I have this issue I'm trying to work through. I hate technology. Well okay, not all technology. And probably not most technology, but I have a definite resistance to the role that technology is beginning to play in the world.
I hate that texting is replacing face-to-face interaction and even voice-to-voice interaction. I admit it's convenient and sometimes saves time, but is it really so bad to pick up the phone and call someone? And don't get me started on cell phone etiquitte... or does that even exist anymore?
I hate that book stores are going out of business because everyone is buying e-readers (not that I'm opposed to e-readers, but....SAD!)
I hate that we waste so much time on the internet. I'm guilty and I hate it. Part of me wants to just close my Facebook account. But that would be silly. Or would it? And I just opened a Pinterest account. Considering I feel guilty when I waste time on the computer, this wasn't the most logical of choices.
I hate that everyone feels like they have to have the latest and the greatest. It seems like growing up there was some cool new thing that would come out every 5 years or so. The internet. DVD players. Caller ID. And when your family finally got it, it was the COOLEST. Now it seems like every couple months there is some new and great thing and everyone has to have it. We can't just be happy with the things we have because we realize that even though we just bought a brand new phone 3 months ago, now it's totally lame because it doesn't have the internet, or a GPS system, or whatever it is that comes on phones these days.
I think it's ironic that technology is supposed to save us so much time and make our lives simpler, but it seems like we spend WAY more time with technology than we used to and in many ways it seems to make life more complicated.
I sound like a hater. I'm not so blind that I don't see the huge blessing that technology is in our lives. But with all the good comes so much bad.
I love Back to the Future. One of the greatest movies ever. Doesn't the 1985 time period seem so much more fun than the days of 2015? (which is so funny that's in 4 years). The "future" just seems so superficial and mechanical.
Some days I wish we could go back....
3 comments:
Alison - I think you've captured a feeling that a lot of folks have had, including me. This is a super interesting topic.
I guess the extremes would be totally leaving technology behind and returning to the simple days of encyclopedias and home phones VS. keeping up with the constantly evolving latest and greatest tech.
I think the answer – at least for me – lies somewhere in the middle; I can't afford (financially or mentally) to keep up with the technological Jones'. However, I feel a need to keep up with certain technologies in order to be competitive in the working world.
I think Facebook is a time-suck that tons of people are trying to ween themselves off of. It's interesting that we're so curious about what others are doing and saying these days. I wonder how much more we'd do and say offline if we spent less time online.
Awesome post. Lots of food for thought. Stepping away from my laptop for a while...
Amen, sister.
Oh man, I have felt the same way as you! That's why I'm so hot and cold on blogging/facebook posts/communication :)
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