Frankenstein of 2012

A new I-phone commercial touts a phone that can talk to its owner.  Spell-check and grammar check have demolished people’s abilities to clearly write and communicate.  The ability to simply touch your phone rather than dial or push a button illustrates society’s obsession with the easy way.  A nearly paper thin pad can search the universe for the answer to any question, read a book aloud, or keep track of a schedule, among other things.  All of these things sound incredible, but so did Dr. Frankenstein’s monster, in the beginning.  

 With social networking, Skype, cell phones, and other gadgets, we’ve gained many advantages, but with every gain comes a loss to something.  While we may be able to “Share” or “Like” something from a long ago friend’s profile, as we check that profile, we lose the opportunity to talk with family and friends that are physically close to us.  While video conferencing allows face to face contact with an individual in a distant land, we’ve again lost that opportunity for spending time with people that are an everday part of our life. Talking or searching the internet on a cell phone once again cuts off face to face communication.  

As a teacher for the past five years, I’ve witnessed a decline in respect for others and accountability for actions. In those same teenagers and adults, it is clear to see their lack of critical thinking and decision-making skills. Although I know teenagers have long been known for their poor decision-making skills and horomonal impulses, many of the college students I’ve taught have the same issue.  It seems to me as if the adolescent age is being extended and, rather than working hard to earn their keep, teenager-like adults are falling back on excuses and letting challenges get in their way. There are more adults living with their parents now than ever before.  Now, while I don’t solely blame technology for those problems, I do think our society’s dependency on advancement and gadgets has definitely influenced our intelligence and relationships with others.  Many of these problems stem from the fact that technology takes away from family time.  I’m not going to lie and say that I don’t use technology, but there is a difference between productive using technology and letting technology use you.  Here are some tips for staying in control: