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325:questions:week_10_questions_comments-325_19 [2019/10/31 12:55] – jmcclurken325:questions:week_10_questions_comments-325_19 [2019/11/22 00:54] (current) – 108.45.143.34
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 Just like with organic life, from the smallest cells to human beings, the traits of any organism are determined by how well they aid in the organism’s survival and procreation. According to Darwinian principles, the more successful an adaptation makes a species, the more it is passed on to succeeding generations. If not, then it does not get passed on. Technological evolution is very similar, except instead of selective pressures coming from the chance happenings of Nature, traits of inventions are selected for deliberately by intelligent life (i.e. humans) and traits that make an invention successful are those that make it practical, attractive, and, occasionally, groundbreaking.  Before automobiles became the way of transportation, trolleys/streetcars were gaining popularity as a method of public transport in urban areas during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries as the horse-and-buggy was being slowly phased out. “By 1920, however, the automobile had created a class gap between those who drove and those who rode.” (Nye, pg. 133). One man says of the streetcar, “Pretty punk service the Company giving us on these car lines. Nonsense to only run the Portland Road cars once every seven minutes.” (Nye, pg. 133). Babbitt replies, “But still, of course, it won’t do just to keep knocking the Traction Company and not realize the difficulties they are operating under, like those cranks that want municipal ownership. The way these workmen hold up the company for high wages is simply a crime, and of course the burden falls on you and me that must pay a seven-cent fare! Fact, there’s a remarkable service on all their lines, considering.” (Nye, pg. 133). This shows that business interests occasionally conflict with a technology’s importance to the general public which relies on it. – Rachel Beatty.  Just like with organic life, from the smallest cells to human beings, the traits of any organism are determined by how well they aid in the organism’s survival and procreation. According to Darwinian principles, the more successful an adaptation makes a species, the more it is passed on to succeeding generations. If not, then it does not get passed on. Technological evolution is very similar, except instead of selective pressures coming from the chance happenings of Nature, traits of inventions are selected for deliberately by intelligent life (i.e. humans) and traits that make an invention successful are those that make it practical, attractive, and, occasionally, groundbreaking.  Before automobiles became the way of transportation, trolleys/streetcars were gaining popularity as a method of public transport in urban areas during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries as the horse-and-buggy was being slowly phased out. “By 1920, however, the automobile had created a class gap between those who drove and those who rode.” (Nye, pg. 133). One man says of the streetcar, “Pretty punk service the Company giving us on these car lines. Nonsense to only run the Portland Road cars once every seven minutes.” (Nye, pg. 133). Babbitt replies, “But still, of course, it won’t do just to keep knocking the Traction Company and not realize the difficulties they are operating under, like those cranks that want municipal ownership. The way these workmen hold up the company for high wages is simply a crime, and of course the burden falls on you and me that must pay a seven-cent fare! Fact, there’s a remarkable service on all their lines, considering.” (Nye, pg. 133). This shows that business interests occasionally conflict with a technology’s importance to the general public which relies on it. – Rachel Beatty. 
  
 +The American concept of freedom and liberation through the ownership of a car is a very unique and interesting philosophy from which a whole fad emerged marking a staple in American culture which has continued to persist up until the present day. - Cameron Wills
  
 +Nye talks about the distinction between classes through automobile ownership. Which to a degree is arguably still relevant today, as many people’s wealth (or debt if you’d like to get technical) can be identified by the type of vehicle they drive. However, one of the main differences is that people have greater access to vehicles than they did historically. -Elizabeth Davis
325/questions/week_10_questions_comments-325_19.1572526514.txt.gz · Last modified: 2019/10/31 12:55 by jmcclurken