Have we really moved into passive mode?

A character in The Truth Teller by Angel Hunt voices his disgust with the state of the human race:

“… By his very success in inventing labor-saving devices, modern man has created an abyss of boredom and stupidity that only the privileged classes in earlier civilizations ever plumbed. The average blue-collar worker has more free time and more expendable income than did the average man on the streets of ancient Rome, yet he is not a better man for it. He spends his evenings in front of his cable-fed television, filling his mind with the moronic humor of whatever sleaze happens to be on that evening. Modern technology is supposed to serve us, but the average man serves technology. Our gadgets and gizmos have changed us from active to passive agents. Unless we restore our superiority, our modern inventions will eventually eliminate us altogether.”

As I tried to determine whether or not I agreed with this statement, I came up with a multitude of questions. We will all have to determine our own answers.

• Is the problem with advancing technology or are the roots inside of us?
• Were those living in ancient times, without our technology or free time, better people than we are or just different?
• How am I using my free time?
• What am I filling my mind with? Is it God-focused?
• If I don’t have any free time, why not?
• If our gadgets and time-savers delete repetitive tasks that had given us the space and opportunity to daydream, think things through, or ask ourselves questions, are we better off?
• Are we thinking less and choosing to fill our minds with culture’s ideas of entertainment instead?
• How passive am I?
• Do I feel empowered by my gizmos or reliant on them?
• Do I need to make some changes.