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While both revenge effects and side effects are considered to be ‘effects of technology,’ Tenner believed the two concepts to be different things.
According to Tenner, a side effect is a not-so-terrible effect that happens to come along with technology. A revenge effect, on the other hand, is an unfortunate and intentional repercussion of this said effect. In their book “Culture + Technology: A Primer,” Jennifer Darryl Slack and John MacGregor Vise offered very informative interpretations of the two terms. “[Side effects] are effects that are unrelated to the intended effects of the technology. Revenge effects are unforeseen consequences that are directly linked to the intended effects.” (2005, p.47). Tenner gives the example of cancer chemotherapy treatment. “If a cancer chemotherapy treatment causes baldness, that is not a revenge effect; but if it induces another, equally lethal cancer, that is a revenge effect.” (2006, p.8). By Tenner’s standards, technology always has some sort of effect on society – whether we intend it to or not.
Tenner also believes that there is such a thing as a reverse revenge effect. “There are occasional reverse revenge effects; unexpected benefits of technology adopted for another reason.” (2006, p.11). Certain technologies have (unintentionally) ended up saving us from other problems.
Are we using technologies today that are potentially saving us from major problems, or are these technologies more likely to cause more problems than before? We can’t know for sure, but it’s safe to say that it’s difficult to predict the outcome of technology. Unfortunately, it’s much easier to examine these things in retrospect.
Works Cited:
Slack, J., & Vise, J. (2005). Culture technology: A primer (p. 47). Peter Lang.
Tenner, E. (1996). Chapter 1. Ever since frankenstein. Why things bite back: Technology and the revenge of unintended consequences. New York: Knopf.
According to Tenner, a side effect is a not-so-terrible effect that happens to come along with technology. A revenge effect, on the other hand, is an unfortunate and intentional repercussion of this said effect. In their book “Culture + Technology: A Primer,” Jennifer Darryl Slack and John MacGregor Vise offered very informative interpretations of the two terms. “[Side effects] are effects that are unrelated to the intended effects of the technology. Revenge effects are unforeseen consequences that are directly linked to the intended effects.” (2005, p.47). Tenner gives the example of cancer chemotherapy treatment. “If a cancer chemotherapy treatment causes baldness, that is not a revenge effect; but if it induces another, equally lethal cancer, that is a revenge effect.” (2006, p.8). By Tenner’s standards, technology always has some sort of effect on society – whether we intend it to or not.
Tenner also believes that there is such a thing as a reverse revenge effect. “There are occasional reverse revenge effects; unexpected benefits of technology adopted for another reason.” (2006, p.11). Certain technologies have (unintentionally) ended up saving us from other problems.
Are we using technologies today that are potentially saving us from major problems, or are these technologies more likely to cause more problems than before? We can’t know for sure, but it’s safe to say that it’s difficult to predict the outcome of technology. Unfortunately, it’s much easier to examine these things in retrospect.
Works Cited:
Slack, J., & Vise, J. (2005). Culture technology: A primer (p. 47). Peter Lang.
Tenner, E. (1996). Chapter 1. Ever since frankenstein. Why things bite back: Technology and the revenge of unintended consequences. New York: Knopf.