Earl may have very indelicately voiced an observation about the future. Once we reach the point that computers become involved to tie our shoes as a living standard, what point is there to life. Then the only way to insure one person having a bad day doesn't override the computer is to remove ourselves from any control over the computer for our own safety. Computers eventually break when you least need it.
As we remove purpose from our lives and the risk involved, what is the end game? Much of what we call vocations in our modern life can, and will be replaced by computers to remove the risk factor of imperfect humans from the equation. What are you going to do with all of those humans now with no purpose in their lives other than play games all day and talk to distant voices coming out of a machine or a plugin in their heads?
At some point who will pay the tax burden to support them when our work forces are computers? The greatest single cost to any company is the fixed asset, the employee. The greatest source of problems for companies again is it's employees. The majority of problems with computers can be traced back to employees.
Earl in his own way was voicing a warning. How ever imperfect we are, we derive meaning in our lives by taking the risks of living it.
