In class on Wednesday the thought that all of the technological advances our generation could result in less social capabilities. I feel differently on this subject when it comes to technology and social skills. I believe that all of the advances in technology could actually result in greater social skills for our generations and those coming into the world after us. I know that I grew up in a relatively small town that lacked diversity. The advances of online blogs, and things like facebook and myspace provide an opportunity to connect with people that one may not otherwise have had the chance to converse with. One of the most important social skills is the ability to get along with and find ways to relate to people that are different than yourself and the internet opens up the means to do this. Also, cell phones and texting do not worsen or social skills, they instead give us the opportunity to make them better. It is true that if something is hard to say in person or over the phone we can now use text messages because they allow us to remove ourselves from emotional attachment to the situation. Cell phones and texting do make it easier for people connect and set up meeting times and keep in touch in situations that would not allow for a phone conversation. If something important comes up when in a movie theater or other places where answering the phone is beyond rude, we can still get the message we need. Cell phones allow our generation to keep in touch better than the generations before us and this can be seen through the smart mobs that have organized through the use of cell phones. Technology will keep improving and it is for us to decide if we want to go along with it our remove ourselves from it and go back to the means of communicating that came before. Technology will continue to bring us together and the more advances that come through the years will only make it easier for everyone to keep contact.
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3 comments:
I found your post really interesting, especially how you see a gain in social skills resulting from technology. I think it's really cool that you grew up in a small town, yet were able to take advantage of tools that allowed you to open new doors, and see the world outside of your city limits. I definately feel that there is becoming fewer and fewer excuses for people to claim social ignorance as an excuse for racism, prejudices, or intolerance. I wonder however about the validity of online sources replacing real life experiences. I went to school in the inner city of Milwaukee, and I know that nothing I could have read, watched, or heard would have compared to the social and interpersonal skills I picked up in such a diverse setting.
I agree that in smaller, less diverse communities social skills can improve from using new technologies. I, however, think that these new technologies are not used for these things in most cases. Mainly, you're friends with people you know on facebook or myspace, or if you don't know them, you tend to have very similar interests, hence the friendship. For this reason, I see that many online communities don't encourage new, diverse communities, but rather allow cliques to form online that can be just as exclusive as ones in "real" life. For this reason, along with a consistent lack of personal, face-to-face contact, I think that technologies are ultimately hurting many necessary social skills of today's teens/students.
I agree with everything you have said. I like like how you have pointed out the great side of technology rather than criticizing it. I grew up in a very diverse city and had contact with every kind of person imaginable so it's hard for me to understand the less diverse part BUT it is easy for me to understand how these social devices can connect one with a more diverse culture. That is one of the greatest things technology can give us. With someone like me, I feel that I do, despite coming from a diverse city, still get involved with many people even more different through facebook. However, I have still met my greatest friends in person and will continue to do so.
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