to die for not having it and start to go crazy. in the pedestrian, i understood how basically everyone had a viewing screen and were constantly watching it. and if you didnt have one you were crazy. it's kind of like everyone assumes you have a computer. however theres a countless number of people who don't own one.
There is an extremely good point in Ray Bradburys interpretation of the modern world. he may have exzagerated a little bit to prove his points but the message he sent made a point. If we come obsessed with tecnology it will run our lives. This in his word was wrote over 50 years ago when the tv was just comming out. Who would want to reasd if they could just watch a "veiwing screen". I believe he would agree with the statement it it okay for one to appreciat but not overendulge themseves with tecnology. I Dissagree completely with LittleMissSunshinex22
LittleMissSunshinex22 his statement about technology was ezagerated but in the future whose going to read if they have super technology.
"He makes it seem like technology is bad for society when really it is helping save lives and making every day life easier." okay that is true but in The Pedestrian, lenord mead was an author that no longer sold books because every one watched tv. and as you can tell there are more people reading 100 years ago when there was no tv, to today with a tv. I believe soon tecnology will be our demise.
I really do agree with Bradbury's view on the world's use of technology. The helplessness of people without their "little gadgets" and such has increased as technology becomes more advanced. Like massar$) said, we overindulge ourselves on technology. We depend too much on it, and Bradbury saw it all coming. The beauty of the world will pass us by if we live on our "viewing screens". Bradbury believed that technology was a menace to our humanity, and he was right.
I think that we are not a society that relys on technology yet. Ray Bradbury's perspective is a little exaggerated, especially in "The Veldt". No one in this world has a machine that brushes our teeth, or ties our shoes. I think that some people DO rely on technology in this world too. If they keep it up, in a few years we might be like "The Veldt".
yes, i beleive that for his time his perspective was realistic but he has not seen society evolve into ehat it is today. i think he beleived at this point already it would be a much darker present
I disagree with bowenS. I believe that society today does relay on technolgty, the future has already come true. For example like traffic lights and dishwashers and day to day objects. I think everyone is covering up the problem, WE do over use and almost abuse technology.
I agree with Ray bradbury in that technology is going to slowly take over our lives and very few people will take walks for fun and play a board game with the family. It may not be for a very long time but i think it will eventually happen. I mean think about all the new technology that is being invented and how much more is to come.
I agree with Ray Bradbury Technology s completly taking over the lives of our generation. I agree with Annie and disagree with Bowen S. we abuse having the privlage of tecnolegy.
also i explain that technology is abused in our society because we watch to much tv and listen to music to much and if people dont relise what is going on it may end up not as extream as this story but close
Ray Bradbury's perspective is very realistic in all of his stories. He shows through his writings that technology is taking over. He shows that now technology is taking over it wont stop. Maybe that is why he is always talking about the future. From the Nursery to the talking car in The Pedestrian and The Veldt Ray Bradbury shows that technology will never stop growing and taking over.
I have to say that technology impacts our society both positively and negatively. Technology can make children hide away and become obsessed with things like t.v and video games. It is also positive, like what :D said, it helps people in hospitals. Ray Bradbury made his stories a little to over the top by making technology this huge topic.
i think he is right and wrong. i think that he overegagerates societies dependence on technology but he makes a good point on how we shouldnt rely on it to provide for us in every part of our lives. in the pedestrian he says that people are so dependent on technology that they cant do anything besides watch TV at night. this is overdone but he makes a good point that you shouldnt become completly reliant on technology and forget the important things in life.
i think he is, just like ian, right and wrong. technology will someday take alot over our lives and i dont think it will take over our lives that much... he might have over exaggerated
I think that both the stories are told believably and that our society is overwhelmed with the use of technology. If we didnt use technology as much our world would be more in shape and more dependent on ourselves
I, like many answering this post, definitely agree with the messages in Ray Bradbury's short stories. Our world is becoming ntirely too dependant on technology, and it is taking away from human face-to-face contact. Just like the mother in "The Veldt," who feels inadequate compared to technology in terms of raising her children, many actions are becoming seemingly useless! Instead of listening to their mother sing them a song, al a child needs to do is listen to an ipod and hey can have all of the lullabies they want. Instead of having to solve a problem with pure brainpower, all a person needs to do is pick up a phone and ask a friend how to solve their problem for them...it isn't right! People are becoming far too dependant, and Bradbury sees that. What of cell phones stopped working? people are loosing brain power and wouldnt be able to solve problems by themselves without texting a friend! That is why i wholeheartedly agree with Ray Bradbury's message in these stories.
I agree with Ray Bradbury's perspective. Technology is doing more bad than good. Look at the teenagers of today. Instead of enjoying the small pleasure of talking with someone face to face or hearing them through a phone, they insist, and even become addicted to texting. Sure, it can be helpful in certain situations, but it has quickly become overused. Another thing, human beings are built to be physically active. With technology, we have become lazy. My grandfather and father both know the value of hard work. This prospect has been taught in every generation, and I am proud have family members such as the ones I have. It was difficult at first as a young child, but I have come to realize just how lazy humans have become because of the over use of technology. The obesity rate has dreastically increased over the past years because of peoples' laziness. Technology is contradicting the human anatomy. We are proud beings, and should not be easily swayed by the overuse of technology.
