More and more we are into communications; and less and less into communication.
Studs TerkelRead
One day I visited a guy who had made a fortune as a broker. He was sitting in his office with his computer. I hire people from here and make deals from this room, he told me. Then he took me to the trading room. Nobody was talking to anybody else, the place was silent as a tomb, they were all sitting there watching their terminals - a great word, terminal. I tell you, it scares the crap out of me.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on the isolating nature of modern trading and technology.
This quote by Studs Terkel captures the eerie silence and isolation that can exist in high-stakes trading environments, where individuals are engrossed in their screens rather than interacting with one another. The reference to the term 'terminal' draws a stark comparison between the lifeless machines and the human experience, suggesting that the advancements in technology may have resulted in physical presence but not genuine connection or engagement among people.
Themes
TradingTechnologyIsolationCommunicationHuman Experience
In practice
Example use cases
During a presentation on the impacts of technology on communication, one might reference this quote to illustrate modern loneliness.
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Heroes are not giant statues framed against a red sky. They are people who say: This is my community, and it is my responsibility to make it better. Interweave all these communities and you really have an America that is back on its feet again. I really think we are gonna have to reassess what constitutes a 'hero'.
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I read somewhere that when a person takes part in community action, his health improves. Something happens to him or to her biologically. It's like a tonic.
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