Assignment #2 (2008)
Posted by: heritage47 on: May 6, 2008
Nice work, those of you who commented on the last assignment. I am enjoying reading about your experiences and conjectures. Keep up the good work.
I am intrigued by a lot of things you guys said. Of course, these technologies affect us in many different ways. I want to consider Colin’s “naturally” turning on an ipod or TV, or ChrisM7’s excellent question about cars and health. But let’s take up a different issue that a few of you raised: the effect of these technologies on our relationships. A couple of you suggested that a world without these technologies would isolate us. As you guys know, text messaging, Facebooks, Myspace, email, even television (in one sense) boast of connecting us to our friends and to the world. But a couple of you noted how the tech turnoff helped you share “quality” family time, or how you called a friend and talked to a “person” rather than simply texting him or her. The same couple of you even speculated that the world without these technologies would actually improve your relationships. So which is it? Do these technologies impair or support our relationships?
Have at it, young people, and keep on track with the turnoff. Remember, it will probably get worse or more difficult before it gets easy. But you can do it. Less than seven days to go now…
40 Responses to "Assignment #2 (2008)"
May 6, 2008 at 9:33 pm
Hum. Well, there’s a situational thing going on. Email and whatnot do connect us to other people. But, at the same time, they tear us away from others.
For instance. My best ever guy friend, Luis, lives up in Rifle. It’s about a 3 and a half hour drive up. I mean, it’s possible that we could still see each other, and there is such a thing as snail mail. Without email, I’m honestly not terribly sure that he would have remained said best guy friend though, simply because of how ridiculously slow mail can be. And let’s be honest. Who likes driveing over Vail pass??
So, in the above case, email is good. It lets people talk instantaneously over long distances. This is a good thing.
I think, though, that it’s Television and movies and everything that pulls familys apart. Granted, I watch history documentary’s with my mother and science shows with my dad- both bonding momments there. But at the same time, it tends to divide the family up. My mother has her tv in her room, my dad has the big screen on the main floor, I have the so called tv-room in the loft, and my sister has the basement. So apart from familiy nerdy bonding nights, we each have our own little space.
Oh, and three computers so we dont even have to trip over each other when we all have email or papers or research or whatever the heck it is to do.
So it really depends on exactly what technolgy and what situation. Email and phones are good for relationships- generally. Tv and movies and the internet at large, I’m not so sure.
Oh, just a random note on this technology becoming a natural instinct phenomenon, I found myself digging through my purse for my ipod at the beginning of art class, before I realized exactly what I was doing. It seriously took me about a minute to remember what I was looking for and why it wasn’t there.
May 6, 2008 at 11:05 pm
I talked a little bit about this on my last entry. I feel that some of these technologies are GREAT, but they do get in the way of our relationships. They cause us to put walls up between ourselves and the rest of the world. Examples of these are movies, video games, i-pod and others. You become so focused on that entertainment factor, that you just tune everything else out. Kids and people are becoming so obese, because we are staying inside and not getting active.
Texting and e-mail helps us communicate better with those far away from us. Although I think it is funny when people are texting, they will text a couple of words several times, wouldn’t it be easier to just call the person up and TALK. A real relationship is TALKING to them, not just writing a message. The thing that I think is also funny, is that people will text each other all the time, but when they are out to lunch or actually with the person they don’t talk that much. Both texting and e-mail has made us create a new language, that allows us to say what we want with less work. Example GR8= Great or G2G= Got to Go or TTYL= Talk to you later. These two technologies yes has brought people together but it has made us as a society lazier, and dumber.
These technologies take away from us truly living your life!
So LIVE your life TODAY!
May 6, 2008 at 11:58 pm
All those technologies extremely hinder our relationships out in the real world. I say out int he real world because it is true that you can make many great relationships online, or through texting. But you must know that when they are brought into the real world it will be different. Some one could be able to swoon you over with a text but in real life couldn’t even make eye contact. All these technologies are almost a cowardly way out of certain situations. Even phone calls and letters. It is much easier to write down how you feel about something or someone and send it to them than it is to look them in the face and tell it to them. It isolates us from real relationships and makes us think we have something we dont. Real chemistry can only be felt when actually with a person.
