If you happen to follow me on Twitter, then you may have noticed that I've not been using it lately. You're probably wondering why and the answer is simple: social networks, in general, are noisy, irritating distractions to my life. I'd much rather be talking to people in real life than via an Internet connection. Whenever I do the latter, I feel like there's something missing.
Talking to real people face-to-face or even on the phone is so very different from the "connected" atmosphere of an Internet-based social network. Sadly, I've noticed that many people around me, including myself, have lost most of the ability to communicate so well in real life. There are the few who still enjoy not using their computers daily, but as I just said, they come in small numbers.
I once went to a friend's wedding at which all the people I knew were not conversing with each other, but rather texting a contact who's not present. One of the worst part of that experience was that two of them were actually texting each other. It's as if they couldn't be bothered to get up from their seats to talk privately, or that they're simply too lazy to transition from a textual conversation to a verbal one. I ask, what has happened to society?
There are multiple discussions (The Daily Campus, The Gothamist, Huffington Post, Google search results) all over the Internet nowadays about how new ways to communicate are actually hindering the social skills that people once had. It could only apply to a few, you're right, but the facts exist nonetheless. I'd really like to know, too: do you feel more lonely because of social networks? Be honest in your email to me.
Digital communication is fine for business. It's fine for talking to your family member in the armed forces too. There really should be a limit to what we use it for though because from what I've seen, things have gotten out of hand. Must we always be in contact with one another? So much that we are always checking our phones, Facebook, etc.?
I happen to classify a phone call as analog communication because of its age. The technology has been around since the mid-1870s. It's been digitalized, sure, but the basic concept remains: that one may communicate with another who is not in close proximity to him. Video chat is a great thing as well since it enhances this experience, but for some reason people still prefer to use textual chat as their primary means of a digital colloquy. For shame, I say.
So tell me, can you survive without the Internet, all your friends you talk to via text messaging, and the other daily rubbish? I challenge you to try it. Don't check anything for a day. If you feel good about that decision afterwards then make it a week! There's no reason to mess things up so fast. I'd recommend taking a good week's time to start with, but that's just me. (I recently went camping at Pinecrest Lake, California and had no Internet, phone service, or anything. I took my iPhone with me solely for music, which I didn't even listen to but twice. The trip was amazing and did wonders for my productivity and body.) Who cares about the emails you miss and all the things that could've been said? For once, leave it behind and forget that you have the ability to care about that stuff.
Oh yes, and one last thing: go read a real book. Stop perusing blogs 'round The Net and move to something palpable. After you're finished, tell me whether you missed holding something real in your hand. I personally got so tired of reading books after high school because I was too lazy to finish one, using the excuse of myself being "bored" of it after only a few pages. It's stupid, so cut to the chase and read a real book for old times' sake if anything.
Next time: why technology destroys every trace of patience you've ever had.