Don't get me wrong, I am a lazy woman at heart so I really enjoy all these modern conveniences. But I must admit that I am often overwhelmed by how much content is out there, and sometimes missing the old school social sites like McDonald's or the local supermarket.
The trigger for this melancholy moroseness? Facebook. I recently created a Facebook page against my will because my aunt went to Ireland and I wanted to see her pics. Her answer? Find me on Facebook. Which I still haven't done! I did the bare minimum to get a page so I could search for friends and family, searched for them, couldn't find most of them, and only check it about once a week. Needless to say, I was astonished at how much time these grown, working adults with families spend on this social site. Farming, empire building, and why do I keep getting requests for their lost farm animals??? Who has time to sit on their computer and do all the things I see on here?
I'm not a domestic goddess or anything, and I still don't have time to play on my computer. In fact, I have to put off some household chore like laundry or something to get the thirty minutes every few days I do.
What happened to running into a friend at the grocery store on Saturday and chatting it up in the produce section? Or having a couple over for a fun Friday night dinner and board games while the kiddos run around upstairs possibly destroying themselves and your property? I can tell you why these things don't happen anymore - they are all at home playing Farmville!
I used to promise myself when I was a teenager that I would be one of those cooler adults who knew about the latest bands, fads, and new technology. And then I got to be an adult. Well, I'm a big liar! I can't stand most of the new bands that are out, but I do recognize their songs because they've all been done before! And the fads?? Since I was a child of the eighties I most definitely get the fads, and no, they don't look good on women my age (see my earlier post). Technology??? Most definitely not! Oh I love the new cell phones and can tell you all about them. TVs and some computer stuff, but websites? Social sites? Twittering and all that?? Are you serious?? Okay, that's a lot of question marks.
Does anyone remember why we stopped sending telegrams? Because they invented the telephone. And now with texting and Twittering, we've gone right back to telegrams. Instant ones to be sure, but still, it lacks that depth of connection you get when you hear another person's voice on the other end. This may explain why kids today have no social graces. Because you don't have to play nice online, you can just go find another guild, Facebook friend, etc. And don't get me started on those people who have like 600 friends. Baloney!!
We are dumbing down as a society because the only way we ever progressed in the first place was by meeting new people, learning about new cultures, and trying to be better for each other. With a faceless, heartless computer screen conducting my relationships, what consequences do I face when I am rude, hateful, or selfish?
Be careful of your friend technology! Remember, the aliens always start out friendly in the movies just before they suck out your brain!!
Showing posts with label society. Show all posts
Showing posts with label society. Show all posts
Monday, April 12, 2010
Friday, October 16, 2009
When Did "Average" Change to "Bad"
What I mean is, not so long ago being average was fine. As long as you worked hard, paid your bills, provided for your family everyone who knew you would have said you were a good person. And that was enough for us. Just knowing we fulfilled our obligations, raised decent children, and didn't hurt anyone else satisfied us. Not so any more.
Now we all desire to be someone. What does that even mean? Are we not anyone now just because we aren't being followed by paparazzi or asked to dine at the White House? When did we start to think that being average, being normal was not okay? And why in the world are we teaching are kids the same thing?
Look around you at the evidence. Facebook, Twitter, blogs (yes, I get the irony) - they all point to us being desperate to be heard, to be recognized as more than average. I mean, be honest. Are you pouring your heart out on the Internet because you really do have 673 friends who care about your welfare? Or are you secretly hoping you'll be the next Internet sensation? We are all making noise, trying to be the loudest so that someone we don't even know can elevate us to a higher level. Then we have the audacity to wonder why we are so unsatisfied all the time. Seriously?!?