On the plus side though, the internet makes it possible to instantly talk to those who are far away and that you may not be able to communicate with other ways. Heh, maybe in the future we’ll be able to talk to the dead through the internet.
On a side note i’ve been stuck sitting around because i had surgery on my foot. No more skating, motorcycling, or running around the rest of the week. It’ll probably be a lot harder to keep going. So far though i’ve learned that i hate vicodine and i’ll probably just deal with the pain than take another one of those. And my routine so far is basicly up to reading about 20 comics a day and i think i’m up to about 12 cds a day.
May 7, 2008 at 12:24 am
I think that these technologies are a disturbance to our relationships with people around us. In my house, we only have one television, and we don’t use it often. There are no tv’s in my room or my brothers’ room, and because of this we spend our time in the living room or outside. We have a better relationship with one another and enjoy to be in each others’ company. When my parents are home, we play a board game and occasionally watch a movie together on Sunday night.
My brothers though, do love the computer games and the video games they have. They sometimes play all the time with it and dont want to do anything else. If this type of technology was gone, they wouldn’t even care about the computer and would even walk the dog with me, since they don’t do that much now!
I would also be able to go to the park and to many places with my uncle if the tv was not present. He watches tv from the time he gets home from work to the time he goes to bed. I don’t know how he does that, and don’t like it. He is young. He should go outside and enjoy his life, help out in the house and do something else. I now he loves to go to the park, but he doesnt because he “has ” to see something that is “very important”.
These technologies are just a disturbance to us and I think that we would all have better realtionships with one another. There would be more time to spend with each other and not much time spent on the internet, tv, or games. We would interact more and find different ways to enjoy the time we have now.
May 7, 2008 at 1:09 am
the telephone is prolly one of the greatest inventions of all time. We were connected and could communicate from long distances. TODAY we each have our own lil hand held phone, it connects us to the internet, takes pictures, connects us with everyone else with a telephone number and even makes a nice light in dark places. its our own magic wand. Full of information, and keeping us ever connected. IF cell phones never existed people would have to stay connected in different ways, such as mail or visits. Cell phones if anything help people stay closer together. Other technologies like “the tube” are destructive to relationships. The tv sucks your mind in. it makes your mind disconnect from whats actually goin oon around you the same thign goes for personal music players with the lil head phones that fit so nicely in your ear these things isolate you from the outside world therefore bringing destruction to relationships.
May 7, 2008 at 1:13 am
Technology does both. It both opens and closes the doors for relationships. Technology, like the phone, does make it easier to communicate. If we didn’t have phones I would never or very rarely talk to a lot of my friends, but at the same time the advances to plain and simple phones do make it difficult to really communicate. Text has made showing emotion or what you really mean to say difficult. It depends on the people reading the message, what mood they are in and how they take the message; you could have said something and meant it in a way completely different way than what it was taken in.
Personally, I would rather talk to someone in person than over text or even over the phone. You can see reactions and get the true meaning of what they are saying and overall communicate better.
I’ve noticed that I have better talks and conversations these past few days just because I talk to them in person!
May 7, 2008 at 1:56 am
Despite how I would love to say that texting and Facebook improve current relationships, it’s true that they actually only open us up to a world of acquaintances and unknown names. There have been so many times that someone I hardly ever speak to requests me on Facebook and I accept them for the mere purpose of having one more “friend”. So, as far as the internet goes, it probably doesn’t help build or even grow relationships, it jsut increases our buddy list. I have to disagree when it comes to texting though. Even though you can’t hear or see the person, you are having a one on one conversation, right? It is less personal then talking on the phone, but isn’t a vast improvement over IMing or Facebook? I think texting not only has the ability to improve relationships but helps communication for business too. I think that texting is one way of communication that should be embraced.
I have to agree with Julia, ultimately, though. Nothing will beat talking to someone face to face. However, couldn’t it be said, that without technology we probably wouldn’t be able to see those people for lack of communication? The phone, text, email, etc. helps us connect to people and often is merely a way to make plans to SEE people.