Ray Bradbury's view on current technology is only slightly correct. though technology does bring some problems it also solves more. for example the average life span is now much higher than before because of medical advances. it also makes everything easier and simpler. allthough technology may create some problems, they can also be solved with technology.
I think his prospective is a bit exaggerated in his stories. technology may have some negative effects, but it is not an out of control epidemic. In fa ct technology helps a lot with things like this blog for example. if technology was impacting society similar to when it dose in his story, it wouldn't be undetected. people in the government would have foresaw this problem from date in something like a census for the previous year. If people were really sucked into technology as much as in his story, wouldn't they be happy? If you'd rather play video games instead of going outside, wouldn't you like to have the choice? It's how people choose to live their lives, not how technology is attacking them.
I think that Ray Bradbury exagerated a lot about technology and all of it's effects. In his stories (The Pedestrian) and (The Veldt)made technology look like it was a bad thing when technology can be a good thing. I agree that some things about technology can be bad but is also very helpful.
I see Ray Bradbury's world definatley in our world. I see this because technology is taking over the way people run their lives. If it weren't for technology, most of the people in this world would be more fit becayse they would have nothig else to do. Ray Bradbury's stories kinda show the extreme damage technology can do to us and what it can make you do to other people
I agree with ray bradbury because we she not always be using technology. In his stories i think that he is sending a message or warning to his readers to not get so used to technology that it becomes addicting. Ray Bradury is trying to express that when the future comes it would be good for us to still read and write even though technolgy may rule the world. In his stories the veldt and the pedestrain he describes how the main characters try to avoid technology and do other things that don't envolve technology. Bradbury basically wants everybody to not get to carried away with technology or addicted to it because it can make you a develop bad character.
I agree that in Ray Bradbury's stories he makes technology a very bad thing. In real life, it is not always a bad thing though. For example, ipods can help to relax a person, TV's can entertain and medical technology can save lives. In real life technology can be good or bad, depending on the amount that it is used and the type of technology.
I agree with Ray Bradbury because I think technology can help and hurt America. He helps us like for science and with cars but can hurt like if someone spends too much time on technology. The more your listening to loud music it can hurt your ears.
I without a doubt agree with Ray Bradbury's perspective and can see our world in his fictional ones. He sees what plenty of us would, and do, choose to ignore. He knows how selfish we are thanks to technology and how dependent and needy we are becoming. While there are benefits of technology most of it is pure, pure laziness. Let's face it, we don't do so much for ourselves anymore. I know I use technology more than I should, and Bradbury recognized this. He simply makes things in the process of becoming problematic very dramatic. Perhaps as a warning, a turn back now sign. Maybe he sees just how things could become. He takes what is happening in our world, makes it much more magnified and dramatic, and ends up with a fantastic (if not creepy) story.
no, i dont think technology will do that to our world. that would be unrealistic for people to get killed or arrested because of technology. i think that our world will change because of technology but it will not become dangerouse
I think Ray Bradbury is a naive, old coot. He seems to be afraid of anything different. He makes it seem like technology will turn us into mindless zombies, like when the man (can't remember his name) starts yelling at houses but no one does anything because they're watching TV. I watch a good deal of TV and I'm not a zombie. Also, in The Pedestrian when the same man is asked by the police car if he has a job, the man says he's a writer so the police car replies "no profession". That's ridiculous. Even if books disappear, we will still need writers. The world will be fine with the increase of technology, probably even better. Just because something works okay for one generation doesn't mean it has to be forced upon others because the older one is afraid of change.
Ray Bradbury is, in my opinion, mocking this generation's addiction to technology. I would guess that he too, used technology where it was not completely neccessary in his life at some point. I think that everybody does that. Ray Bradbury is not naive in my opinion, rather he feels as though he knows something over us, that we overuse technology. (Which is true.)
I agree with Ray Bradbury but not completley. I believe that he has exagerated a little to much when it came to technology. Yes, it seems to appear that technology has has some control on earth it has brought an enormous amount of harm and an enormous amount of help, but it seems as if Ray Bradbury thinks that it does not do any good to our society.
I belive that bradbury has a good sence of reality A good head on his shoulders as they say. Bradbury is telling realistic things 9in his works because our society is ingulfed in technology nowadays. It is now wiered to go on walks at night when you should be watching tv or it is weired to play ball when you should be on your xbox
I think that Bradbury takes his stories to the extremes so that people will see the point he is trying to get across. His stories have a sense of reality but to me seem very extreme. He saying we will be too dependent on technology and he is right. Already we don't play outside, instead we watch TV. Our lives have been altered by technology and it seems like there is no turning back.
