It is me or...if you don't have a smart phone - you're phucked. How will you face the world without Facebook? How will you identify yourself without an iPhone or an iPad? I must admit they are sexy, fun little toys, but we are all developing the "21st century stare." Here's the picture: electronic device in hand, head slightly askew, as to be in a reasonably comfortable position and navigate the hand held device of your choice. Now walk or drive or stare at it while you're in a conversation with other people. Maybe you will trip, fall into a fountain, walk into a parked car or piss off your friend, husband or wife as you ignore them and read the latest status update on Facebook that appears to be more interesting than the current conversation or company. I swear...with all the keying we do on our phones, we are going to evolve our digits (fingers) into paddles for thumbs and our other fingers will be pointed tips like some sort of stylus!
Technology is allowing us to witness this incredible sociological experiment --the evolution or decline of our culture-- you decide which it is, and I will observe the specimens at play.
I know there have been many others before me who have pontificated on this point and talked it to death, but as technology offerings become more affordable, they become more widespread - will we see a breakdown in real human interactions? Or am I just being nostalgic for meeting a friend in a cafe over drinks or lunch to talk about their latest status updates or seeing their pictures from a trip, which they could show me via their Facebook or Shutterfly photo album. It just makes me wonder if this explosion of social networking will implode and we will actually see a decline in human interactions - will we evolve or devolve back to grunting and drawing etchings of early mammals on cave walls? Perhaps it is my love of conversation and for the written word that causes me concern, as acronyms and emoticons replace verse and prose.
I guess it was this way with every cultural revolution. You had the resilience and brilliance of youth bring about the needed change -- the early adapters. Then there are those who wait around for a later version - so the bugs could be worked out or there was enough empirical evidence to believe in the cultural changes, and then you had those who wouldn't budge. I believe that the only thing that changes is change. And if you aren't willing to be resilient, and at least humor life, you'll get old--- real quick! Because if you don't update statuses or text or find some other technologically driven device to connect with others - you'll be left in an analog, clam-shell phone world. And the likes of big business will price you out of the market and give you no other choice than to upgrade or return to the likes of a TV with an antenna. How bad could it be to return to antenna TV? That's what many of us grew up with. Toy with the notion for awhile - it creates an inner conflict - an almost longing to say, "screw this, I could totally give up technology and revert to the ways of ancient man living in the 1970's <sarcasm implied>." or does one just drink from the chalice, and join the religious ranks, who can be found bowing and curtseying to the almighty Apple gods.
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