May 7, 2008 at 2:07 am
I feel that a world without technology could either help or hurt our relationships with loved ones or friends. It would definitely help due to the fact that we would have to talk to the person in person but with that comes the stress of finding a time to meet up just to have a conversation. Technology makes it easier to communicate but the real meaning and feeling you get when talking to someone in person is lost with text messages and e-mails.
It definitely continues to get harder to keep all of these things out of my life but i am going to keep trying as long as I can.
May 7, 2008 at 2:50 am
It is said that communication is key in any type of relationship. Is it really the communication that is the key? Modern technology may allow us to communicate more frequently, more widespread, however it emotion is limited. It is not the words we speak to each other that are of importance, it is how we express ourselves, our feelings, through those words.
Typing on one computer we may have an undying passion, say the fiery passion of love. These words will not carry these emotions themselves. The person on the other end may feel you are being sarcastic, or untruthful, the opposite of your true feelings. This is the fault in the phrase “communication is key” and in our use of modern technology.
As far as relationships go, technology is impairing. The Technology turn off forces us to spend time together. This time spent, person to person, allows us to more accurately express ourselves, our emotions. Being so we can build stronger bonds, and impenetrable relationships.
Having said that, I still believe technology is useful. I believe text messages, email, etc. are great means of quickly contacting each other. For example I have to go to parker to review applications for COTSA State officer positions on saturday. I was informed about this through modern technology: text message. I see no problem with that.
May 7, 2008 at 2:54 am
I believe that in a way these technologies would bring us farther apart, but on the other hand if these technologies didnt exist then we would be closer. Sure we talk on the phone and on myspace and are addicted to text messaging, but without these we would have to talk to our parents and actually go over to a friends house to talk. We are so dependent on the luxuries that we are unable to see a world without them. Back in the old days friends would show up to your house when they wanted to play, not schedule it in when it worked. It disgusts me at my work when I see these nine year old girls with cell phones texting in between classes. I am angry because I didnt get mine until I was 15. Also, I am disgusted when they say “I’ll text you later!” What I want to know is…what happened to a real phone conversation? My best friend has a boyfriend that she constantly texts like it is glued to her hand or something. I ask her if he ever calls and her reply is “no. It would be too much of a hassle.” Has this population of people really started to believe that calling a person is a “hassle?”
May 7, 2008 at 3:00 am
I think that certain relationships would grow stronger and some would slowly diminish. People that you are around all day and come in contact with regularly would probably be the only people that you ever really got close to. Everyone else that your could not reach in person ever would slowly drift off in your memory because you would never see them and never talk to them personally. However, the people that you live with and the people that live near you would start to become more close because they are really the only source of human contact that you can find and humans are sociable creatures in most cases, so we strive for human interaction.
May 7, 2008 at 3:05 am
I think these technologies have the ability to both bring us together as well as distance ourselves from each other, depending on the perspective taken. They have the ability to impair relationships because over texting or myspace, you never know how the person is truly feeling. For instance, you can’t tell for sure if a friend is being sarcastic or is serious, even if you add the classic “lol.” Even worse, you can never be totally certain that you’re texting the person you think you are. People constantly steal each others phones and start texting random people, pretending to be someone else.
On the other hand, these technologies can improve relationships because you can always be in constant contact with an individual, even when you’re far away. For instance, when I moved to Colorado I made a myspace to keep in touch with more people that I probably wouldn’t call on a normal basis, and I think it helped me maintain some relationships that probably would’ve faded eventually.
May 7, 2008 at 3:20 am
I think these technologies do both. On one hand there is email and telephones that help keep us in contact with others who may live far away–like if you have family in another state you can’t just drive over there any time you want, so email them or call them on the phone and learn how life is going for them. Also, not all of your friends stay at home all the time–they do have a life!! If, for instance, a sister or friend goes to college in some other state, then calling, facebooking, or even texting can totally help you keep connected even though they’re a couple states over!! Otherwise these relationships would fail–by the time those people came back from college on breaks or something, they would be completely estranged from you and you would have to start from scratch! You would barely know what’s going on in that other person’s life and it would probably take days to learn everything that happened!
