Issue: 009 February 2026
The Loss of Independence
Undermines Personal Well-Being and Societal Dynamics
If you have lived for at least three decades or more, you may have felt an increasing loss of control, a state that has gathered momentum alongside the pervading influence of technology and the consequent artificiality that is steadily replacing reality in many aspects of human existence. This state is mostly felt by established generations who have known different times, the likes of which emerging generations have only heard about but not experienced. We are talking about the loss of independence and the freedoms established generations once experienced, which can manifest in anger, isolation, fear, despair, anxiety, feelings of marginalization, and numerous other mental health conditions.
Today western society is replete with processes and practices, both imposed and self-imposed that render us dependent on the outside world, a state that is steadily increasing. This includes the obvious machines, such as mobile phones, computers, computer software programs and apps that for many are the foundational drivers of both their professional and personal life. The more technology thinks for us, the more it controls us, and this comes at a cost to our freedom, mental health, human and social skills. The loss of independence can be subtle, often self-imposed (usually by virtue of convenience), but also difficult to avoid due to societal expectation, pressure, the prioritisation of utilitarian education at the expense of the humanities, and diminishing, even loss of options. There are numerous examples at our disposal, but let’s consider just a few.
We are losing our ability to calculate, machines do it for us, this is certainly evident at the store checkout where an inability to make a simple addition can cause angst, even chaos. An ability to calculate was once an innate human capability and without this life skill, humanity will be controlled by machines. Many motorists use satellite navigation whenever they get into their car, even when driving on routes they have driven for years. Abandoning navigational brain function contributes to the loss of natural instincts, rendering us reliant on the outside world, as the saying goes, use it (the brain) or lose it. Most service providers such as power & utilities, insurance, and communication companies’ etcetera, today usually have direct access to our bank accounts and credit cards, we are now at their mercy, subject to their control, and try talking to them in person! Furthermore, should we end up in a cashless society, we will be at the mercy of financial institutions. Subscription trading provides a service, but not ownership. Therefore, the service provider inevitably controls all aspects of service provision including quality, cost, support, along with available features and facilities and can change anything at their discretion. Then there are the insidious and addictive algorithms, passwords, misinformation/fake news, the social media sewer, on-line safety and security to navigate, all of which is but part of the contemporary malaise.
Connection is Key
Let’s Start by Getting Real
If the aforementioned is in any part a reasonable reflection of contemporary society, how do we counteract it, to take more control of our life, our independence, improve mental health and rescue our humanity. It is absolutely vital that individuals and organisations become, and remain connected, and this will be our focus today. You probably think you are well connected, but more than likely you aren’t, or can do much better, work on it both personally and organizationally, there is no downside. A few basic thought starters:
Answer your phone (most don’t), to do so is both courteous, professional and you can always ring back if occupied. Don’t text, talk, pick up the phone and converse, talking is a fundamental form of connecting. Face to face is the most connected form of interaction. Does your organization place a high priority on personal visitation, particularly to clients and supply partners? if not do it. Today, human beings experience far less face-to-face interaction than previous generations, and it is one of the reasons Trade Events are so important and are in fact prospering, because we all need and benefit from being together in real time. Connection is a vital topic to consider and workshop organizationally, don’t accept excuses or mediocrity, well connected individuals and organizations are no longer the normal, make it one of your points of difference, and by the way ‘resistance is not futile’. Also look at the way you and your organization (over)use machines, we all do. Strive to become independent, look after your individual and organizational health, freedom and culture by getting and staying real.
Until next month
Frank Hinton
President
ACETA
Today western society is replete with processes and practices, both imposed and self-imposed that render us dependent on the outside world, a state that is steadily increasing. This includes the obvious machines, such as mobile phones, computers, computer software programs and apps that for many are the foundational drivers of both their professional and personal life. The more technology thinks for us, the more it controls us, and this comes at a cost to our freedom, mental health, human and social skills. The loss of independence can be subtle, often self-imposed (usually by virtue of convenience), but also difficult to avoid due to societal expectation, pressure, the prioritisation of utilitarian education at the expense of the humanities, and diminishing, even loss of options. There are numerous examples at our disposal, but let’s consider just a few.
We are losing our ability to calculate, machines do it for us, this is certainly evident at the store checkout where an inability to make a simple addition can cause angst, even chaos. An ability to calculate was once an innate human capability and without this life skill, humanity will be controlled by machines. Many motorists use satellite navigation whenever they get into their car, even when driving on routes they have driven for years. Abandoning navigational brain function contributes to the loss of natural instincts, rendering us reliant on the outside world, as the saying goes, use it (the brain) or lose it. Most service providers such as power & utilities, insurance, and communication companies’ etcetera, today usually have direct access to our bank accounts and credit cards, we are now at their mercy, subject to their control, and try talking to them in person! Furthermore, should we end up in a cashless society, we will be at the mercy of financial institutions. Subscription trading provides a service, but not ownership. Therefore, the service provider inevitably controls all aspects of service provision including quality, cost, support, along with available features and facilities and can change anything at their discretion. Then there are the insidious and addictive algorithms, passwords, misinformation/fake news, the social media sewer, on-line safety and security to navigate, all of which is but part of the contemporary malaise.
Connection is Key
Let’s Start by Getting Real
If the aforementioned is in any part a reasonable reflection of contemporary society, how do we counteract it, to take more control of our life, our independence, improve mental health and rescue our humanity. It is absolutely vital that individuals and organisations become, and remain connected, and this will be our focus today. You probably think you are well connected, but more than likely you aren’t, or can do much better, work on it both personally and organizationally, there is no downside. A few basic thought starters:
Answer your phone (most don’t), to do so is both courteous, professional and you can always ring back if occupied. Don’t text, talk, pick up the phone and converse, talking is a fundamental form of connecting. Face to face is the most connected form of interaction. Does your organization place a high priority on personal visitation, particularly to clients and supply partners? if not do it. Today, human beings experience far less face-to-face interaction than previous generations, and it is one of the reasons Trade Events are so important and are in fact prospering, because we all need and benefit from being together in real time. Connection is a vital topic to consider and workshop organizationally, don’t accept excuses or mediocrity, well connected individuals and organizations are no longer the normal, make it one of your points of difference, and by the way ‘resistance is not futile’. Also look at the way you and your organization (over)use machines, we all do. Strive to become independent, look after your individual and organizational health, freedom and culture by getting and staying real.
Until next month
Frank Hinton
President
ACETA