I'm not against machines, as are some people who feel that the computer is leading us back into the jungle...I'm against machines only when the convenience they afford to some people is regarded as more important than the inconvenience they cause to all. In short, I don't think computers should wear the pants or make the decisions. They are deficient in humor, they are not intuitive, and they are not aware of the imponderables. The men who feed them seem to believe that everything is made out of ponderables, which isn't the case. I read a poem once that a computer had written, but didn't care much for it. It seemed to me I could write a better one myself, if I were to put my mind to it.

Summary

In this quote, the speaker expresses a nuanced perspective on machines, particularly computers. They clarify that they are not against machines themselves, highlighting that machines can have their benefits. However, they take issue with an attitude that prioritizes the convenience that machines offer to some at the expense of inconveniencing others. The speaker presents arguments against letting computers dominate decision-making, highlighting their deficiencies in humor, intuition, and awareness of abstract concepts. By recounting a personal experience of reading a computer-generated poem and feeling unimpressed, they challenge the notion that machines can surpass human creativity and intelligence.

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