Immortalizing the word #7 – Technology = Etiquette Crumble

Brilliance from Khadi Azul

—

Disclaimer:
In assessing the way technology has shifted even the way I communicate, I was inspired to examine myself and write this quick blog/rant as an offshoot from a freelance assignment that I am currently working on. Please note: I am not anti tech, but I do value antiquity, and yes its a bit extreme lol
The beauty of human connection appears to be losing its luster. No longer are we writing letters, picking up the telephone, or engaging in any unwarranted oral communication. Many of us do not expend energy on memorizing addresses, directions, names, and even faces, particularly since a quick profile search may refresh our vague memories.

I propose that many aspects of real human intimacy are taking a cramped backseat to the instantly gratifying appeal of technology. So many of us, are caught in a techno vortex, spending less time exercising the power of our frontal lobes, and more time relying on the newest and coolest gadgets. Today, our minds are less likely to recall the phone numbers of our loved ones, or even the last names of some of our close friends. Memory banks far and wide appear to be on hiatus as more pocket pals, the iphones and blackberries of the modern world, single handedly replace brain activity with a newfound genius. Chock full of “cerebral” glitches and costly nuisances, we seem to be incredibly forgiving of our high tech companions. Even when we find ourselves disappointed by the anticlimactic aftermath, rest assured, when it all falls apart, the much awaited birth of its newer, smarter, and tinier clone is right around the corner. We buy it and love it simply because it allows us the comforts of a childhood toy, while still appearing chic and organized.

Finally! Our distractions and subconscious desires to self absorb and remain distant from the world around us have a valid excuse with just a small phrase, “Just a second”, followed by that clicking sound of rapidly moving fingers over those discordant Qwerty keyboards. It makes me wonder…has our etiquette gone awry? Is our new tech ability to mentally check out and check back in a talent? Or a bad habit? Perhaps a bit of both.

One would assume that we were all VIPs or neurosurgeons on call, far too busy to catch up with dear friends over coffee, have a romantic evening with our love, or even dinner time with our children without the flashing lights, beeps, and incessant ring tones of our true “other half” laying on the center of the table in all its intrusive glory. Thus, the plethora of excuses for never putting down our handhelds serves its purpose, and makes our purchases seem valid, stable attention span sold separately.

For those of us comfortable without our devices, finding that delicate balance seems like a no brainer. Just turn the shit off! Unfortunately, it is not so simple. Technology is convenient, gratifying, and cleverly appealing to the growing i-want-it-now society. For some it’s an addiction, for others it’s a means to maintaining jobs; a portable office glued to the palms of our hands. For me, at times it’s a freedom of the information highway with shackles on the cerebellum, and also seemingly on the people around us. And while I do recognize that technology waits for no-one, as witnessed with the present technological gaps across generations, dividing our ability for basic intimacy and conquering our use of attention span and memory is a casualty not worth the gigs or the unlimited text messages.