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Similarly, electricity faced fears of danger and destruction, with media stories warning of house fires and electrocutions. Yet, despite this resistance, electricity transformed the world, eventually becoming a cornerstone of modern life. Andreas underscores how fear-driven regulation and misunderstandings historically impede innovation, often causing the leading nations of the time to lag behind subsequent technological revolutions.
The Media's Role in Fear and Ridicule
Throughout history, new technologies have faced skepticism. The telephone was dismissed as a passing fad, and early automobiles were deemed dangerous toys. Andreas emphasizes that these initial reactions—ridicule, fear, and regulatory hurdles—are predictable patterns when radical innovation emerges.