Being Human In the Age of the Electronic Mob
“Has the Internet seduced us into thinking that we can in fact live in a world without other flesh and blood people, we can just deal with screen people.” Paul Comrie-Thomson
Photo @ illuminati-news.com
The other day I was talking with a friend who commented on how the use of the Internet has made people so impersonal that it’s taking the place of human interaction.
She said that “people are missing out on real pivotal moments in life because they are too plugged in, always stuck in front of the computer.”
After I got off the phone, I called at least 3 people to say hi, not that I don’t call them anyway, but I’m technology dependent, and sending an email hello is “normal”, preferred really.
Instead of picking up the phone to emotionally connect with someone and listening to their voice, phone calls have been replaced by text messaging, emails or tweets. Technology has made it so that we don’t have to deal with humans if we don’t want to.
A few weeks ago, we had dinner with an elderly family friend, she has to be at least 89 years old, visiting from Virginia.
She passed out her calling card printed with her name, address and phone number on it. After examining the card for a few seconds and looking on the back side, I said: “Where’s your email address, how am I supposed to contact you?” She said, “Use the phone number.” 1 Sometimes a phone call is better because we get to hear emotions and true feelings that we would not get in an email or text message.
I love the Internet, its usefulness, its convenience but life is not the sum of conveniences. In fact, it would probably be less convenient, but it might also be more meaningful, especially when we examine the social and psychological dislocations that it’s caused. 2
How do you stay “human” when technology makes it so easy for us to be emotionally detached. Does time spent online outweigh the time spent interacting with family and friends? Has technology affected our thinking and way of life that it is fast becoming, not our servant, but our master?
Additional Reading:
Against the Machine: Being Human in the Age of the Electronic Mob
- I hate the phone [↩]
- social isolation [↩]
In: Computers, Just Thinking, Social Networking, Technology · Tagged with: Computers, Email, Human, Social Disorders, Technology, Text Messaging
on November 24, 2008 at 9:18 pm
Permalink
Hey, I am still recovering from my shoulder surgery, but wanted to drop by and comment on your latest post. I still read lots of posts but cannot type for extended periods of time, so my commenting is limited. I enjoyed this post and I am glad I dropped by.
peace,
Mike
livelife365
Mike Foster´s last blog post..The Essence of Garlic
on November 25, 2008 at 10:46 am
Permalink
I can certainly relate to this article. I would much rather deal with business over the internet or thru technology because of lousy customer service and a “you are bothering me” attitude. Another reason, I only want to deal with the issue I called for, I don’t want to buy anything else, I don’t want to make any changes…(cranky aren’t I?)
Dee Langdon – BloggerNewbie´s last blog post..The Wise Sheep
on November 25, 2008 at 1:13 pm
Permalink
im such a selfish person. I don’t communicate often with my real life friends, family and in internet. i have sister who live in michigan but seldom we talked and never exchange email and the same as with my friends who live miles away. There might be once a month of seeing and exchanging email more often never. i honestly love to hang out with my family and friends but my sideline extra income-business keep me occupied all the time. if i am bored i drive alone too bad that i fail to call any of them to go with me. They all felt disappointed with me because i don’t call and see them even once a week. im hooked up with the people in blogospher interacting so i live in the internet!:(
fit4all´s last blog post..Always Camera Aware
on November 25, 2008 at 3:29 pm
Permalink
Thank you for the wonderful post. The talking-point relates to each of us and depicts quite threatening picture. Yet I think that Internet didn’t bring anything new in essence- the new technology just made the test of our “humanity” much more visible. The “impersonality” defines not the modern relationships between people, but marks the losers of all ages. The new technologies help us greatly to deal with our statistics, but even super-computers can’t breathe in life to a man. The “Impersonality” is awful diagnosis of the world’s spirituality. Yet the healing can be just exclusively personal to each of us.
Though I know that Internet can’t substitute the eye-to-eye relationships, but I greatly rejoice at such attempts of the Internet BECAUSE I live with the disabilities and consequently the computer is my main window towards the life.
I’m grateful to the new technologies for the help not to forget what for I lived prior my head bones were crashed- what for the miracle returned me to life again. Thus I’m glad to invite you via e-mail to art therapy club Modus Vivendi http://trustlight.blogspot.com/
You are welcomed to my other blogs too. You will have a good time with my artworks there. I hope you will listen to my meditation in color and I will receive your feedback.
So you are welcomed. Happy browsing through the archives of http://arthiker.wordpress.com/
Thank you for the thoughts provoking post. Your writing awakes indeed.
Tomas´s last blog post..fine art in reality
on November 25, 2008 at 11:55 pm
Permalink
I can say that it is in the person if he/she let technology take control of his/her life. Technology is a big help to make our work easier and relax. But it can’t give all we need.
Diana Rupert´s last blog post..Why Buy Pioneer Elite Kuro PRO-111FD?
on November 26, 2008 at 9:57 am
Permalink
Sending you a Happy Thanksgiving!
