Lots of people talk about the good old days; the time when children played outside until dark and neighbors met in the street. Advanced technology has more people lulled into an evening slumber from the glow of computer monitors, rather than watching the setting sun.
Social networking sites offer up the ability to communicate with friends, family and business contacts anywhere in the world. It”s amazing.
Certainly nothing replaces human interaction. In many ways it”s a shame because there are tactile components absent. Realistically it is probably impossible to have interaction with that many people in a day.
Facebook makes it possible for me to have brief conversations with people in my life. I have access to photos. I can send cheer to a friend having a rough day. When I went to visit friends in Oregon, they were able to orchestrate a gathering of more than 30 friends in mere moments. There are aspects of social networking that directly address time management. By the time I got to Portland, I knew what was current with some friends I hadn”t seen in years. Needless to say, we had a blast and we were all able to hug and hear each other”s laughter.
Last summer my long-lost friend Charlette made a trip out to Lake County for vacation because we were able to talk and catch up on 25 years at our convenience prior to her arrival. It”s quick and easy to talk to someone online. Messages can be sent at any hour. I enjoy that, because I keep late hours.
It”s all about balance though. Seeing the real sun set is irreplaceable.
Cultural norms have evolved at a staggering speed. There”s even talk that television will be obsolete, as droves of people are watching TV online through the Internet. This option can deliver television shows on your computer and also save you a bunch of money. According to Ben Patterson, a technology writer for Yahoo! News, “Nearly 800,000 households in the U.S. have ?cut the cord,” dumping their cable, satellite or telco TV providers, such as AT&T U-verse or Verizon FiOS, and turning instead to Web-based videos, like Hulu, downloadable shows, iTunes, by-mail subscription services, Netflix, or even good ol” over-the-air antennas for their favorite shows.”
I prefer the Internet to television because utilizing it is less of a passive act than staring blankly at a box. Even though I”m still staring at a screen, many sites are interactive. One of my favorites is the Nobel Prize Web site, nobelprize.org, which offers quizzes and games. The Internet provides an endless source of learning opportunities. Online, the world is my oyster, and I love oysters.
The Internet can also be great for children, when used correctly. It should not be overused or become a video babysitter. I was spending an afternoon with my friends and their 3-year-old son, who was actively typing in letters of the alphabet for his Curious George game. I have a hunch he”ll be more than ready for kindergarten.
Televisions, computers and phones should not replace real life, but enhance it. Get outside and relish the natural wonders. Breathe. See your family and friends face-to-face. After all, technology, and people who live exclusively through it, are just tools.
Mandy Feder is the Record-Bee news editor. She can be reached at mandyfeder@yahoo.com or 263-5636 Ext. 32.