However, these technologies can seriously isolate us from one another that may be closer, like those friends who live down the street. Instead of walking a block or two, people prefer to text or use facebook and other kinds of media to talk. Relationships would fail just because people are lazy and rely too heavily on technology to connect us. Whatever happened to actually spending time with friends at the park or going to slumber parties and having pillow fights? Truth be told, I think people are more isolated because they use the media to talk to one another instead of actually having a face to face conversation. The proof that people rely more on media to talk then face to face conversation is the fact that there are emoticons and other such pictures to show what/how the person is feeling or what their facial expressions are at the moment. No one really cares what the person looks like or sounds like anymore because using pictures and symbols is much easier, right?
May 7, 2008 at 3:28 am
These technologies both help and hurt relationships. With these technologies, you have more stuff to do and you might be more occupied but they also give you a good way of communicating with people and being able to get in touch with them more often. If we didn’t have stuff like phones or internet, I would rarely talk to friends. With stuff like ipods, video games and tv, I tend to sometimes just tune everything else out.
I am really finding this hard though, because im usually routinely pulling out my ipod and watching tv at the same time. Im kind of getting used to the radio and im talking to people on the phone a lot. As time goes by, it is seeming to get easier for me.
May 7, 2008 at 3:58 am
I would have to say that some technology closes doors for some genuine time you could spend with someone. Texting is so impersonal. Emails… although a great way to get in touch with someone, isnt nearly as genuine as a phone call.
with text messaging and facebook, comes distraction. There have been instances where my sister or I are texting… at dinner! I mean thats terrible. Some feel if you dont respond to a text it’s “rude” but how about the lack of respect we are showing to those around us when texting while spending time with someone.
I would have to say technology, although convenient, impaires how genuine a relationship can be. I will be interested to see who I still keep “in touch” with even without texting or facebook. Phone calls could get interesting.. or awkward.. we’ll see
May 7, 2008 at 4:01 am
I have no personal stance that I can take on whether technology hinders our relationships or actually helps them. Like Mr. D said, ” As you guys know, text messaging, Facebooks, Myspace, email, even television (in one sense) boast of connecting us to our friends and to the world.” But these technologies also occupie a ridiculous amount of our time. I had this friend named Katie and she always has an ipod attached to her ear. When you are trying to talk to her you only feel like she is half listening. On top of that she came over to my house and litterally got on my computer to check her myspace and email for an hour I was pissed because that is not why I invited her over… So that presented a problem and I have not invited her over since. But I have tons of relatives out of town and text, email and profiles help us stay in touch. And just for the record I have a myspace and if I am lucky I check it once a month!!!I hate myspace, emails and text. My dad sends me about 300 stupid forwards a week that I never even read… and how old is he???
May 7, 2008 at 4:37 am
Technologies advance our ability to communicate with the outside world but impair our ability to connect to someone sitting right next to us. This strikes me as backwards. We have gained the technology to communicate with anyone in the world with a click or a push of a button, but we seem to have forgotten the basic human ability to connect with those who are continually in our physical presence and actually matter in our lives.
I don’t know how many times I’ve been in a conversation, gotten a text, and put the conversation on hold so I could respond. Thinking about it, that’s really rude! It is as if the idea of being able to communicate with anyone in any location at any time has become so customary for us that we don’t think twice about it’s negative effects on relationships that actually matter.
Enjoying modern technologies is a double edged sword. It greatly heightens abilities to communicate with anyone, but impairs relationships with those closest to you.
While I don’t think that the technology turnoff will completely kick my texting habit, I genuinely want to stop texting while in the middle of conversations. Inevitably, the conversation is more important.
May 7, 2008 at 4:39 am
I believe that technology supports long distance relationships and to an extent can impair relationships with people closer to home. I have lots of friends that live all over the world. That’s why I originally got a myspace, I use it to keep in touch with friends that live really far away! I have friends that live half way around the world and because of the time difference I cant just simply call them. I use the internet and text messaging to keep up my long distance friendships. But with my relationships here in Colorado I suppose it is a bad habit to use in personal modes of communication such as the text message. But in all honestly when I have something really important to talk to my friends about I talk to them in person. I honestly don’t believe that text messaging has hindered my relationships with my friends but I can see how this technology has the potential to hinder relationships.
