Technology Today

Louis C.K. put it not-so-elegantly when he said “Everythings amazing right now and nobodys happy.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UN0MpBQG3-E&feature=fvw


Gone are the days of serenity, contentment, a chest full of
pride and an honest day’s work.  In its
place we have “dream days” of choice overload, surplus, spite, jealousy and
instant gratification. The shocker is: this doesn’t shock anyone anymore.

Spell checkers ensure our internet comments, outgoing texts
and emails are error free. But in reality how many people know how to correctly spell accomplishment (or any other big word) on a piece of paper without having
to turn on their Pc or Mac to spell check it? No need to write a check and
misspell the word “ninety” because you can pay online now!

People have forgotten how to calculate simple, basic math.
Nobody expects you to know how to multiply if you have a calculator on your
computer, your phone, your watch and in your wallet. Right?

Is there such a thing as too much technology? Who decides
what good technology is? Can’t you have too much of a good thing? I’ve always
thought that the more complicated something is, the more stress you have, the
unhappier you are.

And people today are very, very unhappy. Americans
especially are becoming more wired, placing importance on high-tech gear for
both everyday needs and as symbols of success and status. "What? You don’t have
a 3G phone? You fail at life! Never mind the fact that I had to skip out on my
water bill and sell half of my soul to get mine."

Teens especially don’t know how to “unplug” and just be
alone in their own thoughts. Without technology they don’t know who they are
since they’ve never had time to devote to personal improvement. Even younger
children; "Technology today is overwhelming for young children and creates
patterns of behaviors similar to addiction
patterns," said Mali Mann, M.D., adjunct clinical assistant professor of
psychiatry and behavioral science at Stanford University's School of Medicine.

"Their brains get used to too much auditory and visual
stimulation -- and in the absence of these stimulations, they do not know what
to do with themselves," she says. "They get anxious, restless, bored
and aggressive."

In a world of instant gratification comes instant knowledge.
Who was the first person on the moon? Google it on your Blackberry! The Dewey
Decimal System lets out a silent scream as it spirals down into forgetfulness.

What do you get out of all this technology (besides work
use)?  It’s not making you grow as a
person. It’s not lowering the stress in your life. You aren’t really
accomplishing anything meaningful. It’s switching you off, zoning you out and
wasting your life!

Don’t get me wrong; scientific advancements and technology
isn’t all hype. I love it. I love the fact that we can get a dose of chemicals
and not die of polio. But how will people learn to cure other diseases if they’re
glued to their computer with the tv or radio on in the background while they’re
checking their text messages?

I love being able to find childhood friends through social
networking sites and get back in contact. But is it that? Contact? Not by
definition. You feel false accomplishment by having them in your friends list
when you don’t have anything in common, you never talk to or see them and their
face just makes you think of the past.

Critiques are most welcome. (Constructive criticism.)