Tech Neck

Do you not find it interesting that you cannot go anywhere today and not see someone, neck bowed down, arm and elbow in the perfect "L" position with some gadget at its extension? In the grocery store line, post office line, walking down the street, driving in a car. What is the obsession that is found in these little devices that just 20 years ago, were an unnecessary luxury? Don't get me wrong, cell phones, tablets, laptops, Kindle's and mp3s all have their place, but have they replaced true human contact and interaction?  Have they replaced our God-given ability for interpersonal communication? I would venture to say an astounding , Yes.

No more are the days of hand-written letters, long phone conversations, physical books, and record players. I am hard-pressed to come across a teen that does not have ear phones permanently pasted in their ears lobes. And let us not speak of social media. This craze has overtaken our currently generation. Hours upon hours are spent following this person and that person on the world's largest social sites. And the sad reality is, many adults have found themselves absorbed in this whirlwind.

We post countless photos of our best selves, places we visit, food we eat, and things we do in order that others may think a certain way about us? Are we a generation starving for attention? It may seem that way even though we would argue different. Were you aware that studies are finding that those who spend long hours on social media are prone to depression? A new psychological phenomenon termed "social comparison" is plaguing many who find themselves glued to the screen spying in on other's open lives.

It would seem to me that we are losing the fine art of proper communication through grammar? When I get a text from someone and they use text language, it is very irksome. How much longer would it have taken that person to spell out the whole word? a second or two? We want it fast, we want it now. Don't make me wait. I would rather be lazy.

Additonally, many sleep with their cell phone near their head so as to not miss out on any 'important' notification. But what about our much-needed rest? Do you know that our cells repair themselves at night while we sleep; that it takes sleep for our bodies to regenerate? Not to speak of the dangers of the constant radiation to our brains.

I have yet to be out to lunch or dinner with a friend of family member when I or they have found it almost impossible not to check or answer the phone. Is it me or does that not seem rude? What about eye to eye contact? Undivided attention? What happened to the days when standing in line was a way to strike up a conversation with a stranger and it not be thought of as odd?

We have become a self-focused age. Selfies is the new buzz word. It has become an obsession for some, some much so that someone came up with the ingenious invention called a selfie-stick. A person can attach their smartphone to the end of the handle which points the camera on the phone to themselves and 'click'. Can it get any worse?

And has this technical world that we have found ourselves in made things any better? Has the creation of numerous social sites assisted this present generation in becoming more responsible, productive adults? Have they become smarter, more compassionate any giving? Has the advancement in technology helped marriages? Families?  This is a question we all need to answer for ourselves and if the answer is a negative, we should individually and decisively do all we can to change it.

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