Does Technology really make us Unhappy?

[Human No More]

Originally Posted by auroraglacialis

I do however agree to the full extent that consumerism, an invention by capitalist businessmen in the midst of the 20th century is a major source of the unhappiness.

Definitely. People are told they they can have more, the whole 'american dream' thing. That's the problem.

These things we are missing then... spirituality

'Spirituality' is fine for those who WANT it, but many people who have sought to enforce it have been among the greatest negative influences on the entire world. Real improvements come from UNDERSTANDING things, not from saying 'it is like this and always will be like this because I say so'. 'Spirituality' without reason or respect for others is responsible for far too many problems, both historically and today. Who are you to say that people should have it forced on them?

family, friends, connectedness are then sold back to us in a mimickry - as social networking websites, yoga classes, internet forums (sorry, ToS )

I really don't see the problem with any of those. We KNOW you don't like them - you really don't need to take the opportunity to repeat yourself every single opportunity you get just to make sure every last person who night ever see a post by you knows your position - but leave each to their own. I don't call you irresponsible for wanting to live without anything, neither do I say you shouldn't, but you seem to think it is OK to do the reverse.

An example are cellphones - the downsides are social isolation in real life because people are walking by each other staring at their little screens, people call each other instead of meeting, they text each other instead of talking.

Anyone can overuse something. It also means I can talk to a friend who lives 345 minutes away without spending a large amount of time and money when he might well be out or asleep. It also means I can talk to my parents, when otherwise I would not be able to because I do not live with them. If someone decides to EXCLUSIVELY use one for communication, then that is negative - but if someone decides to live in a tree and never speak to anyone else again, that's exactly the same thing, but if someone said that all trees should be removed as a result, you would not like that (and neither would I). The problem is how someone acts, now what they use to do it with. Who's to say that person living in a tree alone isn't happy. It;s not like they are asking you to join them.
You always complain about the internet, but you still use it to put your views across. I'm fine with that, except for when you present them as something that should be forced on others.

[Technology] trades emotional, spiritual, inter- and intrapersonal connection for gains on the level of comfort, convenience, intellect and information.

That doens't make those advantages any less valid. Nobody asked you to choose either or the other (but you CAN if you want - that is the point).

And that I believe contributes to the unhappiness as well, because we as humans are evolved to be social, emotional, spiritual beings and this is what makes us happy, not information and comforts.

Just because you don't care in that way about other people you know through such means doesn't mean other people don't or shouldn't be allowed to.

I am not saying that being comfortable makes us unhappy - but that the way technology often works is that it takes away something in return. It is a deal and the question is what is the price and are we willing to pay it.

I would disagree with that statement - it creates something equally valid and people have the choice. If you want to take choice away from people, you are no better than these supposed people you claim do this.

As we are now facing a time in which we cannot ramp up energy production easily and we notice that after all there was a price for that benefits (in terms of global warming, ecological destruction and diminishing our environment) the gains become questionable. We still like them of course, but we become aware of the true price we have to pay for them. And that surely contributes to unhappiness.

We can, quite easily. You always go on about renewable sources, which aren't perfect, but they are a great example both of how it can be decentralised, and also produced without a negative impact. Unhappiness isn't from paying, it's from not being able to make a decision. It's from working too much, and, you may be surprised to know, but sometimes there IS no reason, and people DO feel own. It's from overwork, authoritarian governments, people who claim their ideals are perfect and want to force them on others, and the rest.