Check out this headline: "Meet the First Plant That Requires Facebook Fans to Survive." Yes, it's about a plant - actual vegetation - that requires social media interaction to thrive. I saw this story on Mashable today and it started me thinking about all the ways in which electronic media really drive everyday life. It begs the question, "Can there be a such thing as too much progress?"
Now before you go labeling me a spineless technophobe - I'm really not, by the way. I would marry my Android phone if I wasn't afraid of how weird the wedding photos might look - consider for a moment the preceding two thousand years of human history. Somehow, remarkably, for most of existance we mere mortals have managed to live, and even reproduce, without the miracle that is Facebook. I wasn't there but I'm pretty sure my dad "liked" my mom the old fashioned way. In the days of yore people actually watered plants, and plants actually managed to grow and feed the population. I'm not arguing against technological progress, I just wonder if progress always well...progresses.
Think for a moment about the cotton gin. A technological wonder to some, the ruling slave owners, the absolute devil to others, the slaves who were now consigned to more centuries of servitude. Had Eli Whitney bothered to ask them I'm sure their answer would have been a resounding "Screw progress!"
A friend of mine recently told me the story of his little sister who was put on "Internet punishment" for getting a bad grade. As far as I know the boundaries of her grounding did not preclude actual human interaction. Yet in all the weeks of her miserable confinement it never occurred to her to pick up the phone or better yet invite her friends over. The kid literally did not know how to live without social media. This is the way in which I believe technological progress has actually crippled human progress. And I say this as someone who makes her living (in theory anyway) advising business owners how to promote themselves via social media.
In reading the blog of one of my classmates, Little Miss Cales - Caleigh I am struck by the fact that she predicts a veritable "Lord of the Flies" type Armageddon should the nation's electronic resources fall victim to attack. I think she is 100% right. Sadly. Somehow we genius humans have technologically advanced ourselves right out of our collective humanity. Remarkable. Can't call, text, tweet, or facebook your neighbor? Try knocking on their door.
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ReplyDeleteI love this and I totally agree! I was raised in a small town so I am totally aware of how to take care of myself if something should happen, but not everyone is, and it is a shame. Who do we blame though? Social media, or parenting? When I have children, I can guarantee there will be no texting at the table, and definitely media manners! However, they will also know ways to live without media. They will have common sense, something most of America now lacks, ha!
ReplyDeleteThanks Caleigh! I think the solution lies in a collective re-thinking. I believe if we, and by we I mean everyone but myself, (Just kidding!) change the way we view technology we will be a long way towards winning the battle. Things like Facebook and Twitter, email, texting, etc. are communications tools. They are not communication in and of themselves. I think your plan to disallow texting at the table is on point. I don't know if I want to live in a nation where the government mandates human interaction. Frankly I think it's rather tragic that the government would have to. I believe ultimate responsibility lies within how we govern ourselves and, like your example above, how we raise our children. I think I will teach my kids, assuming I ever have any, the lost art of pen and paper letter writing. When we can enjoy the advances in technology without losing the knowledge that preceded those advances we may be able to avoid a digital Armageddon.
ReplyDeleteWonderful post, Tameka - thoughtful and with concrete examples. Since you started with the plant, it would have been interesting to wrap up your reflection by returning to the issue of the plant.
ReplyDeleteDo you think that some of your very same critiques might also be the goals of the creators of this project? If they get you to question, is their job done?
I saw that article about the Facebook plant too! It intrigued me, but I can honestly say that I didn't bother finding out more about it. I guess I'd much rather plant something on my own and watch it grow in my backyard than see it grow via webcam (if that's even how it works, I'm just guessing). I think we need to find a balance between real life human interaction and our technological communications. I agree there needs to be more face-to-face interaction in the world, but sometimes in certain cases that is impossible.
ReplyDeleteTameka -
ReplyDeleteI am so glad that I reading this early blog post quite a bit later in the semester. I would marry my blackberry but I'd rather have an affair as I am dating a lovely person and my bills are also paid by consulting on how to bolster both Return on Relationships and Return on Investment.
We have a difficult job because while nothing, ABSOLUTELY, nothing takes the place of actual face to face meeting time we also lives in the moving mobile society. I offer up both Nick Pluim and Syd's blog because I think it would be quite interesting to compare all 3 of your essays side by side .. take a read and feel free to commet back at me!
Great post -
http://npluim.wordpress.com/2010/11/07/where-to-draw-the-line/
http://sydniemacsix300.wordpress.com/2010/09/14/america-just-isnt-america-without-the-nfl/