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One day in 2017, I had a realization that was both obvious and shocking. Almost everything I engaged in was fueled by computer code. As I witnessed a surge in the amount of code around me, it seemed like things were not necessarily improving, but perhaps worsening. This made me ponder the reasons behind it.
Two potential factors immediately crossed my mind. One was the coders themselves, often portrayed in popular culture as an eccentric group of Tolkien enthusiasts. The other factor was the hyper-capitalist system, exemplified by the peculiar world of Silicon Valley. Could these entities be using code to reshape the human environment according to their preferences?
A third possibility, albeit a terrifying one, emerged but was difficult to fully contemplate. What if there was an inherent incompatibility between human thinking and computational processes? Although no one had suggested this before, the idea lingered in the theoretical realm. Gradually, I realized that delving into the code myself and experiencing the inner workings of the machine was the only way to uncover the truth.
As a non-technical writer in my fifties, I had limited knowledge of how code operated. However, my encounter with coders during a feature on Bitcoin intrigued me. I discovered the diverse world of programming languages, each with its distinct characteristics and devoted communities. The realm of coders suddenly appeared fascinating and multifaceted.
Source: www.theguardian.com