Let me let you in on a little secret: there isn't room at the top for everyone...AND THAT'S OKAY! Do you know why being average is okay? Sure, Thomas Edison invented the light bulb. But do you think he could have done that without average people around? Who was fixing his meals while he experimented? An average cook. Who helped him take notes and kept his office organized? His average secretary. Don't you realize that the only reason Henry Ford was able to produce the Model T or Shakespeare could write Hamlet or Alexander the Great could conquer the world is because they were all standing on the shoulders of average people? Average workers at the Ford factory, average actors on the stage, and average soldiers in the field are the ones who propelled their leaders to greatness. And during those times, that knowledge was enough for them.
I'll tell you what we've lost that we should be desperate to get back is the knowledge that we are all part of a greater something. I'm not even talking religion. I'm talking about just humankind itself. For example, all Americans need to realize that we are all part of a great country; that we have unlimited potential, but someone has to be the workhorse. Someone has to give up the glory to grind the wheat to make bread. But we are all too busy trying to go our own direction. Do you know what happens when everyone tries to go in their own direction. NOTHING!
Need a bigger picture? How about human decency? When we realize that we are all a part of something bigger, we won't need laws for road rage or driving while on the phone. Consideration is a natural extension of realizing it's not all about you. So you're the third in line at the red light, so what? No reason to rev your engine or cuss me out. The world won't end - and you'll be fine with that.
I get that I am publishing this in a blog that I hope lots of people read. I'm not against technology. But I think only communicating through machines is causing us to lose our humanity one text at a time. And that's a very dangerous road to travel. That is why I am going to take a detour and write a thank you note, on paper with pen, and send it through the post office to a person who really made my day special. No abbreviations, no shorthand. Just a quick, handwritten note to let them know I noticed them, and I am grateful.
With technology replacing our humanity, who knew that eventually Mr. Frost's "road less traveled" would be just an "average" road for "average" people?
Now we all desire to be someone. What does that even mean? Are we not anyone now just because we aren't being followed by paparazzi or asked to dine at the White House? When did we start to think that being average, being normal was not okay? And why in the world are we teaching are kids the same thing?
Look around you at the evidence. Facebook, Twitter, blogs (yes, I get the irony) - they all point to us being desperate to be heard, to be recognized as more than average. I mean, be honest. Are you pouring your heart out on the Internet because you really do have 673 friends who care about your welfare? Or are you secretly hoping you'll be the next Internet sensation? We are all making noise, trying to be the loudest so that someone we don't even know can elevate us to a higher level. Then we have the audacity to wonder why we are so unsatisfied all the time. Seriously?!?
Let me let you in on a little secret: there isn't room at the top for everyone...AND THAT'S OKAY! Do you know why being average is okay? Sure, Thomas Edison invented the light bulb. But do you think he could have done that without average people around? Who was fixing his meals while he experimented? An average cook. Who helped him take notes and kept his office organized? His average secretary. Don't you realize that the only reason Henry Ford was able to produce the Model T or Shakespeare could write Hamlet or Alexander the Great could conquer the world is because they were all standing on the shoulders of average people? Average workers at the Ford factory, average actors on the stage, and average soldiers in the field are the ones who propelled their leaders to greatness. And during those times, that knowledge was enough for them.
I'll tell you what we've lost that we should be desperate to get back is the knowledge that we are all part of a greater something. I'm not even talking religion. I'm talking about just humankind itself. For example, all Americans need to realize that we are all part of a great country; that we have unlimited potential, but someone has to be the workhorse. Someone has to give up the glory to grind the wheat to make bread. But we are all too busy trying to go our own direction. Do you know what happens when everyone tries to go in their own direction. NOTHING!
Need a bigger picture? How about human decency? When we realize that we are all a part of something bigger, we won't need laws for road rage or driving while on the phone. Consideration is a natural extension of realizing it's not all about you. So you're the third in line at the red light, so what? No reason to rev your engine or cuss me out. The world won't end - and you'll be fine with that.
I get that I am publishing this in a blog that I hope lots of people read. I'm not against technology. But I think only communicating through machines is causing us to lose our humanity one text at a time. And that's a very dangerous road to travel. That is why I am going to take a detour and write a thank you note, on paper with pen, and send it through the post office to a person who really made my day special. No abbreviations, no shorthand. Just a quick, handwritten note to let them know I noticed them, and I am grateful.
