The prediction, in brief:

Many people are searching for the solution to their problems in life. All the other solutions from psychoanalysis to the cult of the car have been let-downs. And then here comes a cheap, easy, technical solution which promises the answer to everything: social problems, a cure for cancer, a solution to war and nastiness – “We’ll just have fast communications, that will solve our problems.” It won’t.

Predictor: Stoll, Clifford

Prediction, in context:

In a 1995 article for The Times of London, John Diamond quotes Internet curmudgeon Clifford Stoll. Diamond writes:”Stoll isn’t, of course, the first to write less than glowingly about the computer age, but he’s the first disciple of the new messiah to turn heretic. ‘Many people are searching for the solution to their problems in life. All the other solutions from psychoanalysis to the cult of the car have been let-downs. And then here comes a cheap, easy, technical solution which promises the answer to everything: social problems, a cure for cancer, a solution to war and nastiness – “We’ll just have fast communications, that will solve our problems.” It won’t.'”

Biography:

Clifford Stoll was an astrophysicist who also wrote the influential books “Silicon Snake Oil” (1995) and “The Cuckoo’s Egg.” A long-time network user, Stoll made “Silicon Snake Oil” his platform for finding fault with the Internet hype of the early 1990s. He pointed out the pitfalls of a completely networked society and offered arguments in opposition to the hype. (Author/Editor/Journalist.)

Date of prediction: October 1, 1995

Topic of prediction: General, Overarching Remarks

Subtopic: General

Name of publication: Times (London)

Title, headline, chapter name: First Disciple of the New Faith Turns Heretic

Quote Type: Direct quote

Page number or URL of document at time of study:
http://web.lexis-nexis.com/universe/document?_m=a4d7accfbfebf143a2cfd0f7b9f1ce76&_docnum=11&wchp=dGLbVlb-lSlAl&_md5=28dc85ab6ab7c8e5cf9bd882f8ac5583

This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Anderson, Janna Quitney