May 7, 2008 at 6:22 am
While providing the power to communicate effectively and easily, technology also gives us the ability to retreat into materialism and narcissism.
We as human beings cannot survive without relationships and communication. It is extremely ironic than, that while the principle function of technology is survival, its advancement runs perfectly parallel to our growing alienation.
This is possible because the nature of communicative technology makes it easy for us to experience glimpses and tastes of the most naturally attractive aspects of humanity, while allowing us to avoid the work required to make true connections. As we continue to survive, feeding our instinctual desire to relate and love one another, we sink further and further into ourselves. This is the nature of our deteriorating culture, and can account for our increasing obsession with superficiality and selfishness.
Real communication can only be experienced by working to truly empathize with our peers. This can be aided greatly by technology, but as technology advances the ability for us to abuse our own humanity increases as well.
It’s all about the choices we make, so don’t blame technology; blame freedom, and our own collective inability to value the right things.
May 7, 2008 at 1:12 pm
These technologies that we have become so accustomed to both impair and aid relationships in this era of gadgets. Text messaging and instant messenger allow us to me more impersonal, not having to see or hear a person when talking to them. Rather than call, you text. Rather than meet, you IM. In a way though, the technology can aid the relationships as well: you can connect to your “other half” in a matter of seconds, no matter where he or she may be located. Think of technological relationships as a sort of… double edged sword: On one hand, impersonal contact between people stem from these technologies, yet they make it easier to contact your loved one.
It is up to the individual to decide how their technology affects their relationships.
-Evan
May 7, 2008 at 2:39 pm
It really doesn’t matter. It’s up to the people who are using the technologies. If they blow it with their friends, it’s their own fault, not the technologies.
May 7, 2008 at 2:48 pm
These technologies that we take for granted, help and hurt our relationships with people. I have a friend who lives in Chile. I can’t fly down there or really call because it is so expensive to do so. So texting him and emailing him are really the only ways we can stay in touch.
However, talking to people through email and texts hurt relationships. The meaning of what someone says can be taken totally out of context or the meaning never comes across as well as if you were to say it to their face. You are cutting yourself off from emotions that others are experiencing.
May 7, 2008 at 7:01 pm
Well, I think it can be interpretted either way. In a way they impair our social needs and in another way they give us the oppertunity to be even more social when we dont really have the chance to talk. However, the social through technology is different from a “real” social, it is tainted in a way. So I think all in all, tech impairs our relationships in the world
May 7, 2008 at 7:54 pm
I agree with those that have said it’s a situational benefit. There are times when it’s just not necessary to talk to someone, making texting an easier alternative. I know for me, when I first meet someone I’m a lot more comfortable texting them than talking to them because it just takes away some of the awkward situations or pauses that are bound to occur when actually talking to the person. Technologies like texting and IM allow you to learn more about the person and allow people to get more comfortable with each other before talking in person or over the phone.
I do, however think some people go overboard with texting. When you actually have something important to tell someone, texting is not the way to do it.
May 7, 2008 at 9:33 pm
Technologies impair our relationships.
We have become so accustomed to always being connected and someone always being there that we have lost the true essence of what a relationship is–we’ve lost the aspect of what life is. Passion, love, trust, a real bond, a real experience.
The aspect of family is growing apart. My parents and their parents knew everything about one another. Where they were going, what the wished and desired–everything. Now I don’t think my parents know anything really. I mean as teenagers we desire our independence and wish to cut the cord early on, but then I feel we don’t learn all the lessons we should and don’t grow up in a healthy way. We just take what we want and leave behind the morals and wisdom of past generations. It’s repulsive really.
