my dependence on technology.
Back to a simpler time when you used your noggin more.
Google it. You don't need a map, you have the Garmin. I am a little weak when it comes to my reliance on everything tech. This isn't to say that I'm all about having the newest, most up-to-date form of everything... (exhibit a: my brick of an iPod). But, I noticed that I have a severe tendency to need to multi-task on a regular basis; its a habit. I will be eating dinner and I feel the need to check my Facebook from my phone without really thinking before I realize what I'm doing. I am knee-deep in technology at almost all times; walking to class with headphones in, having the internet a click away on my phone, and spending most of the evening on my laptop entertained with whatever I happen to find.
I'm not saying that technology is bad or that I'm hoping to become a luddite. This would be a poor decision on my part, based on the major I have chosen, and the fact that I hear words like "interactive" and "social media" multiple times on a daily basis. The age of technology that we know today is not a trend; it's a shift in the way that we communicate and will only become more pronounced from here on out. In fact, I just read an article about a Catholic priest who incorporated this topic into his homily. He discouraged his parishioners from abstaining from things like social media and the internet during Lent, because they are such a useful tool at keeping everyone on the map and in the know. The value of these forms of communication are piqued when the most people utilize them. So of course, a decrease in users means a decrease in experience for everyone else. Keep up, or be left behind.
What I am pinpointing as a problem is the fact that my generation is so lost on face-to-face communication. I have less than a handful of friends who will actually call me (instead of an informal text) to see how I'm doing and stay in touch. Don't get me wrong; texting is very convenient and there are a lot of times when it is more appropriate than a phone call, in my opinion. However, I feel terribly guilty when I catch myself allowing a text to interrupt a conversation I am having with someone in person, and dislike others doing the same to me. You wouldn't have multiple conversations with different people interrupting every few moments in person, which is why this practice is borderline impolite and should be avoided at all costs. Perhaps abstaining isn't the answer, but being mindful of your usage is a step in the right direction. For those of you out there who already have this down pat, I commend you.
It's high-time we remember what it feels like to be unplugged.
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