Leisure and Technology

Once upon a time, humanity spent most of its time trying to not die. Starvation, ferocious beasts, inclement weather, the least bit of sickness, the process of birth and even the process of being born could threaten the continuation of the species. If life was a dodgeball game, then death was all the athletic kids and bullies and humanity was mostly fat kids and nerds. Even worse, so much time was spent trying to survive that little progress could be made in making life better.

Those days were not to last, however, and eventually humanity's timeline intersected that point which historians call "The Agricultural Revolution." People started farming and living near each other (mostly for protection). Eventually they discovered that their farms could produce much more food than a family could eat alone. This meant that not everyone needed to be a farmer. Some could develop other skills and trade the fruit of these skills to the farmers for food. A new system had been created where every single person did not have to look out for his own survival at all times. Others would help him, and in turn he would help others. Time existed during the day when work was not necessary. Thus, the concept of "leisure time" was born.

This didn't mean life was any easier right away, or that the majority of the world's population had much leisure time (or currently does). However, over many years, leisure time became one of the foundations of humanity's technological progress. Man now had time to think, time to learn, time to make things and develop skills which were otherwise not profitable (or needed full development to be profitable). Culture blossomed from leisure: the fact that man needed to find something to do when not working.

Look at the First World today, however, and it seems there has been some kind of trade-off. Technology has advanced to a point where it no longer stems from leisure, but instead provides leisure. Skills in the arts are not developed, but only appreciated in those whose employment is to develop those skills. Technology has advanced to the point where culture is now an industry and fed to the general populace instead of created by the general populace.

It is time to do something about this. Leisure time needs to be taken back by everyone. This does not mean it is necessary to destroy technology, but rather to use it to create instead of just absorb. If those ancient farmers could create a culture with what they had, how much more can the average resident of the First World, with the resources he has? Use the internet, use media, use digital photography and film to create culture. Find an instrument and create original music, not for a paycheck, or even a future paycheck, but for pleasure. Sing all the time, no matter how talented. The internet gives access to thousands of lyrics and sheets upon sheets of music previously unavailable. Learn a game or sport, or create one, and get really good at it.

Don't just do it because you read this, but do it because you find it enjoyable. All we have is time, thanks to the progress of our ancestors, and it's about time we used it.