WooooSaaaaahhhh......If you couldn't tell, I am extremely irritated by the inseparable, unhealthy bond modern minded, computer savvy people have formed with technology! How many times have you tried to have a conversation with someone and the other person found it necessary AT THAT MOMENT to return a text? How many times have you been to a play, concert, sporting event or any event for that matter, where it seems like people were more interested in letting people know where they were and what they were doing rather than enjoying what was actually happening right in front of them? I have seen someone accidentally step into the road and hit by a car, and instead of people running to help, they were busy getting video or taking pictures of the incident!!!! Wait a minute....Are you guilty of any of these "offenses?" YOU ARE GUILTY AREN'T YOU (I know I am)? Now I wouldn't have a problem if you were in an important College class that you needed to earn your Masters and you just so happened to be in the mood to read my blog - I can understand that - But any other distraction would be absolutely unacceptable!
The way I see it is that technology has become a way for us to present ourselves in a way that we would like to be viewed by others. Additionally, it allows us to get a glimpse into people's lives we wouldn't normally have access to. It's kind of like having a telescope with the ability to see inside glass houses of your friends, their friends and beyond. It also allows us to be more connected than ever - not only by voice, but by video, through games, and messages that can be transmitted instantaneously to anywhere in the world! We are living in a great time, we have the power to be in touch with as many or as few people as we feel the need to on any type of device we prefer (if you can afford it) at any time of the day! We should be rejoicing right? Well yes and no. We should be rejoicing because the world has become so much smaller due to the ease of access technology provides, but we should be sad that it has been and will continue to take away our social and face to face interaction skills. In some cases, we can't even write a complete sentence without using acronyms like LOL, BRB, TTYL and WTF.
I have to admit, I'm a little worried. Worried about how we have so easily assimilated to a virtual lifestyle and started to lose touch with reality. I bet that some of us actually believe the lies we are telling online to describe ourselves. Take this posting on a popular dating site for example:
Man Seeking Woman - I'm slim but muscular standing at 6'5"- attended Harvard, Yale and Stanford - I Practice Criminal, Immigration, and Family Law as well as dabble as a Orthopedic, Cardiovascular and Neuro Surgeon. That is of course when I'm not being a Civil, Electrical and Environmental Engineer. In my spare time I like to rock climb, deep sea dive and sky dive. Lastly, as a hobby, I built a custom space shuttle which has the ability to make the trip to Mercury during the winter (It's much warmer there). I also like to bar-b-cue with my neighbors Oprah and Warren in the summer by my olympic size pool shaped by my signature. If you want to get to know me or spend some time with me please feel free to respond to this add. Au revoir mon amour (I also speak 9 languages - French included)
Ladies and gentlemen, please take some time to step out of your virtual world and find the time to appreciate the beauty of your planet. Make strong lasting connections that will enhance your life and help you grow as an individual. Learn the proper etiquette when it comes to mixing both the virtual and real world, because let's face it....technology isn't going anywhere!!! One rule of thumb, treat deserving people like the royalty you wish to be treated and you will be "A" OK! And to my loyal readers, remember - Mi Luv you like Bill Gates Love him Bank account. Walk Good, until next time!
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Great topic and great thoughts. There is a ongoing debate being mooted by HR specialists about employers - especially those who give employees smartphones - how much should they expect these employees to be virtually connected to the work scene. The trade unions will no doubt find the right case to bring about a change to this prevailing expectation that employees will be checking in for emails etc even when they are in Hawaii splashing in the ocean with lei around their necks - clearly not wanting to be
ReplyDeleteAccessible, Available nor Accountable.
By extension it is my thinking that in our personal lives we do this without thinking of the implications. The implications have been far reaching for some. Woe be unto the one who decides that one will not be accessible, available nor accountable. But shouldn't we block out time - like all good time management principles dictate- to deal or not to deal with every email or text as they come in? The compulsion to reply instantly is chronic in the case of some person.
Shouldn't we be mindful that this approach would to give respect and regard to those who are " deserving " of it as you have aptly put it?
When I know that my friends or family or associates are Unavailable - even if they are Accessible- I restrain myself from making that virtual contact. I sit back sometimes when others who should be engaged in meetings and discussions with me, make themselves become enslaved to the smartphone. I do feel undeserving of their attention. My actions to practise restraint these days, come from a simple dictum "do unto others as you would have them do unto you".
Virtually Alive(connected) but Socially Dead (disconnected) is a timely and very appropriated topic to start the self awareness test.
Funny coming across this blog today. I was just having a conversation about this exact subject this afternoon. The "art" of the conversation is slowly dying. When a person's personality varies so greatly between their posts, texts, tweets or IM's and their ability to interact with each other face to face, who are they really?
ReplyDeleteKris its sad but true....ppl are now down right rude with this whole social media addiction. I do believe that it allows them to live their fantasy lives as you said. My personal pet peeve is going out with a group and one individual decides its ok to tag without asking first. Maybe just maybe I didnt want the world to know exactly where I am and what im doing. Cant deal
ReplyDeleteYou better preach!!
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