Have you ever had one (or more) of those occasions where someone else has been thinking exactly the same thing as you, and then written/said it at the same time? Well I can’t say it’s me in this instance, but instead our very our Stefan, and Dr. Jim Taylor (who I’ve mentioned before – see here) – in this case, they are both talking about how technology has somehow cheapened or distilled real relationships in to nearly worthless ones and zeros.
We cover a lot of news at IntoMobile, but my suggestion is that you take the time out to read both articles, since they are well-written by intelligent people (Stefan, you can give me that $10 later :-))
I’ve included a paragraph from each below, so you can get a feel for things:
Stefan says:
Before social networks, and trust me, there was a time before social networks, building arelationship
with someone actually required some investment of your time. I remember, as a kid, calling my friends after school on a land line phone and seeing who was free to play basketball. I remember having to make a choice about who to tell about my date last night with the girl in our chemistry class. I remember that my best friend, by process of elimination, was the guy who I spent the most time with and revealed all my deepest secrets, fears, and desires to, and he would do the same. Back then my relationships with people involved contacting them to arrange a lunch or handball game at the local park, and then catching up. Today, thanks to technology and our need as a species to be as efficient as possible, we all tell Facebook, Twitter, and our blogs what’s new with our lives, and expect the people we care about to read/watch/listen to the media we produce.
Dr. Jim says:
I see life as connecting with the world directly rather than through a conduit of computer and communication technology. Life is moving something other than my fingers, and experiencing the world with all of my senses, not just with my eyes and ears. It is about connecting with others in a substantial way. Life is about caring deeply about things that directly impact my world. What makes life life for me is its inherent imperfection and untidiness, its intermittent chaos and uncertainty, its occasional blood, sweat, and tears. Can we find that with this kind of technology? I’m not so sure.
Link to Stefan’s article here. Link to Dr. Jim’s article here. Read ’em both, they’re very good.