Also with txt msging and Myspaceing–and whatever else; what are we doing then merely talking through an object with no tone, no depth, no passion. How many times have we fought or flirted through these devices? Too many a time! Where’s the passion? Where’s the guts to actually bring your self to call some person and tell them voice to voice–face to face what’s going on and how you are feeling. In a way it seems that we are trying to avoid these “weak” emotions in case the outcome comes out bleak. Protecting our self from anything unpleasant. But what is life with out unhappiness and disappointment once and a while?! If everything was good all the time would you truely be content? You got your way all the time would you be happy? NO! You would be bored out of your mind, ironically just like we are bored without technologies.
I think we are the weakest generation. More then likely many people would argue that this is false. That our advancement is so extraordinary and should be so admired. But really what have we gained? Where’s the excitement in watching people on TV jump off cliffs and get in scandalous situations? It’s not YOU who is doing it. It’s THEM! You are watching and talking and “communicating” with everyone around you about these people who are guess what! Just people. And who are actually living life as apposed to watching it.
And I think that technologies have pushed us into this way of “life”. Molded us into these robots who are so afraid of the simplest emotion; afraid of trying something new and not succeeding; afraid of risks. Afraid of really living and really connecting with people in an honest enriching way.
Our society is afraid.
May 7, 2008 at 10:38 pm
I agree with justin when he says that it is up to the user. I mean yes phones are important to communicate, but as far as text messaging goes, or IMing, that can really hurt the relationships because like someone stated up above, you do not connect emotionally.. You can’t hear the other persons voice or you can’t tell how they are feeling. I mean yes they have the smilies and what not but that doesn’t mean that they are really feeling that way. You can be texting someone and they go “yeah… i know what you mean..” and if you say that out loud to yourself it doesn’t sound good, i mean the slight pausing between sentences, it would seem like they were unsure, and you could ask them “what’s wrong?” and they will say something like “don’t worry about it :3″.
It seems like we have become so dependent on texting that we do not want to give the “old school approach” to meeting someone and actually going up to them and saying “hey, my name is seth i would really like to get to know you” or something like that.. the point is we are just so dependent on these things that we meet someone or we see someone we like and if we do get to say something to them and you give out your number, the note with the number on it usually has a little side note “can you text?” or they will straight up ask you right there after they hand you their number. or they will look you up on myspace or facebook, and email you that way. i just think that talking on the phone helps a relationship more than texting does..
May 8, 2008 at 12:51 am
i think that these technologies do impair actual quality time with another friend or family member but i also think they can help greatly, some people i know the only way to get a hold of them half the time is text messaging and my space is great for keeping in touch with friends that live a really really far ways away, but if one uses these technology’s too much then they consume your life and you loose that quality time. video games are a game just like monopoly, now im not talking about games where the hole idea is to go on a killing rampage, but role playing games and tactical games have just as much value as monopoly if not more so. one game i know forces you to literally learn how to rule over all of the roman empire, and im talking trade agreements alliances politics taxes religion every problem a ruler of that time would have to deal with and overcome is your problem to overcome in the game. but if you play video games too much then you rarely even see your family much less your friends. so i think that the idea of every thing in moderation really has a great wisdom about it
May 8, 2008 at 1:12 am
These technologies completely impair our relationships! Whenever I watch TV, facebook, etc. I tune out from the people I could be talking to in person. I don’t really think I have time for both. I wish I did, but I think with the tech turnoff I will get the opportunity to actually talk to people, rather than “plug in.” I don’t know how much of a relationship I have with anyone in my family, really. My sister lives 1200 miles away, so I don’t know how much I can help that, but I hardly ever communicate with my parents. If I do communicate with my mom, we usually end up screaming at each other, which I feel is unfortunate.
What can we do though? It just seems so much easier to tune out.
May 8, 2008 at 1:51 am
I would have to say that the ipod and tv does disrupt the relationship you might have with people, however, I would have to contradict myself by saying that the tv and music in general is very relaxing. I think that is why at night or after school that is the reason why most people are drawn towards these two things. I think just like sweets it’s all in moderation. You almost always have dessert after dinner and I almost always watch tv after school or my activities.
