I guess this is going to be a rant. A backlash against technology. Sort of rage against the machine, if you will.
Technology is useful and I am thankful for it. Matter of fact, I would not live in any other age if I had my choice. I would still live where I am today. I am fascinated and excited about the rapid pace of technological inventions. They are happening so quickly that I cannot even keep up with them, nor I have the desire.
I am a bit immune to innovation at this point of time.
If I am such a huge fan of technology, then why make a statement that it is making a life boring? Well, to be fully honest, it is not the technology that is making life boring, it is the extent to which people use it. I believe that on large scale, individuals world wide are misusing technology. At the very least, they are not using it to its fullest extent.
So, in the end people are to blame. But still…
Internet and all of the innovations associated with it, have put the information at our finger tips. If we did not want to, we would not have to leave our room to “get to know” the world. Everything, absolutely everything is online. Anything from pictures, to videos to news is online, one click away.
Technology is convenient, but at what price. It is a price that I am not willing to pay.
To me, modern technology takes the mystery, adventure and the joy of discovery out of life. At the very least, it has the capability to do so. Directions to anywhere in the world are there, pictures of the most beautiful places on the earth are there, directions for anything and everything are easily found.
That is all great, but is it possible that the ability to go exactly where we going, find exactly what we are looking is limiting our knowledge and experiences in the world?
How are we supposed to get lost? How are we supposed to make mistakes? How are we supposed to be surprised? How are we supposed to be impressed? How are we supposed to experiment and learn? How? Some of you might ask, why would you want do any of the above things?
I believe that it is fun. I believe that is what life is all about. Life is about discovery, excitement, the unknown, the danger and adventure. Yet, technology has the ability and does make many of those elements out of our lives. During the human evolution technology has been there to provide us with comfort and convenience.
And, people love convenience, predictability and comfort. They love it. Most of us, would choose that over the unknown, the unpredictable, the dangerous. Yet, those are the exact ingredients that we need to grow and experience life to the fullest. Funny thing is that most of us understand it, yet still choose comfort.
Like I mentioned before, technology is neither good nor bad. It is the way that we use it (or rather misuse it) that makes it bad or good. And, I think many of us are making the wrong choices. It is great to have options. But just because an option is there does not mean that we have to take it.
If used the right way, technology can enhance our lives beyond what we thought possible. But, sometimes, just sometimes, we need to know when to stop, take a break from it and dive into the world of uncertainty, surprise and adventure.
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Image: Photo8.com
3 Comments
Adventure! I like that word.
We can watch the fireworks from the confort of home, but isn’t it more fun to be there? To feel the bangs and smell the smoke? Also, isn’t it fun to make a mistake and get all wet in the rain when we thought it’ll be sunny? (sometimes).
Technology, as you mention, is a wonderful thing that, when not abused, can be of such help. With the past earthquake in Chile, my country, thanks to technology it took me just about two hours to find out that all my family and friends back there were fine (such a relief!) yet without this technology probably I would have to wait several weeks for news in the mail.
I agree with you when you say you wouldn’t live any other time but now. Growing in South America in the 70′s to the US today the change in technology used I’ve seen is incredible! So many things that can be done now, and also so many ways to become lazy and useless if we rely too much in it.
Good thing we have all this technology available to us nowadays, we just have to keep an eye on ourselves to use it as an advantage to do more instead of the meaning of our own doom as human beings.
Raul
Dear Raul:
I apologize for the late reply.
You are completely right. It is all about choice. It is about having option. I would rather have the option to do something than not even have an idea about something. It is great that you were able to reconnect with your friends and family in Chile so quickly and find out they were doing fine!
That’s the point. I think more and more focus should be placed on teaching people how to evaluate and make the right choices in this world! We have more options than ever, yet they seem to limit us instead of liberating!
Best,
Tomas
I agree with you completely: the overuse (abuse?) of technology has sucked the fun out of many things that were once so enjoyable. I suppose this is the inevitable result of a lack of moderation (addiction): disillusionment, boredom, and a skewed reality – our ‘just desserts’ indeed.
Technology is an amazing tool – when it’s not an all-consuming force, like it has become in this age.
Also, because technology is so interwoven with our existence, if anything remotely disasterous occurred in our power grid, society as we know it would be thrown into a state of pure chaos! It’s scary to fathom just how fragile this house of cards we have built really is.
This isn’t a condemnation of technology, however. Technology is a wonderous thing when used properly and in moderation, and it would be a shame to revert back to total subsistence. The key is, ultimately, moderation – balance if you will.
I’m trying to find that balance, although it’s not easy, especially being a software developer myself.
So, to all you readers out there that are feeling the effects of ‘over-technologization’: do your best to balance it. It will certainly be an adjustment and a challenge, but hey, life should be alittle challenging. If there are no challenges, what’s the point of living?