I haven't seen Star Wars III yet, so I can't properly argue or agree with the points Stephenson makes in this New York Times article, but the interplay between understanding and manipulating technlogy and in finding a peace-filled mindstate and trusting one's intuitions is personally fascinating. I, both by nature of the field I work in and by my (genetic? learned?) predispositons, devote no small amount of attention to technology and how it works, yet I also strive to relax, let those facts and figures slide away, to not think quite so much when confronted with heavy issues. The facts available almost always have problematic gaps -- gaps that inutuition and experience are more and more often called upon to fill. Not wether but where to draw the line between gaining more facts and relying on instincts, is in the end, the true question.

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rach [ 06/20/2005 14:54]: Great article. I personally think the first Star Wars were as much about vegging out as geeking out, though the crowds differed. Geeked out culture is stronger today than ever, I would also argue, which may bode well. As for the Jedi, while perhaps "the geekiest people in the universe," (and don't we know training in tech and in martial arts requires a lot more than pure meditation), the most impressive aspect of them, for me, isn't their tech and battle prowess, but rather the place inside from whence those come. The Jedi are all about acceptance of what is there, trust, simplicity. To desire more and more technology, more and more power, and more and more acclaim from others for your knowledge...isn't that the path to the Dark Side?