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Sunday, April 24, 2011

Is Technology Making Things Better Or Worse?

Technology has gotten more and more advanced over the years making things easier for people. But is it possible that technology has made things too easy?

An Exercise Physiologist recently stated "People are burning 700 less calories a week since the 1970's due to technology. Technology is supposed to be used to free up our time, but instead it is consuming us...causing us to move less and less".

That is the truest statement I have heard in a long time. How often do we hear the media mention the rapid growth of obesity in the U.S. It is even begining to affect children. There are now many cases of children having diabetes due to them being overweight. This never used to be a problem before. Children are now spending most of their time texting, being on Facebook or playing video games instead of playing outside like they used to!

Most adults are also very consumed with technology. Many adults are also on Facebook and other social media sites for HOURS, they are constantly texting and yes...even playing video games (usually young adults). There is no wonder this disasterous monster that we call obesity is taking over!

As if the physical disadvantages weren't enough, the social disadvantages of technology can be equally as bad, in my opinion. Now of course there are wonderful things about technology which allows people to connect with other people all over the world (such as this blog), however, it can also allow people to have less and less "real" interaction with each other.

Many people barely pick up the phone to verbally speak to anyone anymore. They either text or email and that completely drives me up the wall! LOL I never understood why someone would pick up their cell PHONE and text me instead of call. I've always thought, "So you pick up your phone and take 45 seconds (usually longer) to send a text, when you could have dialed 7 little digits in 5 seconds". To make matters worse, people even want to text actual conversations. I never understood why people would want to spend 3 or 4 minutes texting something that could have verbally been discussed in 30 seconds had they just called. I really don't like texting! Can you tell? LOL

Now don't get me wrong, I understand that a text message can be a good way to communicate with someone at times when you may not be able to verbally speak. I send texts at times, however, I think people really take it too far. It bugs me the most when people text at the dinner table or while watching a movie.

Facebook can be the culprit too. I had a friend who I was talking to on the phone one day and every time I said something she would say "what?". I found out it was because she was trying to talk to me and be on Facebook at the same time. Geez!

People think I'm strange for not being that in to technology. My family and friends often tease me for having just a "normal" cell phone without all of the bells and whistles. My sister actually broke down and bought me a new cell phone for my birthday last year because I just refused to do it. She told me she was sick of seeing me "with that old phone!". LOL, gotta love sisters!

I enjoy my simple life, although everyone who knows me may not understand why. Simplicity makes life a lot less stressful and gives me a lot more peace. I used to be on social media sites before I closed them months ago because they were just driving me crazy! Since then, my mind has been a lot clearer and I've had more time to do the things that really matter.

Please let me know your views about this subject. I would love to hear your thoughts regardless if you agree or disagree.

Happy Easter!

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