With technology replacing our humanity, who knew that eventually Mr. Frost's "road less traveled" would be just an "average" road for "average" people?
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Be Careful of How You "Feel"
My son is nine now so we are going through that whole self-awareness, still immature phase. One thing I've noticed I keep telling him is that as an adult no one will care how he feels. And I realized yesterday that it's true, and for the first time ever, a major problem in our world today.
Let me clarify. When I say "no one will care about your feelings", I'm not being ugly. But think about it. Does your boss care why you didn't get the report done on time? No, he only cares if it gets done on time. Your kids don't care how you feel if dinner isn't on the table. They only know they are hungry, and you didn't cook. The electric company isn't going to sit on the phone and listen to every sob story that comes with an unpaid bill. They want your money, and could care less how you get it to them. This is what I'm trying to teach my son. But I look around at people I know that are younger than me, and I realize they are all the same way.
In trying to make our children feel they are loved, we've encouraged them to be emotional beings. We've taught them that anger, sadness, etc. are okay to feel to their fullest. We've tried to keep them from being ridiculed for not being excited about sports or frustrated for their inabilities. And worst of all, we've given in to their every tantrum because we just don't have time to deal with it. And now we are reaping the consequences of our actions.
Our world is full of people who walk around every day saying, "I just don't feel like it". So they don't. Whether it be going into work on a Monday, visiting an elderly relative, or dealing with their kids that night. Whatever "it" is, we now have a world full of people that make life altering decisions based on how they feel in that moment. Not if it is good for their families or the right thing to do - how do they feel about it?
Let me explain why this is dangerous: in this economy you lose your job and your family is depending on you for food and shelter. Two generations ago, you would walk out the door early the next morning (around 6am) and not come home until you had done something to earn money for that day no matter what. Now? You'll sit around for the first few days "just recuperating". Then you'll search for your ideal job on the Internet for the next week. And in between, you'll turn down job offers or refuse applications for jobs you just don't feel like having. By the time you do get hired, almost a month later if you're lucky, you are so desperate for money to buy groceries, you've accepted a job for minimum wage working night shift. Which isn't an insult to low wage workers or shift workers, God bless you all. My point is, in doing what you felt like, you passed on an opportunity to work in an entry level position because you're worth more than that, but now you're only worth minimum wage. Is that really the better position?
Now we have wives and mothers who don't cook because they don't enjoy it so our nation is the fattest in the world. We have teenagers moving out on their own who have no idea how to budget their money or even clean their apartments because we didn't want the hassle of trying to give them chores as kids. We have grown ups who are starting to ask for motivation to do their jobs. You want motivation to perform well? How about your paycheck? Do you enjoy air conditioning, food, hot water? How's that for motivation?!
I don't want to seem self righteous here so let me confess that I was one of these young adults. It may seem impossible, but I really didn't know how to clean. I knew how to do dishes, sweep, etc. But I didn't know that you had to clean your baseboards or windows. It never occurred to me that I would have to clean out my refrigerator. I could cook some things, but it was easier to just eat out. Financial success? No clue. I thought adding up my monthly bills and subtracting them from my paycheck gave me my spending money. Groceries, savings, gas, vehicle maintenance - that was all stuff to be dealt with on an individual basis as crises arose. And being healthy?? Not on your life.
I was very blessed in that God gave me a man who was ready for life. He had been raised to be a "man"; to provide for his family, to fulfill his obligations, to be responsible. Yes, in this politically correct society I thank God that I found him. And I am equally proud to say that he taught me how to be a wife. Unfortunately for him, I am still learning. But I am also teaching my children these principles. Ideas and beliefs that my grandparents were taught. I know that this is "uncool" and "sexist", but at least my children will not be knocking you down in the dark one night stealing your wallet because it's easier than getting a job.
