At what point does someone become so dependent on technology that in our world of instantaneous feedback we forget the virtues of patience and personal cultivation?
We live in an era where cell phones, PDA’s and MP3 players are always within a finger’s reach and our dependency on these technological gadgets are such that we rely on them to communicate or entertain with one another.
In essence we’ve turned into a “Microwave Generation”, which can be explained in two parts; one, that our reliance on technology has become so “all consuming” and commonplace that without it we’d be in a state of shock and two, we as human beings want everything now (59 seconds or less it seems). Look around you, there’s a “fast, quick, instant, speedy” service to just about anything you can think of including espressos, fast food, medical checkups and oil changes.
I had a brief discussion about this with Matt Burris and Bryan Veloso who both had their own opinions to share.
Matt Burris:
There are consequences to everything, including trying to make our lives easier. In essence, we’re being weakened, and if we had an event that wiped out electricity in the world, lots of people would die because they wouldn’t be able to fit into the whole survival of the fittest theory anymore, which wouldn’t be applicable because we rely too much on so many things to make our lives easier.
Our survival instinct has been dulled to the point where it isn’t there anymore. When the tsunami raced towards Southeast Asia, the birds and animals, even those in the zoo, went towards higher grounds before it even hit. Yet humans didn’t detect something wrong. However, native tribes with none of the [modern conveniences] we have, knew about and had prepared for the tsunami before it hit. They knew because they still have that instinct.
If you put a man from the 16th century next to a man in today’s age in nature, the man from the 16th century would fare a lot better than the modern man.
Bryan Veloso (in response to the above):
That makes too many assumptions. Also, a 16th century man has a shorter life span, and lower literacy rate and a higher chance of getting diseases. Sure they MAY have been able to outlast somebody from today in the wild but we all have that instinct that is activated when needed.
What do you think?
In my opinion, we are leading to our own destruction. Like you said Erik, we rely TOO much on modern technology for everything in our lives.
Weapons are becoming much stronger, they are falling into the wrong hands and will eventually lead to our own extermination.
I realize that sounds extreme, and maybe it is…but with us destorying our world, destroying our people, and relying too heavily on others rather than ourselves, I just think that adds up to a big loss, FOR US.
We take nature for granted. Our government doesn’t make sound decisions (have they ever?) especially when it comes to nature and the environment. Why do we still rely on oil in 2006? There are plenty of alternatives out there and I don’t think we spend enough $$$ on learning those alternatives. I used to be for this Iraq war because I felt it was justified, but I don’t see it going anywhere any time soon. I realize a war on terrorism is not really a win / lose situation because there is never a clear winner or loser since it will go on forever, but I just don’t feel like we are seeing the type of progress that I thought we would. Granted, I KNOW for a fact that a lot of good stuff happens over there and never gets reported, so some of my feelings are based on what the mainstream media wants us to know.
How often does the average family sit down at night, AS A FAMILY, with no TV, and eat a home cooked meal? I am going to guess not as many as when we were kids and growing up. I am 24, and family dinners in a room where a TV wasn’t even present was normal. Now, we live for TV, whether it’s stupid reality shows or constant Terror alerts.
I am worried more about the social implications of our actions than anything right now. I feel like the idea of “family” is pushed to the ground and is not important among many peoples eyes anymore.
I am afraid of the world my son will have to grow up in now, a world where even the word Christmas can get you verbally stoned to death. A world where everything we do can be seen on TV. A world where sex is the #1 selling point for anything, a world where kids are having sex at much younger ages, doing drugs at much younger ages, etc…
I realize I am probably moving off the point a little, but I think the internet, though a great invention, has been a big proponent in many of the problems in our lives.
Advances in technology is one of our greatest achievements…but unfortunetly it’s going to be our ultimate downfall.
Maybe not 50 years from now, maybe not 100 years from now, but we will eventually use up our world resources, create weapons that are beyond our comprehension right now, ultimately wipe ourselves out.
Take this bird flu that is happening. Maybe the mainstream media is pumping it up because it’s sweeps season. Maybe it’s not as real of a threat globally as they make us believe, or maybe it is. They are worried that it could mutate to travel from human to human, and if it does, a world wide pandemic could come where millions would die.
I am not an overly religious person, but I have read parts of revlations in the Bible and much of the stuff we are seeing in our world seems to match up with stuff in the Bible…which just leads me to believe that we are on a path to our own destruction.
Sorry if that whole post sounds depressing…I am just concerned for our world and our way of life.
I think that making sure we don’t have to do too much to survive is a survival stratagy in itself.
The ‘primal’ instincs are slumbering, and come to the surface in, say, business :)
Even though the Internet has helped me put food on the table for 10 years, I gotta blame it for the fast-paced society we are living now, which in turn demands fast-paced food, fast-paced commuting, fast-paced “quality time” and even fast-paced bedtime stories for your kids, who already come with built-in ADD. Thanks to e-mail, what once was expected to turn around in a matter of weeks (or months), we get concerned if we don’t get that answer in a matter of hours or, at worst, the next day. Haven’t you felt like time now just flies by and when you realize it, the day is already over — unlike when you were younger? (and I don’t even watch TV these days).
