I've been walking around this entire week pretty much zoned out, not paying much attention to the people that I am friends with, and the people and things that I am surrounded by. I've been distracted by books, exams, and papers all for the sake of making that last grade count and not ruining the work that I have done all quarter and the points that I have racked up. But, on the way to the post office earlier this week, I realized that outside of myself, people are disconnected not because of finals, but because of technology.
Our necessity to be plugged into our MP3 players, our phones, computers, etc. is stopping us from looking around and seeing the things that are going on around us. When I was walking to the post office, music playing in my ears, I noticed a man walking towards me with his iPod playing in his too. We made eye contact, but I realized after we passed each other, that we weren't actually aware that we each "acknowledged" the other. Why was this? Because not only were we focused on getting to our destination, but we are distracted by the technology that now controls us.
I thought inventions and this growth of knowledge was supposed to be a good thing...
As distracting as technology and the new forms of communication are, it is tricky to try and narrow down whether or not its good or bad. While our cell phones allow us to keep constant communication with others, it also disconnects us. Our phones now allow us to check FaceBook, buy music and clothing with just the press of a button, text, and check emails among many other things. However, the second that we are in an area where our phone says "NO SERVICE" we are immediately cut off from the world that we knew, and have to relearn how to cope with our new surroundings without our security blanket. These issues don't only apply to the portable tech, but also the not-so-portable ones. We get back to our homes, and we sit down in front of a flashing computer, tv, etc. screen, causing us to communicate through another form of artificial communication instead of talking face to face. We would rather be able to sit in our pajamas IMing someone than visit them, substituting a blinking cursor for a real face. Too many times have I IMed someone who was just down the hall from me; it's too easy to sit in one place and be able to talk to five different people at once instead of getting up and visiting them.
We are surrounded by real people, but are alone at the same time because we don't know how to talk or act around others, all thanks to the technology that has stripped us of these social skills. Our generation has learned that friendship and talking mainly involves texts and FaceBook statuses, instead of the phone call off a land line or a doorbell ringing due to a visit from a friend.
So what are we going to do when we get home after our day? We're going to unplug one device for another. Goodbye MP3 player, hello iTunes and FaceBook.
Lady Gaga - Telephone
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVBsypHzF3U&feature=PlayList&p=C4B9C7326E087E89&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=1
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