Technology Freed Us, Really?

When I attended college, we had no laptop computers, cell phones, ipads, or ipods.  I did own a transistor radio, a small television for my dorm room, and my roommate had a hi-fi stereo set.  That was the height of technology for us. How did we live without facebook, twitter, and texting?  Pretty well I think. We had time for each other. We got to know each other, and letters from home in the mailbox 57 were welcomed, cherished, and read over and over, and shared with roommates and dorm sisters. 

The other day, I was in a coffee shop of a local bookstore. There were tables of students gathered with there books, but they were not focused on each other.  One was on a laptop, another texted, and a third had an ipod and her head appeared to bounce out the rhythm to the music.  Every few minutes one would say something and the others nod agreement.  As I was about to leave, this group of ladies got up too. Each of them thanked the others for coming. "Gee, I got a lot done," said and attractive blond. A brunette, said, "Oh, you did, good."  The third girl, another blond, the one who listened to the music and the one I never saw speak, said, "You are the greatest to suggest this. Let's not wait so long to see each other."   Did they communicate with each other?  Did they do any kind of real sharing that friend do?

"See" is about all she did.  I wondered what her memories of college life would be like.  Is she free?  Does she have more time? Or is it a matter of more time to waste? I'm not judging, just asking.
I read an article on Jake Reilly, the other day.  Jake, a college student, did what he called the Amish Project.  He dropped all social media and his cell phone, to see if he technology had given him more time.  His results were surprising.  The friends he thought he had, were not really true friends after all.  What struck me was the fact that he learned to write letters and he received letters in return. If you are a regular reader of my blog, you'll know I am a big proponent of the lost art of letter writing.Jake wrote nearly 50 letters, I think and had 85% return on them. When you text you are limited to 160 characters let's say. How much thought or feeling can go into that?  Letters take time, but they can express more thought, more feeling, and more compassion.  Does not society cry out for someone to listen to them?  We live on sound bites.  A letter carries a heart.

The article was worth the time it took to read it.

The social networking technology is only one type.  But, more on that tomorrow, maybe?

I would love your thoughts on this.  If you aren't too busy, can you take time to let me know what you think?

Have a blessed day!

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