My question is why? Why do millions of people today feel the need to be virtually connected to people at all times? What is wrong with enjoying time alone? I of course do not know the answer to these questions, but I feel as though it may be because people are afraid. Afraid of missing something important, afraid of not "keeping up with the Joneses," and maybe even afraid of their own thoughts. Being connected is a distraction from the real world, but maybe a dose of reality is what we all need.
Thursday, September 6, 2012
In Class Video: Connected, but alone?
On September 4 of this past week, we watched a TEDtalk in class. This talk was given by a woman named Sherry Turkle who focused on how much technology has affected us over the years. "...those little devices in our pockets, are so psychologically powerful that they don't only change what we do, they change who we are." Turkle is certainly right with this statement. People all over the world are obsessed with technology. We wake up and immediately check our phones, we go to dinner and keep our phones on the table, and we keep our phones in our hands just anticipating a ring or vibration. Turkle also makes several points describing how people today are so afraid of being alone. She states that once people are alone they become anxious, panic, and in turn reach for technology. With technology, people feel as if they always are with someone else, when in reality, this may not be the case.
My question is why? Why do millions of people today feel the need to be virtually connected to people at all times? What is wrong with enjoying time alone? I of course do not know the answer to these questions, but I feel as though it may be because people are afraid. Afraid of missing something important, afraid of not "keeping up with the Joneses," and maybe even afraid of their own thoughts. Being connected is a distraction from the real world, but maybe a dose of reality is what we all need.
My question is why? Why do millions of people today feel the need to be virtually connected to people at all times? What is wrong with enjoying time alone? I of course do not know the answer to these questions, but I feel as though it may be because people are afraid. Afraid of missing something important, afraid of not "keeping up with the Joneses," and maybe even afraid of their own thoughts. Being connected is a distraction from the real world, but maybe a dose of reality is what we all need.
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I completely agree with you when you say that people have that constant need for technology, because they are afraid of missing some "important" thing, whether it be legitimately important or not.
ReplyDeleteHas anyone heard of 'FOMO' (same idea of YOLO). It's the Fear Of Missing Out in which college kids are constantly checking social media platforms and their cell phones in fear of missing the next best thing. I find this rather amusing. I completely agree with everything you have said Melissa. I can thankfully say I put my cellphone away when out to dinner and I can't tell you how irritated I become when the other party is clicking away on their keys. Business is one thing, but social planning is another. What happened to the company of another being more than enough? These conversations with multiple parties have left us only giving 50% or less to the party we are actually sitting with!
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