Robert Jones, a driver from Doncaster, UK, followed the instructions of his sat-nav a little too carefully – only noticing the limits of the machine as he hit a fence on the edge of a cliff. His sat-nav mistook a footpath for a road and he followed it. His sat-nav showed a road continuing over the cliff and he continued without hesitation. Of course, some think that the subjective perceptions of human beings are not as reliable as the cold calculations of machines… But what if there hadn’t been a fence? Robert Jones was forced to re-evaluate his anti-humanist philosophy when he reached the end of the road with his BMW, almost too late. He was charged with driving without due care and attention. An interesting metaphor perhaps: for the unconditional support shown to car industries and our leaders’ reactions to climate change. Hopefully there is a fence strong enough to prevent our fall.

Illustration by Marta Mancusi