I would have to say that I rarely use Myspace or Facebook and none of my friends really use it either so that hasn’t been a problem with my relationships. I text a lot but like I said before I really only text Brandon and my mom and I don’t think that text messaging is a huge problem because it’s an easy way to just talk without awkward pauses or just retreiving quick information. I don’t text while I’m with a friend or at dinner cause I think it is a little rude so I’ll just say I’ll text back whoever texts me while I’m with them. I honestly think that I could live without most technology cause I stay active and get annoyed when I just sit on the couch and do nothing all day cause then I don’t feel productive, but I know it is a nice way to stay relaxed. I’m hoping for myself and other people that it doesn’t get out of control and disguise false relationships in the future.
May 8, 2008 at 3:31 am
Some technologies i belive due impair our relationships but at the same time some help our relationships. In my case, my girlfriend lives really far away and i dont get to see her that much so we text each other whenever we get the chance. I dont get to see her that much during the week so we try to keep in touch as much as possible. But at the same time, texting can hurt your relationships. When your talking face to face with someone, you can get the point across much easier with more meaning. Through texting, its just a couple sentences or phrases that might not mean anything at all to the reader.
May 8, 2008 at 3:40 am
I dont think that you can really say it helps or hurts relationships. it impacts them in both ways. I think that the technologies that we have allow us to communicate with so many more people therefore allowing us to have many relationships with a larger variety of people. Although it also allows us to be more distant, you dont have to personally call everyone you can just send out a mass text. Although those mass texts allow you to get a big group of your best friends together.
Technology also enables you to keep ties with friends that you live far from. I have a friend in Alsaka and im able to keep in touch with him via msn.
I love my technology although i really love not wathcing tv! Its really tempting after work to go camp out on the couch and eat a late dinner in front of the tv but i have started to read the paper instead.
May 8, 2008 at 3:58 am
for me technology really helps my relationships, i agree with facebooks boast because ive been able to reconnect with people i never see either because they dont have a smiler schedule or they dont live near me, also ive had some of the most quality time with my brother when we watch a season of futurama or play a video game together. from my experiences, people also tend to tell the truth more because they know the other person will have time to think about ti and cool down with out flying off the handle. i feel a lot closer to the people i talk to through technology
May 8, 2008 at 1:47 pm
i think that i have called more people than ever before because i couldnt use text messaging. i think this tech turnoff is for the better because our constant longing to be entertained causes me at least to want to get out and do something. plus the emotions you can share with a person over the phone, although they are limited are musch much better than those that you can share through a test message
May 8, 2008 at 8:10 pm
Technology like text messaging or email help maintain relationships but on a superficial level. My friends and I have always discussed how text messages can completely misconstrue an idea you might be trying to convey to another person because you aren’t actually speaking to this person IN PERSON. So, yes I would say that technology allows us to stay connected with people we might not be able to see every day and therefore need some practical form of communication by use of technology. However, just how connected do we really stay with this people when we communicate through technology? It’s impossible to expect that your always going to be able to or have the time to directly talk to a person, but I believe the key is finding a balance between direct and indirect communication. I think that if we did not have as advanced forms of communication our relationships with close family and close friends would improve yet on the downside how would we interact in person as frequently without technology with crazy/conflicting schedules?
May 9, 2008 at 3:34 am
i agree with a lot of people on this one apparently. on the one hand, it does take us away from our friends and family when we are doing things like watching TV or playing or playing that PS3 game you just bought for $60 and play it for one or two hours then never touch it again. but it can also bring people closer together. as we all know, facebook and myspace are excellent ways of helping us reconnect with old friends from middle school or that guy you met at the party last weekend. but i also think that this could be a double edged sword. for example, did you ever have a friend that you were REALLY good friends with and you hang out with them all day every day? then after youve been hanging out for a long time and that friend REALLY starts to get on your nerves and you stop hanging out as much. i think that this happens a lot more often than when you had to be face to face with a person to talk to them. now days, people are always texting and calling their friends every day and then going home and hoping on myspace to talk to them more. after a while that thing that made hanging outs with the person you dont get to see a lot is gone. there isnt that “oh im so glad to see you! i havent seen you in forever!”
and i also thought of this. it REALLY helps us plan our days. phones today can text, go on the web, be a walkie talkie, heck…even just being a mobile phone. if things come up, its super easy to get a hold of people.