I agree with ds11 tecnology is being completely overused. I think that by using the extremes it makes bradbury's point come across even stronger. Half of the things are to make our lives easier. I mean the Ipad just came out, which is like a miny computer tv. Sorry i forgot that it was so hard to sit at the computer and then go to a different room to watch tv. I disagree with sarahmmm though because ray bradbury cant be mocking us because he was dead a while ago. This overuse of technologgy should stop because it would it be great to go back to the olden days when coke was 5 cents and gum was a penny. Now u cant even by a coke for 3 dollors. Who knows wht our world shall become but we must try to stop the tecnology overuse epedemic
hello
i agree with pretty much everyone here which is i agree with ray bradbury that technology can take over your life and we shouldnt always go to technology all of the time because we could become like the people in his story to tied in to technology and have no real life and to try to stop people from getting to that extreme.
I think Ray Bradbury style of writing is interesting. I don't think our world would come to the point where we would get in trouble with a talkin police car just for walking around at night. I think that our world may get a little extreme with our technology. And I think that's the main reason that Ray Bradbury writes about how technology is good. I don't think he's trying to tell us how technology can be a good attributin to ur daily lives; I think he's trying to show/tell us that if we let it, technology will take over our lives. That's not where we want to be in society and I don't think that technology will ever get that far.
Again i still belive that bradbury is very beiliveable in his prespective that technology comes first in our society. If we were different than there would be no obiesty and heart attacks due to fatness
Everyone seems to be saying the same things, just in different ways here, our world is very similar to the worlds that Ray Bradbury portrays in his stories. I have to agree with cstrachan, our world revolves around technology, and we have no idea how dependent we are on it in our lives. A bit of a personal anecdote about technology ruling our lives, I went on vacation to the Bahamas, and on our return flight, there was a little kid sitting behind me, and for a good part of our three hour flight, this kid was immersed in his DS. So his parents decided to take it away and have him do something else. The child's responce was to cry and whine until everyone on the flight was able to "convince" the parents to give it back.(by convince I mean talk louder than necessary about how annoying this child was) This is real life proof of our excessive reliance on technology and everyone's acceptance of this fact.
I just tried to post a comment, got the comment posted message, and it didn't post. I tried to go back and my comment was gone from the typing box.
Bradbury is a man who really gets it in this world. HE knows that americans are always using tvs or xboxes or even computers and dont do anything whereas other countries like china are outside and healthy
I dissagree, i think Ray Bradberry, is not reallistic, he knows no one is locked in there house watching tv (that i know of) ... and he is writing a cationary tale, how technology is infering with our lives, but i dont think anythime soon we will be encountering a society that has us faceing in the dermatic picture he painted in his story. He does have good idea in the way he sees the future comeing, and how its interfering in some lives. I think everyone should take something out of that story, but not really take it to criticlly.
i think that some of the things in our lives restrict us from doing anything else. cell phones are making it so people dont talk face to face anymore, tv is taking over some peoples lives. Ray Bradbury's stories are only partially correct. there are some technology thats helps us. what about the hospital equipment, that stuff is not demean at the slightest bit. most technology was made to help us. cells phones can be used in emergencies. ovens and kicthen appilances were created to help us make food. without technology, we may never be where we are.
I agree with Laura. She makes a good point on how most technology does help, but other parts of technology don't. For example shock pads can bring people back to life, while places like Facebook stop face to face communication. Also it's very true we wouldn't be where we are without technology. A great example is the post's here.
In my opinion, technology helps out immensely and there are few negatives about it. Going on the computer and watching TV are not really all that bad, when used in moderation. Many people nowadays do use it in moderation, anyway. Lots of people do sports or go to work in an office. Speaking of offices, many well-paying jobs use lots of technology, and some jobs save lives. My dad was in a motorcycle accident and lost his foot, and technology gave him another one. Technology is a great thing, so I disagree with Bradbury.
As many other people have said, Ray Bradbury's point about technology taking over our lives is completely true. As Megg said in one of the other posts people didn't have microwaves and digital clocks back in the day and they didnt't need them. We still dont need them. It isn't what people need it is what people want. Greed for many types of technology, as Ray Bradbury has said, will only make us more dependent on them.
our nation is very obsessed with technology so bradbury's P.O.V is understanable. Anything not technology is almost unheard of so bradbury has a very realistic point of view
I think that bradbury's perspective is realistic in the fact that our society is so wrapped up in the computer, T.V, xbox, ect. I think that I I went out for a walk at night like in The Pedestrian People would think i was crazy too. Good job Ray
I also agree with chris stracten^ because obesity rates are rising due to over time on the computer and tv. I think that ray bradbury did an excellent job on the pedestrian :DD nice!
I dissagree Cstrachan, but I see where you're coming from. I don't think people in our world frown upon others that go out for a walk. I don't think that many people are obsessed with technology like in "The Veldt". But, sean brings up a good point, the interpretation for that time was great.
I do have to agree with Julia, because technology these days is going off the charts with what new ideas are coming up and with what new technological devises everyone is creating and what everyone wants to buy so I definetly agree that Ray Bradbury is saying.
I agree with Kendall and Julia technology is going off the charts, they are making new things everyday and we cant stop it. Ray Bradbury is definitely correct, technology will take over our lives and everything that we do will involve technology.
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