I want you to imagine a 1950's suburbia, with a hardworking successful businessman coming back home after a long day at work. There to great him is the subservient wife, the respectful children, and the family dog. They sit down for a family dinner, all sporting smiles on their faces. As the camera zooms out, we see that this household mirrors all the others in the community, all lined up in good little rows.This image I describe is no longer the norm that is either appeasing, attractive, or politically correct. With the onset of advances in humanity, we can never revert back to those days. I want to tell you about one consequence of such progress.
I draw your attention to this 50's scenario because it was a time before we made the shift of our psychological health reliance to be based on people rather than technology.
Don't know what I'm talking about? Look around you. You either have a cellphone in your pocket, credit cards in your wallet, and most importantly, you are reading this on a piece of technology.
These things we have come to rely on has not only made our lives easier, it has made it a bit harder. We can no longer talk to people face to face, or have conversations that don't get interrupted by a sports game on TV, or have to step outside for a cellphone call.
This has led us down a dangerous road of extremely easy technological isolation. We have come to trust strangers halfway across the world on the internet rather than trust the people who live with you.
The consequences? Rising teen suicide rates, higher rates of stalking, more people in the prisons.
You think I'm exaggerating? Try not using a single technological device for one week. I dare you.
haha i really like that picture. anyway, i guess you're right, saying that technology has its ups and downs. it makes things easier for us, but with something new comes problems. people are never content with the same old and they eventually desire for something new. which in turn creates more problems.
ReplyDeletei really don't think we can escape something like this.
I agree that the ubiquity of social technologies has some downsides. But your contention that "rising teen suicide rates, higher rates of stalking, more people in the prisons" are all consequences of this trend needs some provin', buddy. Where's your evidence?
ReplyDelete