An Electronic Generation

What would we do without our cell phones, ipods, computers, plasma televisions, gaming consoles, digital cameras, video cameras, kindles, calculators, and the many more electronics we use on a day to day basis? Our generation is the first to grow up with the a high exposure of such things. Many argue the positive affects of 21st century technology in our society out weight the negative ones, but I have a different opinion. Yes, I'm addicted to all of my electronics just like the rest of you. My earphones are basically glued into my ears, and there's not a day where I don't update my blog or check my facebook. But even using myself as an example, a lot of the electronics I possess have created more problems and stress in my life than most other things. A few more specific examples.

• My phone. I am very thankful for my AT&T go phone. Wherever I am, you can bet it's a short distance away. It's gotten me out of some very sticky situations over these past few
  years... but then again. It's gotten me into about just as many. I think we can all confess to the distortion texting/instant messenging/short phone calls has put on the development of
  our communication skills. Many teens can press the send button to a hurtful text 100X's easier than they could say it to that person face to face. And not only with hurtful things, but in dating relationships. "I love you, I'll do anything for you, I'm yours forever" seems to be a lot easier to type, then to speak. And also, I'll admit that sometimes when I'm out spending what should be quality time with my family, I'm too obsessed with a texting conversation to give them the time of day, and that kind of thing can really mess with the relationships within a family. Bottom line, I think phones are a great thing. For people far away from each other to communicate on such a high level. But I think the obsession with texting and not in person communication has an incredibly bad impact on the teens of today and the development of their social skills.

• The Internet. This one really applies to me. I spend a LOT of time on the internet. Downloading music, reading articles, catching up on my favorite bands, blogging on my tumblr, creeping up on people on facebook, editing pictures, skyping, you name it. But as well as all of the joy it has brought to my life, there are a lot of negative affects to make up for them as well. First being, the laziness it creates. This not only in our generation, but in all of people who own a computer. Laziness in two ways.....1.) Actual physical laziness. Some are so addicted to the internet/computers that they are to distracted to exercise and feel no drive to get out of their desk and go for a jog, or to a yoga class. 2.) Mental Laziness. Why research in a book what you can quickly google? Knowledge is so easily handed to us through search engines and websites like wikipedia. And while this can be a good thing as well, some don't realize the amount of fraud among the information they're given. And like most of us read in Fahrenheit 451, a lot of information being condensed into paragraph long articles, or very short summaries, can give us a false sense of intelligence, when all we're really getting is surface details. Another negative affect, is stranger danger. Like we've been learning since we were so young, there are many pervert psychopath who will do just about anything to learn vital information about where you live, and where you hang out. With social networking, a lot of teens are putting their selves at risk of being raped/kidnapped/killed. "Oh, lyke, it's lyke no big deal if my facebook isn't private, it's just letting more lyke, cute boys see me!!:-)" THIS IS YOUR LIFE HERE PEOPLE! BE CAREFUL!!!! That's less of a worry for me though, because I have full trust that we are all smarter than to let something get that far.

Last but not least....

• Kindles/Nooks/Other non book books. Look, I love the idea. In fact, I'd love to own one myself!!!! It's convenient, and a great way to read. Books have just always been my hope for our electronic material world. The chain that holds me to the ground, and keeps me sane in the sky full of technology. BUT OH NO, now books are electronic too! Which makes me fear..... is the time of a world similar to Fahrenheit 451 on the horizon? Not in all information being banned...but books? Will my fond memories of trips to Barnes and Noble, drinking hot chocolate in the starbucks section while reading a good book not be the reality for my own children?!?!?!?!??! The tangible aspect of books is such an important one for me! Being able to write my thoughts in the margin, high light what sentences really stick out to me, develop many frayed corners on random pages resulting from the 'dog ear' book mark method I so often use, develop stains of food/drink on the corners of other random pages.....it's all so important to me! It's personal, and not only do I make memories of the story inside the book, I make memories of the books itself, and all of the unique characteristics my book abuse has given it. I'd like to be able to pick up my old copy of "Paper Towns" by John Green, or "It's Kind of a Funny Story" by Ned Vizzini (two of my very favorite books) and not only remember the story, but remember where I read it, when I read it, and go back to a time where I was oblivious to the wonderful plot that lied ahead of me.

I love technology. I couldn't live without it. But sometimes, I think I might be a different, more well-rounded person if I had grown up in the environment our parents had, in which they came home from school and biked around down until sunset, or spend a lot of meaningful time with their siblings, and not just hopped on the computer, or the telephone. I'm anxious to see the path our technology will lead our generation into during our adulthood, and the generations after us.