Tuesday, November 2, 2010

We're addicted to everything

Whitney Evans One of my classes required us to go on a technology fast of sorts to see if we are addicted to email, facebook, etc. It was a little frustrating to have to call people and say, "I saw that you texted me but I am on a technology fast and I can't read it." BUT it was nice to have the liberty to not answer. So, I pose the question to all of you - are you addicted?

My post elicited several different responses. Several of my friends said yes, they were addicted, but some got pretty defensive about their technology use, ( first you need to admit you have a problem...) Here are some of my favorites:

Friend 1: Yes! My advice, don't get a smart phone, it will steal your brain. That's where it gets it's smarts! It takes yours! (Ps. Don't tell my phone i said this or it might do something drastic)
Friend 2:
Since I logged on to facebook at 4:20 AM this morning........ I guess I "fail" or I am addicted, ha-ha.
Friend 3: Our day treatment substance abuse program requires the kids to go 2 weeks w/o TV, internet, phones, and IPODs. I wouldn't last. I keep intending to challenge myself to 3 days. I'm with Dan.
Friend 4: (My personal favorite) -
That's like asking people to give up shoes, just to see if they're addicted. I can understand giving up mp3 players and farmville, but since when does efficient communication (cell phones/texting/email) count as a bad thing? Your professor should go on a 'footwear fast' and give up shoes.
Texing, Facebook, etc., are super efficient ways of communicating, and may not be altogether bad. I do think it is interesting that it has become as necessary as shoes for some. It actually makes me wonder if there was some sort of public outcry when shoes hit big...

5 comments:

Fish Boy said...

Frustrating to call someone? I have always been amazed with the people that dont answer a phone call but will text right back, even when you know they could have answered the phone. Do people just not like talking on the phone, or is texting just that much better?

Adriana Giron said...

I think we are completely wi8red to our electronic media. We are so used to be entertained and distracted that we don't realize how it affects us. I think that technology is a great tool but in fact it can turn addictive.

Alisha said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Alisha said...

this was really interesting. nice insights! i think some of the technologies we use like cell phones, ipods, etc. are literally apart of us. they are on our person at all times. well, usually.
i did like how one of your friends equated technology to shoes. shoes are a form of technology. when invented they affected humans ability to adapt to their natural environment. since their invention we have been able to walk across all types of terrain. so, with the rise of technologies like facebook, cell phones, the internet etc. it has changed and significantly impacted how we interact and adapt to our environment.

Brooke Pratt said...

Give up shoes. Nice. I'm pretty sure some people would rather give up shoes than facebook. Let's be honest.