Why do I care ? what the H is going on ? People seem to be so dependent on their electronic?

Question

devices ! I was born in fifties and I know I will get lots of flak but I see the US being destroyed by its own tech. People walk around with the phone and blackberries and just seem to have the rest of the world tuned out . I know they are in communication with someone but its not upclose and personal anymore . Its just not human . We sit and eat fast food and Do the SMS thing ! I cant help think we are deep in the Sheeeeeeeeeet ! My nephew is addicted to his gameboy and even sleeps with it. How are we going to get out of this? The japanese are mostly responsible so whats going on in thier country are they in same condition or do they control thier urges?

Answer 1

Japanese people managed to control it...Not all of course there are part of their cities that is all in that stuff...People use it for everyday things...But however,you should know that they are people who hold on to their tradition most of all,when we all fell under American influence they still havent...And in some places there,people live like they did so many years ago...And they have the longest life span,why?They live healthy life,eat healthy food...And spiritual things are very important...No matter cause thy are top of the world in modern things they managed to save their tradition,so i really admire them and mostly their culture...

Answer 2

first of all, i wouldnt say the japanese are mostly responsible, a lot of computer games and other electronic things are developed in the states as well as in europe.

my 8-year-old cousin is physically addicted to pc games...if he doesnt play and get the adrenaline out of chasing and shooting people on the computer screen, he goes nuts. well that is definitely a parenting issue; i grew up with lego and books, so i didnt have this problem.

with the virtual communication things.. all this sms, phones, etc... it's just the way things are going.. the world doesnt stop, new things are being developed etc. being available all the time (eg always having a phone with you) is convenient, especially if youre in business. and true, that kind of communication is less personal, but it saves a lot of time.

i think people who care about their spiritual side will still continue to treasure more personal communication, their friends and families. you cant change the whole world, but you can start by setting a good example and changing your own habits.

Answer 3

calm down for goodness sake. yeah people are getting carried away with some of their electronics but u have to admit there are uses for it all. its like television, we got addicted to that one too. its useful but we have to control it. we can't get rid of something useful simply because some people can't control themselves. and theres nothing inhuman about it, its still a person they are talking to. heck once they get the new networks in you can see the person too with videophones, so it'll be more personal.
anyway how is any of this gonna destroy the nation?
and don't blame the japanese.
your nephew by the way may need to be taught how to go to sleep without the gameboy.

Answer 4

I think people have to make the conscious effort not to be too dependent on electronics because I think there is the chance there could be serious consequences associated with "use it or lose it" in some situations. For example, when I realized that speed dial meant I no longer memorized my own kids' phone numbers I stopped using speed dial. I figured it is probably important to exercise our memories is this basic way.

At the same time, though, I don't necessarily think cell phones are the big problem. For me, it seems having them as made me closer to my family, not because I talk to them all through the day (because I don't) but because if someone wants to reach me they can, and I think that's kind of nice. I never have long conversations over the cell phone. It is the knowing I can be in touch if I want to that makes it nice.

Its the same with the computer. I'm always signed on to IM because I have a daughter in college a couple of hours away. She and I check in every once in a while, but for the most part I don't talk to her that way all that long or all that often. What's nice, though, is I can see the little white block show up that shows her signing on and off all through the day. It isn't that I need to know what she's doing (because I don't know what she's doing), but its nice to see her pop on and off and just know she's ok. Her boyfriend popped on about a Christmas present, so now his alert shows up all through day on my screen as well. Its just kind of a reminder to me that the two of them are coming and going and ok.

Even this Answer site is another example of how technology can be a nice thing. When television is bad and I'm looking for something to do I come to this site and try to help someone (usually someone young). It gives me a chance to try to do something nice, but it also gives me a chance to exercise my mind by trying to come up with a really well thought-out answer.
Side-benefits are that I practice writing on demand (I've done some writing in the past and may again) and get to keep my typing skills speedy and exercised.

I have friends and family who text because a simple text message over the phone is quicker than even a brief conversation, so that saves time and gets the job done. We can tell people where we are so they can meet us, and we can tell people we got to where we were going so they won't worry.

I don't think people's apparent dependency on electronics is as bleak a picture as it could appear. As with everything else in life, it is a matter of how we use it and how much we determine what its role in our lives will be.

Electronics has made me closer to my family and more in touch with the world. Sometimes it may not be "up close and personal", but there is a new type of interaction that has come of electronics; and it doesn't necessarily mean it has to replace the old type. It can, if we decide, just be added to previous types of interaction. Some of the communication we do over the Internet can be extremely human, I assure you.

Fast food is a-whole-nother issue and has nothing to do with electronics, although we can even make fast food a nice, personal, experience if we, say, stop for breakfast and coffee with a friend.

We have the power to define the role of tecnology in our lives, and I think more people than you'd realize have a pretty decent take on how to do that.

Finally and in spite of my defending technology, its always a nice thing to keep a pad of paper and a pen at hand at all times for the occasional list or phone number; and there is something to be said for keeping a typewriter on hand for those times when the clickety-tap of keys really does need to have ribbon involved I also listen to a basic, plug-in radio. There is, after all, something very grounded about things from an not-so-technological time.

And yet, when I walk down the street on my very non-technological feet I have the music coming through my cell phone just because its great to have the sun, the fresh air, and music all at the same time.

Its all about how we balance available technology, how we see it, and how we use it.

Answer 5

i agree with for the most part --- and i can understand a sense of irony when you suggest that the Japanese are the big players in this world of advanced technology ; but they are not the be all end all .
most kids in the western world have no respect for their parents --- in japan it is a different ball game --- there is respect and manners in near all households .yanks , Aussies , Brits --- could well take a leaf out of their book as to respectability .
but then a dogs only as good as it's master --- back in our day the use of the words f & c were taboo --- but now it's the norm --- not to many care and that's the sad reality --- there appears to be no end to this nonsense that is running out of control . good luck

Answer 6

It's parenting I think. We are so used to wanting what the Jones have, making sure our kids have everything that we don't want to deny them. Hence, tvs in the rooms, portable dvds, gameboys etc. We have 2 young boys and we are adamant about not letting have those things. I hope we see a shift in priorities soon!

Answer 7

yup