May 9, 2008 at 6:05 am
Does technology impair or support our relationships?
I think that a definition needs to be made clear. The first to kinds of technology that comes to my mind is ENTERTAINMENT technology like Television, Mp3’s, ect and then secondly their is COMMUNCATION technology like cell phones and Myspace.
So with that, I think that Entertainment technology without a doubt hurts our personal relationships with the people in our lives. Growing up, I was always in one room watching tv while my sister was in the other room playing computer games. This is pretty clear to me that it was hurting me and my sisters relationship. If neither of us had these easy sources of Entertainment we probably would have had to find ways to entertain each other. Another Idea that comes to my mind is when you see a good freind and you yell out their name from 3ft away. They dont respond and you then realize that they are blasting their earbuds to some music And you come out looking like the idiot that is yelling to no one.
Secondly their is Communication technology. This, I think really doesnt hurt us as much as we might think. Text messaging really, I dont think most people txt just to avoid verbal contact with one another. I know I only txt because it is easy and typically more efficient. But Txting to me is really not all that entertaining, It actually kind of a pain.
And Facebook, definatley a good source to keep up with old freinds.
So I think that their is good technology and bad technolgy. Entertainment technology can easily desensitize you to social communication and your relationships with the people that matter. Whereas Communcation technology, It might only desensitize you to a superficial level(fr:MeganR2). But I dont think that that superficial level will actually begin to effect you when you are in person with that person you were communicating with.
May 12, 2008 at 2:19 am
Simply put, I believe that technology hinders our relationships with others, but with a healthy balance can be used productively. It’s when we begin hiding entirely behind our technology (phones, internet, what have you) that our connections with others lose all depth and substance. I have found that meetings with others have been far more fulfilling and the conversation just as lively knowing that I won’t soon after shoot small talk through some sort tech. As for using phones and other devices productively, when used to get down to business (i.e. meeting up, asking something, etc.) they can still be used for a healthy means of setting yourself up to live your life.
May 12, 2008 at 4:40 am
I personally take a stance in the middle of this debate, perhaps leaning towards more of the idea that technology impairs relationships. I believe that there is an appropriate time to pull out your Ipod or phone. As long as a person doesnt pull them out in certain situations then I think there is no problem with it….my number one pet peeve though is when a person is talking to a friend or whoever about something and the other is not even looking. Eye contact is important, it shows a person that you are listening and care about what they have to say and i think that technology can prohibit that at times. Also some people say that technology such as facebook and myspace enhance communication but I completely disagree with that idea. I am proud to say that I no longer have a myspace and never had a facebook, I personally belive that they are both jokes….for instance, my best friend has a face book and she sat there for like 20 minutes racing other animated “cars” and “poking” her other friends…..i mean are you for real?!! How old are we?? and can somebody please tell me the point of that! ALso I learned that having a myspace doesnt necessarily keep you in touch with old friends, most of the people are just acquaintances. If they were good enough friends to you then there would be other ways of communication and you wouldnt always be sending the same person “hey!! how have you been?? long time no talk! whats your number again? lets hang out” and a month later the same message. lammeeeee lol
May 15, 2008 at 3:33 pm
i feel that it does help relationships if we dont have technology but just a little bit of tech can be very good for us
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Current Project
Heritage Tech Turnoff April 2009
May 6, 2008 at 5:47 pm
These technologies impair our relationships because of our developed dependance on them. As I was signing on to check this out and work on some other homework in Word, I realized that the first thing I do with out thinking about it is move my little cursor to the bottom of my screen and click the icon to open the internet. Has it gotten so bad that that is my first reaction?!?! Good Ford! What is going on that I have become so addicted if you will that I go to the internet just like opening a door! And yet when I have to call someone use the phone its kinda like- gah! I have to find the phone punch in the number then we’ll probably talk for a good 20 ish minutes- and I’m realizing there is really no problem with that. The more I think about it I better get use to talking on the phone a heck of a lot more than I do- my parents don’t have facebook, or myspace, and who knows when they’ll check their e-mail!
Note to self- quit it!