See? I'm not the only one struck by the speed of technological change. And this chick is only thirty! :-)
... Although I'm most often struck by it in a positive way. Anna Grossman, like many others, seems to have the idea that it's alienating in some way. I never understood that. How can more and more powerful communication media be isolating? I suspect that the alienation is just an emotion that people feel, due to the unfamiliarity of it all, and they transfer it.
6 comments:
"Anna Grossman, like many others, seems to have the idea that it's alienating in some way."
Yes, it is alienating, but in a good way. Look on the positive side: most people are irksome, tiresome, inane, and unworthy: being able to avoid them, or at least being able to minimize contact with them, is a good thing. Being able to switch them off is a blessing. It works both ways. Click.
Anna Grossman talks about writing a letter as being a lost art... I think in the near future talking on the phone will be a lost art. Cell phones will evolve into "texting machines" instead of something you talk to another person on. Cell phone usage statistics clearly point towards this trend.
I think it is clear that we are moving in the direction of less and less personal contact in our everyday lives. Most businesses are set up so that you don't have to meet or talk with someone to talk care of business transactions; it can be done via the web or through telephony. You can even order groceries over the web, have them delivered to you, and then your slip payment under the door to the delivery man if you desire. Many people have "friends" who they have never met or spoken to.
My prediction is that in a few hundred years the human race will no longer have a voice box. However, they will have very dexterous fingers and carpel tunnel syndrome will be a medical condition of the past!
Russ said...
"My prediction is that in a few hundred years the human race will no longer have a voice box."
FUNNY and SAD at the same time...as is the loss of personal contact and having "friends" who they have never met or spoken to. :-(
mithe said...
"...most people are irksome, tiresome, inane, and unworthy: being able to avoid them, or at least being able to minimize contact with them, is a good thing. Being able to switch them off is a blessing. It works both ways. Click."
And, wow...you've just convinced me of this! lol! And that was your "positive side"! lol! WAY SAD that you think this way of "most people."
It's kind of SAD that there are people that are *that* miserable living amongst others. I'd almost WISH that "they" didn't have access to anyone else, themselves...spreading their repugnant attitude around, as "they" do! :-(
Eolake said...
"Anna Grossman, like many others, seems to have the idea that it's alienating in some way. I never understood that. How can more and more powerful communication media be isolating?"
I think it's more about what people are [seemingly] doing less and less of, that she is supposing: no face-to-face conversations; not as much time talking for hours on the phone getting to know someone. I agree w/her on the "face-to-face" thing (directly, anyway; there's always webcamming) but...I think communication has increased. Looking around, EVERYONE is on their phones...talking w/someone; others are working their thumbs to nubs texting away. I think communication has just become more diversified moving beyond the first two methods mentioned.
I'm guessing that Ms. Grossman is just being a tad nostalgic at this point. I just think it's a durn shame that all those items are having to be tossed...especially the books! I was just thinking of that, earlier, today: we can't get rid of paper books. There are people who are textile learners who will struggle without them; and, of course, the blind who want to be able to read by themselves. Some would argue that the blind can just go w/an audio book for themselves. Well...I have one question for the people who suggest that: have you ever met a blind and deaf mute person?!
I miss the days before cellphones. No one had them when I was in high school. It was better. I don't know why anyone cares about the death of letter writing. Most people never did write letters of the quality of Mark Twain or Samuel Johnson anyway.
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