Blaming technology for the various social afflictions associated with it is like blaming fast food for making you fat. I personally feel that Americans have taken up a victim's attitude toward life in which we tend to blame anyone, or anything, instead of responsibly admitting our own fault.
Technological advances in communication, transportation, health care, education and national defense make our lives better, not worse. We can live longer, healthier and more productive lives thanks to the myriad devices, gadgets and machines that surround us.
Of course, there are problems that arise due to our access to such technology. However, these issues are merely problems with the way we as Americans use this technology, not the devices themselves. Can you really blame your cell phone when you get into an accident while texting?
I ask that you simply take a second to imagine living without the plethora of technological improvements that you use on a daily basis. Yeah, I think you can begin to see what I’m preaching.
You know, there are countries on our little planet we call Earth that are not so blessed. There are places where people still live in mud-brick homes and cook what little they have over an open fire that they use to heat their homes in the winter. There are places where communication is limited to those within earshot, where education is limited to what one’s parents might have time to teach after the day’s labor in the field. There are places where human waste runs through shallow ditches in the muddy streets, children die from simple illnesses such as the common cold, women fetch water in buckets on their heads from the local stream- into which aforementioned human waste runs- and disease is treated with time.
I’ve seen my share of villages much like the one I described above. I’ve walked in those shoes and I know; technology is a good thing.
I’ll keep my Ford truck, my Droid cell phone, my Mac Book Pro and my HD TV. I’ll go to Tacobell when I’m hungry, 24-hour fitness when I’m feeling guilty and the hospital when I’m sick. I’ll post what I’m thinking on Facebook, read about civil unrest in Egypt on BBCnews.com, catch my favorite show on TiVo and laugh at my favorite clips on YouTube. I embrace technology rather than blame it for my problems. I encourage you to do the same.
4 comments:
"Blaming technology for the various social afflictions associated with it is like blaming fast food for making you fat. I personally feel that Americans have taken up a victim's attitude toward life in which we tend to blame anyone, or anything, instead of responsibly admitting our own fault".
Well said
That was, indeed, well said. However, this isn't really about the assignation of blame; it's merely taking a stance on whether you find technology to be beneficial to humanity, as a whole. Is Taco Bell benefiting humanity? =D
I always find it laughable when I read that technology is to blame for our decaying society. I take personal argument with the stance that we have become unhealthy and lazy because of technology. I lost 80 pounds last year, largely thanks to apps on my phone. I have an app that counts my calories and an app that coached me into becoming a runner. I went to Austin and ran in the Livestrong this weekend and credit technology for being able to do that.
Technology is like everything else in this world, it is what you make of it. If you want to become better because of it you can and if you want to become worse it will help with that too.
@ Kristin Barnes: Thank you for the comment. Congratulations on your determination and fitness!
I couldn't agree more. In my essay I argue this exact point.
@KristiLynn: I disagree, I think this project is exactly that; the assignation and assassination of blame.
"Is technology beneficial or detrimental..."
My answer is much in line with Kristin Barnes' comment immediately below yours.
We can't ascribe technology with either good or bad effect. Technology is only what we make of it.
In many ways, technology is the fingerprint of our society.
D
Post a Comment