Technology of Today

Do you believe, as President Obama does, that technology in 2010 is a distraction? If so, be specific and explain why. If not, be specific and explain why not. (In reference to CNET article "Obama: iPod, iPad don't empower" by Chris Matysczcyk >> http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-20004516-71.html?tag=newsEditorsPicksArea.0 )



I agree and disagree at the same time. I know that sounds like a Michael Scott contradiction, but there is truth and exaggeration in both views. To say that technology of our current day is a distraction to the people's ambitions, goals, purpose, etc. is a very deffinate statement. Perhaps Obama is reffering to the mindless, jello-headed individuals who would rather play the lastest Modern Warefare than further themselves past a high school education.

I'd say most people are not as absorbed as one not-so-technologically-advanced president would think. Technology has a great advantage to our lives in ways we can't really comprehend unless it were suddenly taken from us. Business moves faster. People communicate with one another in no time at all. Now adays, technology is perhaps one of the leading ways to network with individuals, find a date, work, go to school, or be entertained if so desired. I mean, would President Obama rather take the time in writing a letter and delivering it on foot to whomever in order to descuss the next steps for the "War on Terrorism?" Basically, technology offers us a faster way of doing things we have already been doing for the past existance of human-kind.

On the flip side, technology, just like any good thing, can have a darker side to it. People forget the effort that comes into doing things by hand or in a more natural way. They get lazy and become accustomed to shorter, intstantly satisfying routs. For instance, renting a movie. Typically one would take the time to go to the video store, puruse their selection, find a movie and bring it home. Why bother even getting up from your lazyboy when with a couple click of your remote, the movies appears right in front of you? A lot of it is pure laziness that fat-cat companies figured out how to market. I can't help but think of the book by Ray Bradbury "Farenheit 451," where the main character's wife sits in the livingroom all day talking to people through her three, wall-sized televisions... instead of going out and visiting them in person (which, now I think about it, is what websites like facebook do to us).

Ah... anyways. No I do not agree with Obama. Technology is most definately infused to our lives as water to a fish, however there has to be a balance that can only be made by the individual. How lazy do you want to become? Yes, you can have everything at the click of a button, but do you want that lifestyle? Balance is key to any circumstance.