The New World

It is truly amazing how today's generation can get a message across without saying a word, but by typing it. Take my blog for example- I don't have to make a speech or deal with angry people who disagree with my views. I merely type and submit. Blogging I feel is a great way to express yourself and let others know what you're thinking. In addition, the internet is a magnificent tool used to search anything and everything. The entire world is at your fingertips. However, I do think there are downsides to the internet.

There are so many different social networks such as MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, Xanga, Pownce, Jaiku, and probably many more that I am not even aware of. I currently have a Facebook and a Twitter account (I used to have a Xanga and MySpace but that was just too much to keep up with.) Then there is email (Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail... the list goes on), instant messaging, and text messaging. Teenagers and adults today have various accounts and a good chunk of their time is devoted to online and cell phone conversation. Text messaging plans are being bumped up to unlimited just so a person doesn't go over the text messaging limit (according to www.wikipedia.org, the average person sends approximately 188 texts per month.) In addition, social networking messages are now being sent to mobile devices. Is communication that critical that we need it 24/7? I have become a bit of a text messaging and facebook junky myself. After awhile, it becomes an addiction. The fact that I can talk to so many people at once and have multiple conversations and still be doing something else on the computer is pretty cool to me.

I think the more technology we develop the easier, lazier and more distant from reality and people our society is going to be. Rather than text messaging or instant messaging, read a book, go for a walk or actually talk to a person face-to-face! I admit, writing this blog is a bit hypocritical, but I think me writing this makes me realize how I really do need to change my habits.