Without a doubt, virtual life changes real life. The question is to what extent virtual life change real life.
You can look around on any street in the suburbs or rural areas and see people of all types walking with cell phones, IPads, and other technology, oblivious to their surroundings or the people. Michael Price (2011) wrote in "Alone in a Crowd" that we are losing touch with the realities of the physical environment and the kind of solitude that refreshens and restores. Technology strains personal relationships because they
tend to eliminate communication and give the illusion of friendship. Yet, the positive aspects-the abiltiy to research and locate or save data quickly, capabilities for multimedia presentations, and countless teaching and learning opportunities make the virtual world an integral part of the real world. We must come to some type of happy medium. Technology should be treated as a useful tool which does not replace people and the interactions we must have to be socially adjusted.
Technology can be a double edged sword so to speak. As you pointed out, with today's technology society is so wrapped up with the capabilities of phones or tablets while on the go we have lost sight of true human interaction. Instead of making that phone call, we text or e-mail. Instead of taking in our surroundings, we surf the internet or conversate over text. With that being said, technology also gives us the means to research, save, communicate, and other endless possibilities. I agree with your last statement referring to being socially adjusted. That is such an important part of life that technology sometimes, or alot of the time, seems to interfere with. I believe this is especially true with the current generation of young people.
ReplyDeleteI agree that technology can strain personal relationships. I've had to apologize more than once to someone who took offense that I didn't "like" a post on facebook, didn't respond to a message in an acceptable amount of time, or wrote an email I meant as brief but came across as snippy and rude. When it comes to relationships, face-to-face interaction, if possible, is still the best way to go.
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