I have a pretty solid grip on the fundamentals of technology and communication, or so I thought. Apparently, my place in the world is not quite validated until my first Tweet.
In a culture now lacking the attention span for entire blogs, the micro-blog has been introduced, and just in time. I can now sign up for this free service (I think it’s free) and say, without saying, “Hey, you’re not quite important enough for an actual phone call, or e-mail, but in order to feel important, I want you to know I just finished watching Blades of Glory for the 15th time.”
How enriching. Who wants to be my friend? Who wouldn’t want an impersonal train of words stating I just finished a 16 oz. bottle of Arrowhead water?
Before I rant further, I will admit I have a text messaging problem.
I send an average of 30 bits of nonsense per week, and nonsense is an understatement. To be honest, I am probably less connected with my friends thanks to text messaging. It’s merely an excuse to avoid anything of weight, or confrontation.
Yet, it’s all around us. During the man-cation a few weeks ago, we discussed the historical similarities of our trip.
“You know fellas, our forefathers did the same exact thing we are doing right now. From the back of their wagons, they checked their Facebooks and text-messaged as they trekked across the Great Plains.”
It was a knock at how utilizing technology has morphed into a full-on dependency.
Between Myspace, Facebook, assorted instant messaging services and Twitter, I can post all kinds of embarrassing or out of context information that I will regret later. And we complain the government is overstepping its bounds and trying to invade our privacy while we update everyone minute by minute with our goings-on. Hilarious!
It speaks to our dangerous dependency on technology. Skills are now being replaced by technological short-cuts to make up for deficiencies, or cover laziness.
Before GPS and cell phones, we had to be on time, and know where we were going. We had to be able to change tires, find our ways out of the woods, remember where we were going and look someone in the eye and speak.
It’s sad that bits of synthetics energized by waves that penetrate our bodies to make the phone in our pockets vibrate have passed the compass in ease to use.
Maybe I don’t want to be hyper-connected, but it would be kind of cool to Tweet my vegetarian friends something like, “This deer liver is still warm, I think I’ll have a bite.”
To contact Jeff Lund, e-mail aklund21@gmail.com.
In a culture now lacking the attention span for entire blogs, the micro-blog has been introduced, and just in time. I can now sign up for this free service (I think it’s free) and say, without saying, “Hey, you’re not quite important enough for an actual phone call, or e-mail, but in order to feel important, I want you to know I just finished watching Blades of Glory for the 15th time.”
How enriching. Who wants to be my friend? Who wouldn’t want an impersonal train of words stating I just finished a 16 oz. bottle of Arrowhead water?
Before I rant further, I will admit I have a text messaging problem.
I send an average of 30 bits of nonsense per week, and nonsense is an understatement. To be honest, I am probably less connected with my friends thanks to text messaging. It’s merely an excuse to avoid anything of weight, or confrontation.
Yet, it’s all around us. During the man-cation a few weeks ago, we discussed the historical similarities of our trip.
“You know fellas, our forefathers did the same exact thing we are doing right now. From the back of their wagons, they checked their Facebooks and text-messaged as they trekked across the Great Plains.”
It was a knock at how utilizing technology has morphed into a full-on dependency.
Between Myspace, Facebook, assorted instant messaging services and Twitter, I can post all kinds of embarrassing or out of context information that I will regret later. And we complain the government is overstepping its bounds and trying to invade our privacy while we update everyone minute by minute with our goings-on. Hilarious!
It speaks to our dangerous dependency on technology. Skills are now being replaced by technological short-cuts to make up for deficiencies, or cover laziness.
Before GPS and cell phones, we had to be on time, and know where we were going. We had to be able to change tires, find our ways out of the woods, remember where we were going and look someone in the eye and speak.
It’s sad that bits of synthetics energized by waves that penetrate our bodies to make the phone in our pockets vibrate have passed the compass in ease to use.
Maybe I don’t want to be hyper-connected, but it would be kind of cool to Tweet my vegetarian friends something like, “This deer liver is still warm, I think I’ll have a bite.”
To contact Jeff Lund, e-mail aklund21@gmail.com.