So be very careful how often your kids hear you say, "I just don't feel like it today." You could be passing on something that will haunt society for years to come. In fact, we should all pray that more parents out there are going back to that so called "sexist" tradition. Then maybe our prisons would be less crowded.
Let me clarify. When I say "no one will care about your feelings", I'm not being ugly. But think about it. Does your boss care why you didn't get the report done on time? No, he only cares if it gets done on time. Your kids don't care how you feel if dinner isn't on the table. They only know they are hungry, and you didn't cook. The electric company isn't going to sit on the phone and listen to every sob story that comes with an unpaid bill. They want your money, and could care less how you get it to them. This is what I'm trying to teach my son. But I look around at people I know that are younger than me, and I realize they are all the same way.
In trying to make our children feel they are loved, we've encouraged them to be emotional beings. We've taught them that anger, sadness, etc. are okay to feel to their fullest. We've tried to keep them from being ridiculed for not being excited about sports or frustrated for their inabilities. And worst of all, we've given in to their every tantrum because we just don't have time to deal with it. And now we are reaping the consequences of our actions.
Our world is full of people who walk around every day saying, "I just don't feel like it". So they don't. Whether it be going into work on a Monday, visiting an elderly relative, or dealing with their kids that night. Whatever "it" is, we now have a world full of people that make life altering decisions based on how they feel in that moment. Not if it is good for their families or the right thing to do - how do they feel about it?
Let me explain why this is dangerous: in this economy you lose your job and your family is depending on you for food and shelter. Two generations ago, you would walk out the door early the next morning (around 6am) and not come home until you had done something to earn money for that day no matter what. Now? You'll sit around for the first few days "just recuperating". Then you'll search for your ideal job on the Internet for the next week. And in between, you'll turn down job offers or refuse applications for jobs you just don't feel like having. By the time you do get hired, almost a month later if you're lucky, you are so desperate for money to buy groceries, you've accepted a job for minimum wage working night shift. Which isn't an insult to low wage workers or shift workers, God bless you all. My point is, in doing what you felt like, you passed on an opportunity to work in an entry level position because you're worth more than that, but now you're only worth minimum wage. Is that really the better position?
Now we have wives and mothers who don't cook because they don't enjoy it so our nation is the fattest in the world. We have teenagers moving out on their own who have no idea how to budget their money or even clean their apartments because we didn't want the hassle of trying to give them chores as kids. We have grown ups who are starting to ask for motivation to do their jobs. You want motivation to perform well? How about your paycheck? Do you enjoy air conditioning, food, hot water? How's that for motivation?!
I don't want to seem self righteous here so let me confess that I was one of these young adults. It may seem impossible, but I really didn't know how to clean. I knew how to do dishes, sweep, etc. But I didn't know that you had to clean your baseboards or windows. It never occurred to me that I would have to clean out my refrigerator. I could cook some things, but it was easier to just eat out. Financial success? No clue. I thought adding up my monthly bills and subtracting them from my paycheck gave me my spending money. Groceries, savings, gas, vehicle maintenance - that was all stuff to be dealt with on an individual basis as crises arose. And being healthy?? Not on your life.
I was very blessed in that God gave me a man who was ready for life. He had been raised to be a "man"; to provide for his family, to fulfill his obligations, to be responsible. Yes, in this politically correct society I thank God that I found him. And I am equally proud to say that he taught me how to be a wife. Unfortunately for him, I am still learning. But I am also teaching my children these principles. Ideas and beliefs that my grandparents were taught. I know that this is "uncool" and "sexist", but at least my children will not be knocking you down in the dark one night stealing your wallet because it's easier than getting a job.
So be very careful how often your kids hear you say, "I just don't feel like it today." You could be passing on something that will haunt society for years to come. In fact, we should all pray that more parents out there are going back to that so called "sexist" tradition. Then maybe our prisons would be less crowded.
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