Mark´s last blog post..The Journey Continues During the Holidays!
on November 26, 2008 at 2:42 pm
Permalink
I love this photo! Our x-box blew up today because my son and fiancee have been spending so much time on it this week. I love karma!
on November 26, 2008 at 5:47 pm
Permalink
I am online a lot: at home and at work. BUT I make it a point to also keep “grounded” and attached to the “real world”. I spend time with my friends, call them and well also having a child makes me need to go out there. I think if you have a heatlhy balance between online and off line life there is nothing to worry about.
on November 27, 2008 at 8:01 am
Permalink
Of course I love the internet. But nothing should take the place of human interaction. That would truly be dangerous
Roschelle´s last blog post..Screw Black Friday…I’m staying home and waiting for Cyber Monday!
on November 27, 2008 at 10:11 pm
Permalink
Ten years I couldn’t imaging living without TV, back then the internet was just a gimmick to me.
Now I hardly watch TV, but I’m online for about 5-6 hours a day. After a knee surgery I was at home for 5 weeks and I was alone most of the time, but I never felt lonely, because I got the internet. Scary…
Bald Guy´s last blog post..SEO is good, but sometimes SEO goes too far, then SEO starts being annoying!
on November 28, 2008 at 9:46 am
Permalink
Interesting post. I find it easy and convenient to communicate on the internet. Frankly, I can’t stand it without internet in a day. Phone call and text messaging is only secondary. But the question is how do we stay human? That is also the problem now, people are getting fat because of technology.
on November 28, 2008 at 7:07 pm
Permalink
Valerie, great post. I was thinking about something similar recently when I picked up the phone to arrange a lunch date with a friend, but then thought, “No, I’ll just email her.” Afterwards I couldn’t stop thinking about why I didn’t just ring. On that day I think the email felt like a way not to get caught up in a long chat and to ensure I got the things done I had to that day.
I still call friends, but usually now it is to catch up with friends who live far away and who I don’t get to see very often. All arrangements seem to be done via message or email. Is that a good thing? yes, I think it can be if you keep it in perspective. If you’re organising to SEE someone I think it’s perfect. It’s quick and non-intrusive. Let’s face it, the world can be a chaotic place these days and everything seems t move so fast. It’s hard to emotionally cope with everything going on (or is that just me?), so technology has allowed us a way to deal with the minor details effortlessly.
I think the problem is if you rely on technology rather than actually forming close, human connections with people.
And as Marelisa says, technology allows all of us to be long distance friends, and how cool is that!
Kelly
on November 29, 2008 at 6:41 am
Permalink
This really scares me. I find that I’m becoming addicted to my computer. I rarely call anyone and I seldom go out, since I work from home. Thankfully, for now, I have a husband who’s not on my back about it. Maybe I’ll go to a movie today just to try to make some kind of human connection. My goal is to say hello to at least one stranger. OMG, where are we headed? I shudder to think!
Your post has me thinking about restructuring my life.
on November 30, 2008 at 11:58 pm
Permalink
Mike, that’s good news and thanks for stopping by.
Dee, that’s how I feel when it comes to customer service, sometimes, I don’t want to talk to a human, I rather push buttons if I can get what I want.
Fit4All, hmmm, I can’t really imagine your situation. For people that I know well, I do need to call them, but depending on what we need to talk about, I can get by on email…dare I say balance. I love the internet/web too.
Tomas, ah, never looked at it that way, but I agree: the new technology just made the test of our “humanity” much more visible. It’s still up to us how we choose to respond or use it.
Diana, well said, personal accountability and choice.
Mark, thanks.
Jen Brister, the photo is quite amusing. That’s funny, but not. Sorry about your Xbox. I’m waiting on a Wii and my first injury.
DutchB, balance is the difficult part. It’s so easy to be entertained just by the computer/technology, little reminders to stay “grounded” are nice, for me anyway.
Roschelle, meeee tooo! Human interaction is uh, necessary.
BaldGuy, yeah I don’t bother with the TV myself. I spend more time on my computer, not 5-6 hours (yet), but if I were home because of an illness, I would have a laptop growing out of my chest.
Raquel, it is easy to communicate on the net, I can easily say or type things that I normally would not say out loud or share. Yeah, I blame the computer for my 25 lbs weight gain. I should be exercising…still personal choice.
Kelly, hello and welcome. I think a lot of people don’t want to get up into long chats (we’re all busy) and I’m wondering if technology has made us less tolerant of people, less truthful, we get out of whatever via email or text message. We don’t have to deal with it or them and that’s the whole point. We don’t have time for people and their feelings or problems. I’m guilty.
Jacqueline, I know how you feel, mine is always on, even if I’m not using it. I’m going to try to disconnect one day when I’m home, that will be the real test. I can leave the house and do..don’t need a phone or nothing, but when I get back home, there is so much that needs to be done on the computer. Why? Anywho, thanks for stopping by.
