Mythos & Logos Newsletter:
inner_strength's Submissions
On Technology:July 1999
The 20th century has afforded us tremendous technological
advances. Some of these are common, lesser thought about devices
such as air conditioning while others are more dramatic such as
sending men to the Moon. Today we can keep a premature baby
alive, cook an entire meal in minutes using a microwave, and
meet people across the globe using the Internet. We, as human
beings, tend to think of these advances as progression. Is it
really? Let's look at it from a relational perspective.
Before these advances, people communicated with each other in
smaller groups and in more personal ways. For example, to cool
off in hot summers, people would sit on their porches. People congregated at
each other's houses or walked down the streets, meeting people along the
way. I can remember spending Sundays visiting with relatives since
phone calls were for pay and there was no such thing as email (or
reliable postal mail either). Meals were spent with the family and
big dinners required the help of several family members which
took hours to cook. For better or worse, we got to know each other.
Today, we have air conditioning so people stay indoors. There are the
Internet and emails, so communication is cheaper and more
frequent, but more impersonal. Feelings and being in touch with
each other is nearly impossible to display on an electronic
plastic screen. The personal touch is gone. How does this relate
to society today? For one, this impersonalness, causes isolation among us. People
are social beings. Teenage suicide/homicide is at an all time
high. So are teen pregnancies and STD rates (including HIV). I
conclude that these increases are a direct correlate to being
isolated and disconnected from each other.
As we move to the 21st century and the 3rd millenium, we need to
connect more on a personal level. Would I prefer not to have this
technology? No. I do think, however, there must be more balance
to our lives. No one needs to spend all their free time at the
computer or video games or even on the phone. We need more
inperson contact--socialization. Only then will society truly advance.
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