Don’t blame technology, you’re just lazy!

Feb
2010

6 Comments By chadgardner Posted in Rant

I get frustrated with technology on a daily basis — it truly is my double-edged sword. On one hand, the innovations that technology provides make my life significantly easier and far more entertaining (so much more so because I sit behind a computer screen for a living, if you can call it that). On the other hand, connectivity is providing an illusion of accessibility, drastically changing the way we interact on a personal level.

My generation is the first that has complete access to far too much information about people — mostly because the majority are so willing to divulge anything a text box asks for. For anyone that follows me on Facebook or Twitter, you’ve bared witness to many occurrences in which I should insert-foot-in-mouth instead of regretfully click “send.”

It bothers me that others have the chance to “know” me before actually (or momentarily after) meeting me for two major reasons:

1. The information found is rarely accurate. I should bring a little more professionalism to the table, but given my sarcastic nature it is hard not to keep my presence on networks edgy or light-hearted. Did I really minor in Dance? No. Do I really consider the St. Louis Cardinals my religion? Yes. Either way, what does it really matter?

Anything can be taken out of context. Even if I were to truthfully respond to questions/posts, others are still going to be on the opposite end trying to figure out what was going through my head. Chances are: very little to nothing. Regardless, I would be surprised if even 50% of the endless information compiled about me is a true representation of who I am.

Either way, I might be getting short-changed because you just learned everything you need to know about me from the interwebz, bia.

2. Exploring relationships away from technology is more difficult, yet more rewarding. Common sense, right? Then I will ask you to stop sending me Facebook messages or text messages asking me to hang out or simply saying, “Hi,” as if I am supposed to spark up the conversation. The only people I want sending me short messages through those various mediums are people I have already developed a close, personal bond with. And those bonds have always evolved from quality, personal interaction.

Here is a not-so hypothetical situation: I meet a very fun-loving, possibly interesting person while out. Phone numbers are exchanged and the commonly courteous, “Call you soon” is tossed out. The catch — “call you soon” is a phrase that has grotesquely morphed in to “I’ll add you as a Facebook friend or start a text conversation — anything to prevent from actually calling and making plans to hang out.”

Stop it.

If I ever do that to you, it means I don’t want to get to know you better — my first encounter was enough. Oh, but keep sending me texts and messages, because that doesn’t make you seem aggressively pathetic.

I think we need to turn back the clocks, before technology ruined our social skills. I know I am going to make a valiant effort to put aside my bad habits to better personally connect with those I am interested in growing a relationship.

A line needs to drawn: there has to be a personal attribution involved with using technology, which means it should supplement, not be the primary source, of our ability to connect.

http://daneckels.me Mac Diesel

Technology has created an outlet for individuals to avoid what would otherwise be awkward/unconfortable situations. Rejection is much easier to swallow coming from a screen vs an actual person. And vise versa, it is much easier to blow off a message that your pocket computer delivers to you, because you know that your computer friend will always love you.

How has this impacted us as human beings? Sadly, enormously. I can think of numerous business occasions where a dispute was argued back and forth to the point where the content became unrelated and downright mean… via email!

Numbers regarding personal disputes is too high to mention.

And then once someone gets the good sense to pick up the phone, its all “I’m sorry”s and “No, it’s my fault”s. Cowards.

People take comfort in the distance eCommunication provides. It acts as an gateway of expression that from what I’ve experienced, frees people from guilt, regret and responsibility.

It also acts as an incredibly efficient and reliable medium to share information however.
admin

I didn’t think about it in business terms, but what you said sums it all up:

“It acts as an gateway of expression that from what I’ve experienced, frees people from guilt, regret and responsibility.”
Banana Hands

If you want to keep this discussion related to interpersonal relationships lets not forget about how technology affects relationships that have already been established. The constant connectivity of various forms of technology allows virtual “tracking” of our friends, current partners, and exes.

When spending time apart from current partners there is now added pressure to keep in constant communication with whereabouts, company, and events. The days of old when you came home from work and discussed your day are over because the events and feelings of the day have already been expressed a dozen times across a dozen different technological platforms. This once again depreciates face to face communication.

Regardless of how much trust you and your partner may have that trust is very easily eroded with each tweet, facebook update, and text. I think we’ve all been there before.

“how do you know him/her?” “why does your profile not say you’re in a relationship?” “Who is ___ ___ and why is he/she texting you?”

While our generation (mid twenties) is relying on technology to start, faciiltate, expedite, and even end relationships, those that are in younger generations live a much more significant portion of their lives in the virtual world. Grounding a teenager these days no longer involves keeping them in the house with no t.v. It involves restricting their access to technology and anything that can access the interwebz.

A personal story from several years ago actually invovles Mac Diesel’s relative. At the time she was a young teenager, 14 I believe, and she was visiting Mac Diesel’s family in a different state. She was on Mac Diesel’s family computer and involved in a MySpace message convo. Mac Diesel and myself needed to use the computer for mere minutes and I was taken aback by the teenage girl’s reaction to us having to pause her convo. She flew into a frenzied rage and was genuienly distraught. Rather than use her time with relatives to get to know them and interact with them personally she chose to hide behind the knowing glow of the LCD. Even if the convo she was having was actually important couldn’t she have picked up the phone and called the person? Two examples in one of how our utter immersion into the technological world has hindered our social abilities.

Just this past Valentine’s day I was at dinner and witnessed a table of several couples who had just been seated. No sooner had their coats been off that 8 out of 10 of the people at the table were doubled over thumbing their BBerrys and Iphones.

Mac Diesel covered the workplace very well but I wanted to add another point that was illustrated in the movie “Up In The Air”. Major corporate decisions involving hiring, firing, raises, demotions, mergers, acquisitions, shifts in management, policy changes, etc. are now being handled electronically and no longer have nor require a personal touch. Whether for financial reasons, or higher ups acting “cowardly”, it makes me yearn for the “Mad Men” days when the boss would pour you a drink, light your cigar, then tell you to get the hell out.
http://chadgardner.me Chad Gardner

I love how you both use nicknames. The only difference is no one ever calls Dan “Mac Diesel.” Ever.
Banana Hands

Is he copying “Shaq Diesel” and using his supposed Scottish heritage in substituting Mac for Shaq?
http://daneckels.me Mac Diesel

In respect to the subject, “You won’t say that to my face!”

Currently Browsing

Don’t blame technology, you’re just lazy!