Even since I began doing web stuff for a living, I always have felt neccesary to get and practice job skills that don’t require the use of a computer. Unfortunately, jobs like that are few and far between these days, and pay amounts aren’t even close. I don’t think adopting an Amish lifestyle is the answer to all problems, but some balance is certainly on order.
So, basically what you’re saying is that a person already adjusted to a certain lifestyle would fare better than one who isn’t? Seems obvious. :) Now, could a person from the 16th century fare in today’s world? Would they be able to get a decent job, stay employed, etc? Chances are they’d fall victim to various sicknesses due to poor immune systems. Or end up living on the streets from not being able to get a job with limited reading and writing skills.
“…In essence we’ve turned into a “Microwave Generation”, which can be explained in two parts; one, that our reliance on technology has become so “all consuming” and commonplace that without it we’d be in a state of shock and two, we as human beings want everything now (59 seconds or less it seems)…”
Both of these conditions can be further explained by conditioning. We, as humans, have been conditioned to function at our peak levels given the tools we’ve created for ourselves. That isn’t any different than 16th century man. Matt Burris argues that 16th century man would fare better against modern man. In certain situations, possibly while in others, absolutely not. If 16th century man’s life depended on being able to operate a phone in order to call an ambulance for himself, he’d be out of luck. Inversely, I doubt many people today possess the knowledge to properly bandage, touriquet or cauterize a wound; first-aid 101 type-tasks commonplace during the 16th century.
Additionally, modern’s man’s impatience isn’t so new. I suspect that if I was a 16th century man, I’d rather ride a horse for two days than walk for seven. If it’s possible to have it sooner than later, than why not? On the other hand, I don’t know anyone who would rather experience a weekend at the beach in a few minutes. We devote more time doing the things we want, and less time doing the things we don’t. Who would want to spend hours sweeping the carpet, when you could just vaccuum it in a few minutes, or better yet, put your roomba to the job?
Excellent points all around.
Bryan: You win the award for longest comment ever, but you make a good point in regards to the state of family in this day and age. I’d argue that the focus on family life has dwindled because of a change in priority.
AkaXakA: Primal instict is prevelant in business? You don’t say! I could ramble on but I think I’ll save that for another article.
Beto: Good point. There aren’t many jobs or careers out there where the computer isn’t the central hub to business activity. In fact, for most jobs if you took the computer away there would be a disconnect in business function. I’m not saying you’d be out of luck, but you’d have to go about performing various tasks without using the computer as a tool, resorting instead to a calculator, paper and pen (or pencil).
Jonathan: Sure it’s obvious, but aren’t most things? Your hypothetical questions are great and to answer the first one, I think it works both ways. Whether you placed a man from the 16th century in 21st century or vice-versa, I believe there would be extreme difficulty adjusting to a certain lifestyle.
Thomas: Yes, all good points. As I mentioned above (in response to Jonathan’s comment), no matter if you transplanting someone from this century to another century from the past or vice-versa there’s always going to be conflict due to that specific individual’s struggle to conform to society and culture.
I’m a little older than most, and I was a junior in highschool when MTV hit the airwaves. It seems, to me, that everything started to change even back then. It became a “ME” generation. I want “MY” MTV was the slogan. Technology began to change. I remember being newly married in 1989 and buying my wife her first “car-phone” which was MOUNTED into the floor and had the huge antenna on the car.
Now, everyone and their dog has a cell-phone, digital camera, iPod, etc. These are the kids of the “ME” generation. I’m on campus of a local University and you see everyone walking around with a phone shoved in their ear. And, there are always instances of these “ME” generation kids that don’t have the common courtesy to turn them off during lecture. How dare the instructor tell them to turn off the cell phone. Who IS (s)he to tell me anything?
Laptops were supposed to make us more productive and free us from the office. And, mobile phones were supposed to make our lives easier. No more missed opportunities of having the spousal unit stop for some delish fast-food for the family meal that is eaten in front of the 52″ HDTV, Tivo capable, satellite entertainment unit just because they are already in transit and can’t be communicated with!
Well, I’m rambling. But, while technology has some awesome benefits like being able to pinpoint radiation to the size of a pinhead, it also has drawbacks such as affecting the attitudes of the “ME” and “ME2″ generations.
I gotta run now – I need to go check my email, pay my cell-phone bill via the internet connection, all while I watch my favorite cable program while recording another with my Tivo.
You know I really happy that technologies make our life easier and more comfortable. Of course sometiimes I love to go the country for a week with turned off cellphone, but tech. progress is a good thing :)
am all agree with Eugene. Techonology is seven wonders of the world =).
Great thoughts!
In the 21.8 years that I have been alive I have seen the world completely change. Even now I am amazed at the changes I see in culture and priorities in both of my little brother’s generations. My middle brother is a senior in high school and I am shocked at the words, phrases, and slang that come out of his mouth, the way he dresses, and the music that he listens to. My heart drops as I watch him text message someone for 30 minutes when he could have just called them and finished the conversation in five minutes.
He comes home from baseball practice and immediately watches ESPN. My mom gets frustrated because he and my youngest brother do very little around the house. They do not grasp the work that my parents have put into the house, their jobs, etc. to make their life “easy”.
My youngest brother is a freshman in high school and for some reason he absolutely needed a cell phone. Why? You’re a freshman, you can’t even drive.