Friday, October 22, 2010

everything's amazing, nobody's happy

I know we’ve all been there…wearily working away at our computers when all of a sudden we are no longer wired to the World Wide Web. We become frustrated, short-tempered and angry that the machine in front of us is not doing what we want it to, like it’s the computer’s fault that the connection failed or the document disappeared. And I know as soon as I say this it is going to make me sound old or out of date but the extent to which we depend on technology is astonishing at times. Our dependence on the tech world has increased so rapidly in the past decade that without it, we often don’t know what to do.
We depend so heavily on our phones, the internet and our computers in general to do so much for us that it’s no wonder that as soon as something goes wrong with any of our devices or our access is limited, we feel stranded. At the beginning of this year, the province of British Columbia, where I live, introduced a law that made it illegal to operate any hand held device while driving. They recently reported that almost 20,000 drivers have been ticketed and I can’t tell you the countless more I’ve seen that didn’t get caught. We’re so dependant on instant interactions, that making a call or answering a text seems more essential than the safety of yourself and those around you. It’s just one of the many examples of how chained we are to the technologies that make our world work these days. And while I’m innocent when it comes to texting behind the wheel (I’m not good enough at texting while walking, let alone driving!), I’m guilty of living a life full of dependence on devices… without my phone I wouldn’t know my friends phone numbers and without an internet connection at work I wouldn’t have much to do. After spending hours fixing up a file yesterday, only to have it magically go missing, I lost all motivation. If my moods are going to depend on how good Google is or whether or not I’ve got Facebook friends, I feel like I’m going to be let down more often than I’d like. Lately, with several technological failures affecting my productivity, I’ve found reflecting on the fact that phones and Facebook may rule my life makes me want to find other ways to function. Instead of fussing over the fact that the internet is slow or I forgot my phone at a friend’s, I want to continue to be in awe over all that we can do instead of the things we can’t. Because really, as Louis CK says, everything is amazing…and I’m going to do my best to be happy about it.

How dependant are you on technology? What devices can't you go without?

26 comments:

a little black cloud in a dress said...

this is so true. Where I live it's not illegal to text & drive or talk on the phone & drive. Can youo blieve that? It's just as dangerous as driving drunk, and it's legal. I don't even have texting on my phone, because I hate it. I'm pretty bad about depending on technology though. I use my computer for everything and I don't even know my fiance phone number, because i never have to actually dial it. Isn't it weird to think about what life must have been like 200 years ago?

jenn from midlife modern said...

I completely agree with you! It is amazing to think how much more (nearly) all of us are on technology than we were a decade ago. As an example, when I went to undergrad (1995-99), internet and email were just getting started and it was certainly not my main form of contact with anyone. Ten years later I go to grad school, and EVERYTHING is done online. It was startling. I personally hate texting and my cell phone in general, and people are always amused that I never take it with me. But the computer? Whoa, I'm addicted, and I know it. I'd like to "schedule" internet breaks to increase daily functioning, but it's been a hard habit to break.

Sarah said...

ok strange story, I was in class and for some reason my professor shows this too me and after I stopped laughing my butt off I realized it is so unbelievably TRUE!

this free bird said...

We can't text and phone here in SoCal either, but it sure doesn't stop them from doing it.

I'm working at unchaining from the computer. And I think the blackberry is the worst invention EVER!

xoxo,
Carrie

THE ALTERNATIVE WIFE said...

Such a great post and this is so true. I can't do without my blackberry, and my MacBook Pro. I'm helpless without them. It's really quite sad. I can't tell u how upset I was this week that my job put up firewalls on social networks. Not that I spent a lot of time on them during work hours...I honestly never take lunch so if I spent an entire hour a day doing it I called it even. But without that availability I'm lost and this was a really long week. Things were maybe a little easier before all of this instant gratification stuff.

Hope you have a great weekend!

Rachel Wright {The Inspired House of Wright} said...

Gosh, I totally agree. I try my best to keep it to a few hours a day online and don't have a smartphone..I know I would be addicted to checking it constantly if I did!

Anonymous said...

With my new iPhone 4, I can live without my laptop. My iPhone has everything i need. all the apps i need to pay for bills, answer e-mails, and keep in touch with friends. I had a six hour drive today and I literally couldn't put my iPhone down. I know I know so dangerous for me and everybody else. but I'm deaf and I get bored so easily so I talk to people on the phone. I promise I'm a great driver though! Never gotten a ticket or been in a car accident!

Elisa said...

I recently came across a video titled Disconnect to Connect on youtube. it was about how you are missing out on the moments passing you by because you are on your phone/texting/playing games etc...