NaTuRal´s last blog post..Being Human In the Age of the Electronic Mob
on December 1, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Permalink
You have raised a fundamental issue – a sense and compulsive move towards dissociation! That’s really going to be the shape of the society in the days to come.
How can Internet/email/phone calls compensate for the warmth of touch?
At some point of time we need to ponder over the basic reason for our survival? Rightly said – life should have less comfort and convenience.
We are living like people in a marooned island!
on December 2, 2008 at 10:53 am
Permalink
I work primarily from home and it’s really lonely. Many women dream of working at home, but here I am applying for jobs out of boredom. I can’t wait to get back into the workforce.
on December 3, 2008 at 9:49 pm
Permalink
Computer is a must for today’s world. I got 2 computers and 1 laptop actively using. The trend of electronic is hitting hard and all of us need to follow, if failed, we might not making any money at all.
on December 4, 2008 at 10:15 pm
Permalink
As much as I spend a lot of time online and enjoy it, I look for opportunities to connect off-line! I can’t just sit in front of the computer all day. I have to meet face-to-face with people. Not in a business sense…but for that real off-line interaction ya know?
Ricardo Bueno´s last blog post..[Bloggy Question] What Do You Do When They Don’t Respond To Your Comment?
on December 5, 2008 at 5:01 pm
Permalink
I like the combination of technology and as one commenter said “real off-line interaction. I do both frequently.
I do a lot of my work with people totally by phone. When I first started, I wasn’t sure I could develop a good relationship without being able to see the person. I was wrong.
I found using the phone made me listen even more carefully to what the person was saying because I wasn’t distracted by visual cues.
I feel the same way about blogging and emailing. I believe our brains are large enough to adapt to both face-to-face contact as well as to technological interaction.
Sara
Sara B. Healy´s last blog post..Just Say YES: Expand Your Boundaries
on December 5, 2008 at 5:55 pm
Permalink
Nilz – e-Shopping, I wonder if one day we all will be doing work for home. I think the important thing is balanced…not to forget how powerful the human touch is, it has healing power. When you can make that person to person contact, go for it.
An American in France, hmmm, I heard people say they get bored at home, that’s something that has not happened to me yet. It’s nice in the work force if your coworkers don’t get on your last nerves (cough cough).
Atniz, sure it’s a must, as a tool….you do need it in the work force, agreed. I wouldn’t have this lovely job I have now if I didn’t know computer. : )
Ricardo, I can sit in front of the computer all day, but I don’t want to. I miss reading books, yummy books. I cut back my time and have started reading again. I do try to call more people if possible instead of emailing. So far only one friend has not had time to pick up the darn phone and call me back, but email me instead.
Sara B Healy, oh yeah the brain adapts to whatever we feed it…I have to post this great article I read in scientific mind about how using technology creates new brain patterns or waves..very interesting now I’m off topic, but you can develop relationships over the phone…but there’s nothing like in person, to me.
on December 8, 2008 at 1:59 pm
Permalink
Hi Valerie… this is so sad. Whether we like it or not, we have to consider some that prefers the new tech than the one that we are comfortable…
Have a nice day.
on December 12, 2008 at 10:56 am
Permalink
Hey Grace, yeah I guess we do.
on December 22, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Permalink
I love the “electronic age”.
Email allows my mother to send long letters to both of her daughters at the same time.
IM allows me to chat with my sister most days; we “talk” more now than we did when we lived in the same house.
IM keeps me in touch with my husband during the day, when we’re each at work and physically separated.
I think better in writing than speaking. I’ve never liked telephones.
have a cell phone. I use it for outgoing calls. If you ask me the number, I’ll have t look it up (and it won’t do you any good because it doesn’t accet voicemail.)
My company relies on IM and email s much that I had the IT dept take awa my desk phone!
Twitter brings me into contact with people all over the globe! Email keeps me in touch with friends from College.
I’m just as human as I ever was and much better connected.
Vicki´s last blog post..vlb: I think we could settle on one "Roadhouse" rule: "Keep your eyes on the road, your hands upon the wheel." Shouldn’t that be sufficient?
on December 22, 2008 at 9:02 pm
Permalink
well vicki, i’m used to the electronic age myself, but when possible, it’s nice to connect with people without the electronic interruptions. yeah another person who hates the phone. yay. now the door bell is getting on my nerves. lol
thanks for stopping by.
on December 27, 2008 at 8:48 am
Permalink
It is very easy to spend more time on the Internet than with family. I really have to be very disciplined and set a specific amount of time or I’d be at the computer constantly. Using the phone is a rare thing, but then, I never used it much before email either. Actually, I keep more in touch with friends now than before I got my computer and have made new virtual friends through blogging and social networking sites.
I enjoy both, the fellowship of actually being with people as well as using the great technology we have at our fingertips.
Hi Karen and Gerard, oh don’t I know it. I can sit at the computer all day, and even though I’m interacting with people..physically connecting, whenever possible has its benefits. Thanks for stopping by.
Karen & Gerard Zemek´s last blog post..Manny & Spunky Doodle Find the Catnip