Kim Juhas/ Whetstone Contributor Believe it or not there used to be a time when we had to write letters to our friends.
Now we send text messages.
There used to be a time when we traveled long distances to visit our loved ones.
Now we Skype them.
There used to be a time when we read novels and newspapers.
Now we read updates.
There used to be a time when we joined youth groups.
Now we join Facebook.
Many people might say that the explosion of technology and entertainment has been nothing but a change for the good, while others argue the more we engage in the use of entertainment, the more it is making us dumber.
What I have been realizing is that people, including myself, spend more time on the computer than we do reading textbooks or novels. It is shaping our thought process into short, unthoughtful sentences, and making us rely more on technology.
Recently, the dorms at Wesley have experienced technical difficulties. Everyone complained about it. For those few short days it seemed as if no one could do anything. I felt as if the students were lost puppies, searching for their mothers.
There are many examples of how technology and the Internet have dumbed us down.
Facebook is a loose social network; a “friend†on Facebook may be someone you barely know. No one has 300 “friends,†let alone 1,000. Facebook’s new trend is for people to leave statuses stating 25 facts about themselves.
I do not care to know who is getting a new tattoo or what my best friend’s little sister is wearing to school that day. I also do not what to see my “friends†use vulgar language describing how their day went. My favorite is when people shorten their words. For example, when someone means to say “you,†they put “u;†“hmu†means “hit me up,†and the saying you only live once has turned into “yolo.â€
Comcast is another conveyor of entertainment that it driving me crazy.
When Comcast does not work all hell breaks loose. People are calling Comcast nonstop to complain about how their TVs are not working and demand them to fix it, not charge them, or give them something free to make up for their lack of good business.
When people miss their shows, not only do they get mad, they let it ruin their day. It amazes me that people only find enjoyment by sitting on their couches watching television. People should go outside and enjoy the beautiful weather or pick up a book and read, or play board games. No one has imagination anymore.
We are experiencing a different kind of reality, and behind it is a different kind of thinking.
Next time you walk through the corridors of Wesley College, take a look around. What you will see are people texting while walking to class; or they will be on computers – not doing homework but checking their Facebook or Twitter; or they are reading magazines such as Star or People rather than buying or reading books. Or my favorite: people avoiding reading and waiting for the movie to come out.
Are we adapting to our surroundings or are we just plain lazy?