It's very true, for me it's the computer, sometimes I get so frustrated because I can't get those darn photos to align or I can't figure out the correct html code. So I tried it for a few days

I didn't use Facebook, or my email or blogged. ( It was difficult, but I had lots of time to read.... ) LOL

Renee said...

This is so true! I don't have a smartphone because I would be so addicted to it!!

BARESTUDY (Janelle) said...

sadly, but i am heavily dependent on technology. haha! laptop and cellphone can't part with me... sighhh..


thanks for commenting on my blog. hope you come visit me again and follow it. thanks

Janelle
http://barestudy.blogspot.com

jemina said...

I can do without phones but I NEED internet, life would be so boring without it

XOXO
J

Andrea said...

The guy is hilarious. We should definitely use it to our advantage and never take it for granted. Although I think I don't take it for granted I should definitely be more in awe :)

Unknown said...

I'd say I am dependent on technology but I could go without texting and electronic reader. :)

Have a good one!

Unknown said...

Nice post. Great blog! I’m your newest follower :)

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Rease said...

I used to work at a Search Engine Marketing company and every so often our internet and even out backup internet would go down. The whole office would stare helplessly at the computers. The bosses would yell at every developer or tech related employee and run around in a crazed fury. Myself and the rest of the advertisement team would sit and suggest games of foosball, a walk around the block, etc because there was literally nothing we could do.

I don't have wireless in my tiny apartment and so I attempt to steal it when I want to work from my bedroom. When my connection drops I am just as you described- lost, angry, disconnected. To be fair, I live in Argentina and all my friends and family live in the US so I truly am disconnected from my friends without the internet. So, to answer your question, I couldn't live without my laptop at all.

Krysten @ Why Girls Are Weird said...

I am disgustingly addicted to technology. I think my biggest addiction is definitely my laptop and the internet.

Diana Mieczan said...

Its so interesting to think how technology developed for the last 10 years...I am totally hooked on my laptop and my little tech stuff...Hugs and kisses,sweetie
Happy Sunday

Brittany said...

This is such a good post!

I realized how dependent I was on technology so I have started to loosen up a bit!

I used to be a commenting queen! I thought that if I didnt comment EVERY day that my readers would get upset!

NOT the case! I comment when I can and as much as I can without feeling preassured! As much as I love to visit everyones blog I love living my life more! I hope we can all be like that! Where living our life is way more fun then bloggging! and we BOTH know how much fun blogging is :)))

Ria said...

Love the post!
Got me thinking...
Well, I can go without anything.I keep losing my phone and messing with my laptop, so I think I'm not addicted to them.

heather said...

It's all too true! Living where we do, I'm not that dependent on my phone, but my laptop... I can only go without it if I'm backpacking or something (which used to be often... so I guess that was healthy). But the blog world has made me more addicted than I ever was before! And OH those moments of losing a document or photos or anything. OUCH. I hope maybe you recovered it? Or that it was easier to tweak/create the second time around. Sigh... so frustrating!

SJ said...

you've articulated the whole issue really well.
i've found that if i'm not surrounded by it, i don't miss it eg. if i'm on holiday and i don't need to be in contact with people, then i'm completely fine without it. same with the internet.
but back in the real world, i hate it when my phone isn't working properly or the internet connection drops out and i make too big a deal out of it. a break from it all is very refreshing.

Josie said...

I have a serious problem -- my cell phone is surgically attached to my hand, I think. And I have no idea what I'd do without my laptop. Disastrous!
Thank you so much for stopping by my blog and for your sweet comment! yours is fab; I can't wait for more!
xo Josie
http://winksmilestyle.blogspot.com

k said...

i have seen this before and it's so funny :) your post was great, good to make me think!

Anonymous said...

I completely agree!! Yesterday my husband and I were walking around the mall when I saw two older men sitting at a table with coffee and a radio listening to the football game. I LOVED it!! I thought it was great that they weren't glued to the T.V. and could still enjoy the day. I tell my husband all the time that people rely way too much on Phones, computers, and the internet. I wish I wasn't as dependent on it but watching T.V and playing a game online has become a usual week night because it's free. :( I really don't like technology

Simply Colette said...

I'm not too dependent on technology, though with starting a business, social networking is a must. But it's exhausting, you need a full-time employee just for tweeting, facebook, blogging, the list goes on and on...

Thanks for stopping by my blog!
-nicolette

http://www.simplycolette.blogspot.com
www.photographygetaways.com

JMay said...

New to your blog & this is sooo true!
I'm so dependent on technology however, I've gotten a lot of opportunities & work b/c of my blog so I can't complain! :-)

New follower
http://jennymayandswede.blogspot.com/