One thing that intrigues me a lot when it comes to technology and its applications is the following question: Is it creating a more personal interactive experience for us; human beings, or is it separating us more and more everyday? Is it bridging the gap or is it widening it?
It's true that we are now able to connect to a greater number of people, but what looks scary to me is when it starts to substitute face-to-face interaction. One of my friends is on Facebook. What annoys me is that when we have a really fun night; an amusing weekend with lots of pictures; if we just upload the pictures on Facebook and comment on them, that's it! We don't "talk" about it anymore because we have "Facebooked" it !!
This question can be posed in all fields social networking & the internet is applied to. I like to probe the example of e-religion; people gathering online, doing religious rituals, and sometimes having mystical or spiritual experiences. Personally, I can't imagine this replacing the actual physical weekly prayer in a temple, church or a mosque. When I think of it, the word "electronic" comes to me; and I can't get to fit the word "spiritual" with it. It's just sooo .... "electronic" to me ;)
In conclusion, I think that when we speak from a business context, it is more acceptable and it makes more sense since businesses have tended to be very formal & impersonal and technology has allowed them to get closer to their customers. But still, the question is open to debate in many many other areas. Only time would show us the final answer, I guess ;)
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5 comments:
Awesome post!
Like you, I have thought alot about the effects of the growing 'interactive experience' on our interpersonal relationships and connections. With applications like AIM, Messenger, Gchat and Facebook, I wonder if people are losing their ability to engage in face-to-face social exchanges.
Definitely something to think about more and more as we delve into these kinds of subjects.
I too have been thinking about this issue. I completely agree with your comments on facebook. Since facebook, I definately don't talk to my friends on the phone nearly as much. From a business perspective, technology can add intimacy but can definately take away from it as well. On the internal level, communication through email and instant messaging has become the norm. THis is fien for the mot part, but can be frustrating at times. For example, I have been going through some paperwork to be hired at the Dep. of Veterans Affairs. I have been forced to communicate via email but there are some questions that would be better answered over the phone. Not to mention more time efficient. But because of email, there have been about 8 messages back and forth and days wasted.
Two things. First i think AIM and Facebook are great. I get to keep in touch with people I don't see often.
Second, I think religion and the internet is an interesting subject. Think about how the internet can help religions with extremely small amounts of adherents. It obviously can't replace in-person, communal, religious experiences, but it can help keep the religion alive.
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I agree with your points and have some of the same concerns about lack of face to face communication. It is scary!
I'm back and forth on facebook. In some ways I agree that it does take away from social interactions, but on the whole I think it does more good than bad. I'm able to keep in touch with friends from high school, family members (cousins) and even girls I played soccer with in 4th grade. It allows me to get a glimpse into what their life is like now, what they do, and what they look like!
There are good and bad things about it, but I really enjoy connecting back with old friends and being able to contact them through a quick messgae or wall post when/if i need to
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