As per my previous blog, I have a real aversion to having machines run my life. It is everywhere today; from automated drive thru bank tellers, automated check outs at the grocery stores and to the system not allowing you to do something. It is like we as human beings ARE becoming superfluous.
Social media is another big one, but before we get into that let me come clean and say, yes, I do have a Facebook page as well as LinkedIn and Twitter and yes, I am on two of those often. I am really forced to use LinkedIn for my professional life and Facebook to have some fun. What I find quite amusing though is that even in 3240, there have been posts opposing the overuse of this media; generally speaking about Facebook. I have shared the video which has a very powerful message on this issue called: ‘Can we Auto Correct Humanity.’ If you have not seen it, it has a powerful message. I also have gotten to know Carol Todd; the mother of Amanda who tragically took her own life after being bullied on social media. If this was just an isolated case, that would be tragic enough but, we hear about so many other cases today. Even though I have a Twitter account, I believe I have sent out less than one dozen tweets in the past five or so years that I have had the account.
Then there is the fact that now everyone is a reporter, as long as they have a phone and can get close enough to film they feel it is their given right to invade someone’s privacy/space. Whatever happened to our own privacy?
There was an interesting question recently that asked: ‘If you were offered five million dollars to completely drop all technology for 30 days, would you?’ That means: computers, cell phones, television, radios anything else that is electronic. The answer was a resounding, yes. The next question was: ‘Would you?’ Funny thing, the percentages did not match; the second question got fewer affirmative responses.
Here comes the confession, in taking 3240, I have come to the realization that there is more that I should actually be more informed on with the different types of technology and what it has to offer. I do have some basic knowledge, emphasis on basic, but there is a lot more out there to explore.
Still, I will look and use what I feel is necessary and accept the fact that it is here and not going to go away anytime soon, but I still feel that there will never be a time that I completely embrace it.