Anti or Pro-Technology?? by Shruti Bhave

The poem suggests an overall anti-technology view in the way that it portrays technology in a subtly negative way. Brautigan plays a trick on his words. Every stanza starts with the lines " I like to think..." followed by a hopeful statement in parenthesis suggesting that the status-quo with respect to technology is not exactly something beneficial to mankind. Brautigan would really like to think in a positive way about technology, but that's just not the reality as proven by the words "and the sooner the better". The words in parenthesis have a tone of desperation in them as if technology is actually being detrimental to humans.

In the third stanza, I feel like Brautigan is even mocking technology. It would disrupt daily routine if everything that man did with his hands was replaced by machines. The last two lines are very eerie to me. They suggest that technology is completely controlling man. it reminds me of the movie I Robot. In this sense, the poem is anti-technology.

The poem is very pro-technology. Lines 5-6 suggest that humans and technology can exist together in the same place and get along. The following simile compares this harmless relationship to "pure water touching clear sky". This is analogous to the perception of the ocean touching the sky on a beach. To me, this image gives a sense of serenity and control. Also in the first stanza, line three mentions a cybernetic meadow. The use of the word meadow suggests once again of tranquility and agreement.

Even in this rapidly progressing world, the poem suggests that not just man, but also nature can get along with technology. This is shown by the cybernetic forest and the deer gently passing through. The poem even compares computers to flowers, which are generally recognized as delicate, beautiful and harmless. The third stanza shows a positive view of technology in the way it says that man will have more time for nature and family since machines will take care of all the tedious work.

In my opinion, I think that the poem has an overall positive view of technology. Even though the first line of each stanza start with "I like to think..." , I feel like they are more optimistic for a better future than discouraging. The way the poem mentions the cybernetic meadow, forest, and ecology makes me think that the technology is benefiting growth rather than hindering it. Technology is allowing man to do spend time on other things like family and is making life easier.