I found this article about technology ruining relationships. This is actually something I think about a lot these days. First email replaced snail mail and cell phones replaced home phones. As a result, postage goes up, and people are instantly accessible. I tried not to get a cell phone for a long time, waiting until I graduated from college. Now, 5 years later, I would be lost without it, like many people, and almost get panicked if I forget it at home. What if my car breaks down, or I get lost?! It's so hard to remember those days when I would just pull over into a gas station and ask for directions, or find a pay phone, put in a quarter and actually remember, off the top of my head, the number of the person I needed to reach.
Anyways, I know I usually blog about things that I do, and I will be blogging about my last weekend pretty soon when I find some spare time, but I also thought this was something worth thinking about. I feel technology has just allowed us to become more impersonal with one another. Interaction with people is more often taken for granted. People definitely use text messages and email for serious conversations that should actually be done face to face. Written text can only convey so much emotion, and with that, it can be so easily misconstrued and misunderstood.
I still like to send snail mail. If there's something important I want to talk about, I'll set aside some time to meet with the person face to face if it's at all possible. Sure it's not as convenient, and technology has it's place in my heart, yet I hope I never stop reaching out and truly connecting with people, not just my newest techie gadget.
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6 comments:
scary and oh so true.
before i used to feel like i was hiding when i would first write a letter to someone about a big issue before talking to them about it. this article makes me feel better in that at least a letter leads to something more. emails and texts definitely don't.
i've also thought about how texting and cell phones have allowed people to be much more callous and irresponsible. People can cancel plans at the last minute, be late all the time, and find instant answers having a phone constantly by their side. Remember the days when you called someone on a land line, made plans, left the house, and their was no turning back?
good topic to think about Christine.
It's something to think about. I have such a fear of my car breaking down and not having a cell phone on me, especially when driving in VT (no gas stations for miles!) I'm grateful for them in that respect. Still, I wish I could rely on my cell phone only for emergencies. I'm far too dependent now. Though I can't say that I'm one of those people that regularly uses their cell phone in public. I think that is terribly rude. Especially if you're with someone. "Oh excuse me. I have to talk this." Really? Do you?
Remember planning to get phones calls? Having to be at home at a certain time because you were expecting a call? I can't imagine doing that now. It's sad. We live such an unhealthy fast-paced life.
Face to face is so much better, though not always practical. I still write snail mail with a few friends that enjoying doing it too. Gah. It's all just too fast for me, even though I value the safety and ease!
~Raea
its all true... plus, in a way, it adds a new level of funky stress sometimes because now both sides know and expect some kind of electronic communiques throughout the day.. blackberry love.. plus, it's really easy to give someone the wrong idea over the net, and sarcasm is more tricky to pull off without all the other clues.. i miss the days when running into someone you hadn't talked to in a while was exciting and fun and carefree rather than both sides being miffed that they didn't get any email or txt messages a long time ago.. and you are completely right about the physical communications -- they mean so much more these days. hell, a handwritten card is practically like a human touch now. i still get real chritmas cards every now and then, from someone very kind, and they light me up so nicely, i would never trade them :)
So I'm going to take Erikka's initiative from her blogging expertise and reply to you guys!
Erikka - I do remember those days, although they seem so very very far away. I even remember in college once that my car window got smashed and I couldn't pick up Marna, but had no way of reaching her, so I had to call her dorm room and tell her roommate to relay the message as to why I didn't pick her up for work that morning, probably after she waited over a half hour for me to arrive.
Raea- I have that same fear of my car breaking down! I think it's because my mom always wanted me to get a cell phone for that reason in particular 'Christine, you don't need to have a cell phone to use all the time, just keep in the car, you know, JUST IN CASE' Yikes!
And, ya, planning for phone calls, waiting for someone else in the house to get off the phone so you could use it, or being like 'hey, if someone calls in, PLEASE give it to me!!!'
John - Holy crap! I didn't know you were reading my blog, I feel so special :) I'm very happy you commented, that made my digital world day!
I like your take on it too, people do get more miffed since people are so 'accessible' now. But, the funny thing is, if you called them you probably wouldn't reach them first of all, then you'd be lucky to get a call back!
And I'm glad you like my cards, that is totally the reason I send them.
OMIGOD! I was reading this post because I found it to be very, very interesting (I got to it off The Extra Ordinary). I wanted to comment and then I realized something: technology has made this a very small world.
Katsumi/John: we know each other! It's been at least a decade since we've talked. I would love to touch base with you again. Please visit my blog and comment so we can email each other. Christine: if Katsumi doesn't read your blog often, please let him know about my comment so he can see it. I totally want to catch up with him.
Anyways, my comment is this: I don't have a cell phone. I used to but got rid of it because I found it wasn't worth the money. I have a land line so if someone wants to talk with me, they're gonna have to call my house.
What I find most amusing (?) is how bent out of shape people get when I say "I don't have one." It's as if they think I'm attacking them. My usual response is "they're not necessary. People are nice, we just don't hear about good people, we only hear about bad people."
I do, however, have an addiction to my email. I check it all the time. But I don't use it for important conversations. Those I leave for face to face, if possible, or phone if not.
howling hill -
Thanks so much for reading! I was sort of surprised at the response I got from this blog. I'm glad you could reconnect with John too, very awesome.
I am addicted to email, but sometimes I think it's purely out of boredom at work, or just a little OCD. Anyways, go you for existing without a cell phone! Don't let anyone give you crap either.
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