Technology: The Beauty and the Beast

I often think about whether technology makes things better or worse for people, especially on a social level. Personally, I am glad for things such as e-mail and text messaging. I am person who values the written word so much that when friends or family write something personal to me, I tend to save it because it holds tremendous sentimental value to me. I love the exchange of written words with other people.

But technology really caters to what I consider to be our “attention deficit society”, in which we are all so preoccupied with devices that we don’t necessarily interact with one another in a natural way anymore. Case in point: I was recently in line at Costco when the man in front of me suddenly said, “So, what’s for dinner?” Since his face was turned slightly in my direction and there was no one else in close vicinity, I asked, “Are you talking to me?” Then he turned his head completely and pointed to the Bluetooth I hadn’t seen from the angle I was looking at him. He gave me an annoyed look and said, “I’m on the phone!” (Which also means he either answered the phone or called someone without the customary “hello”, but with the forthright question about what was for dinner—and he treated me like I was the jerk). Also, I really hate it when somebody can’t have the decency to get off the phone long enough to make the three minute transaction with the cashier.

I notice the influence of technology every day as I go from one place to the next. People walking through the park blocks, standing in line, or riding on the bus often talk on the phone (even about quite personal information!), or are listening to their iPods, as if to intentionally avoid interaction with the people around them. It seems like we’re always plugged into something. Admittedly, I have the same problem. I’ve had to get by for a day without my cell phone when I forgot to charge it, and I found it almost unbearable. There were probably a dozen times that day when I thought of people I needed to call, and couldn’t. (Payphones? Do they even exist anymore? Plus, 50 cents per call? Please!)

Additionally, e-mails, texting, and IM allow people to neglect proper grammar and punctuation. I consider myself a purist when it comes to these matters, and I am personally offended when I see things that are grammatically incorrect, such as the omission of an apostrophe. When I make those mistakes myself, especially if it is in a format that can’t be corrected, it pains me to see it. Blogging is a new experience for me, which I have found to be difficult because it’s the first time all my classmates have access to reading my assignments. I notice it elicits sort of a performance anxiety, making it take twice as long for me to do the work because I have a fear of sounding ignorant or banal.

So after all these ramblings, I know I will likely continue to have this love-hate relationship with technology… Now, if you’ll excuse me, Facebook awaits.