Growing up my family had dial up internet. (Yes,
there was a time when Wi-Fi was non-existent.) There was exactly one computer
in the house that was the family computer
and my brother and I had e-mail accounts, closely monitored by our parents. We
weren’t allowed to use the computer without permission or during the school
week unless we had an assignment or project that needed to be done. There was
no social media. No smart phones. No texting. And no way of anyone being able
to have multiple ways of being able to get in touch with you or clock your
moves. I remember that time (early through late 90s) being much more peaceful.
These days? There’s practically technology almost, everywhere. People aren’t as present as
they used to be. Most people seem so “plugged in” that they’re often out of
touch with reality. Others have meltdowns and fall into comparison traps after
scrolling through their social media feeds, and a lot of people are definitely way more impatient.
I don’t believe technology is evil, however, I
believe it’s a great source of strain, pressure, and addiction for many, many
people. Pro’s like, being able to keep in touch with others, stream television
shows and movies at one’s leisure and the option to obtain tickets for events
and travel, and being able to do online shopping are nice, but the con’s such
as distractions, comparisons, and the lack of being present are things that can
prompt the question:
Is technology ruining our lives?
Henry David Thoreau once said, “Men have become
tools of their tools…”
Have we?