Are mobile phones,MP3 players, and technology making us less human?

Question

Do you thinkwe've become less social with other people on the streets because of our constant cell phone and music addiction? Everyone now-a-days has one or the other or both and most of the time all you see is people using them. I know cell phones help to communicate with people and thus would rule it out as being anti-social. But what about holding a conversation with a stranger? Or talking to the people around you? Does it seem like technology is making us all become a little less human?

Answer 1

I think society is fairly apathetic and talking to strangers has never been a normal behavior. Cell phones and MP3 players are making it easier to not notice others around us and avoid those awkward moments where conversation could be started.

We've also made ourselves incredibly busy. We cram so much into our daily schedules that cell phones and MP3 players became necessities. Society pretty much considered anyone who isn't busy or looking busy as slackers. MP3 players and cell phones are products of our overly busy lives. Everyone always seems to be in a hurry to get somewhere. Even when there is adequate time, we still have to hurry there. There isn't time to sit down and listen to music, it has to be done on the run. Same with conversing with others, it has to be done on the run and who ever you are talking with is also on the run. If it wasn't for cell phones you'd lose contact with family and friends.

In that respect it has helped us to keep contact with others and enjoy music. I'm not sure if cell phones and MP3 players made our lives more hectic or if we have them because our lives are more hectic. I feel like my life is less hectic since I gave up having a cell phone.

Answer 2

Less human by far, though technology has its place. Humans are sophisticated animals, but animals nonetheless; products of nature. Technology cuts us off from nature and creates underlying stresses that we haven't even begun to realize yet. We were not originally designed for a technological world. There's something to be said for fresh air and sunshine. We were meant to be a part of the living planet, not separate from it in the living room in front of the TV or computer all day.