MIT professor Sherry Turkle penned an op-ed in the NY Times last weekend about a topic that affects each of us in many ways. You've taken the survey so you know what the participants were experiencing.
Please read and discuss your personal experiences on our blog.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/27/opinion/sunday/stop-googling-lets-talk.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
What do you think about this issue. Is it overblown? Is Dr. Turkle onto something? What experiences in your own life connect with this article?
I will be accepting posts without support references but they must be substantive. Do not just tell me you hate when you see people texting at the dinner table. I'm looking for evidence that you read the article and are aware of the content and how it affects your life.
It's true. The social aspect of life has gone from great to horrid in a matter of a few years. There are people who text each other when they are sitting right across from each other at a table!
ReplyDeleteI don't depend on my phone for everything. I usually only use for BBC News, Music on the subway, youtube videos to pass the time at home, or keep up with family and friends on future get togethers or something that has to be done or to let them know what I am up to or where I am.
When it comes to family dinners, my parents have strict rules about using our phones at the table and I am completely fine with that. We talk about our days and a lot of funny things that have happened or that we have heard. Dinner is probably one of my most favorites time of the day; eating, relaxing and talking to my family while keeping my brother from throwing his pizza at my sister's face.
During one on one conversations, I always keep my phone in my bag and only ever take it out to look up interesting information concerning the topic at hand or letting my parents know what I'm up to. I prefer talking over texting. I enjoy making people laugh because of what I said and not because I pulled up someone else's joke from the internet. Eye contact, hand gestures, body language, and speech patterns is something you won't ever pick up from another person unless you get your eyes off of a screen that can only show you so much.
Interesting Sofia. Thanks for the insight into your family life. I was curious to know if parents are modeling good behavior or not. Sounds like yours are.
DeleteMy family and I used to sit down at the table and eat together we would have a rule not to look at or answer our phones and we couldn't watch T.V. This ended a couple years ago. We now sit separately around the house watching T.V. or staring at our phones or other devices during dinner time. There are no more family conversations. I think the farthest conversation I've had everyday is when my dad asks me "how was school?" in which I would answer a one word response "fine". Technology has definitely ruined our relationships because we no longer talk and if we do it's through text or asking each other simple questions for example "what are we having for dinner?". To be honest I love technology but I find that in can ruin relationships easily.
ReplyDeleteI think your perspective sums up quite well the problem many people are having and the crux of Dr. Turkle's work. We are losing touch with ourselves and those around us.
DeleteHonestly, this article holds a lot of truth about young teens and young adults. In paragraphs three, four, and five, I have heard and seen my very own brother say and do before. He is always on his cell phone at diner, family event, or even talking to my parents and myself. He would speak to my dad and text at the same time and if my dad would question him he would say " it's ok, I have mastered this skill months ago". I, on the other hand, find using my phone during every occasion very unnecessary, and would prefer total face to face instead of thorough text.
ReplyDeleteWith the spread of mobile technology, it’s become much easier for people to maintain constant contact with their social networks online. And a lot of people are taking advantage of that opportunity. That sounds like people are becoming more sociable. But, actually the opposite is happening. The problem is that we spend so much time maintaining superficial connections online that we aren’t dedicating enough time or effort to deeper real-life relationships. There’s too much texting and too little real conversation.
ReplyDeleteWith computers, social communication such as Facebook, and smartphones we have been to allowed to connect more with the people in our virtual world. But, now we communicate less with those who are in our real world. Our real and virtual worlds certainly overlap, as many of our virtual friends are also our real friends. But the time and effort we put into our virtual worlds, limit the time to connect and especially to communicate on a deeper level in our real world. With our smartphones in hand, we face a constant barrage of alerts, notifications, vibrations and beeps warning us that something seemingly important has happened and we must pay attention, drawing us away from those right in front of us who are trying to talk to us. And now that person who has been trying to get our full attention, also feels turned off by the conversation, feels that maybe you are too bored with them, and also chooses to pull out their device. And yes maybe, that person maybe decided to pull out his phone to add some things to the conversation from the internet that would make the conversation more lively. But, now this turns into a Googling battle where the focus is now shifted to the stuff on the Internet and that six-inch screen in their hands. So yes, I believe that MIT professor Sherry Turkle is on to something and that we do have to start making corrections before all conversation and empathy is lost.
For me, at home, my family members are always on a device. But, whenever one of us, starts a conversation, the devices in front of our face must be put down and we must give our full attention to the person talking. My mom always says putting down your phone for 15 minutes won’t kill you or anyone else. It will in turn end up showing the person some respect and consideration as you give them your full attention. And if anyone pulls out their phone during dinner or even tries to even catch a glimpse of their screen, they end up with a death glare and a lecture. And I believe this is how my family has managed to stay connected in the real world.
"the death glare" - priceless.
DeleteCellphones will always be one of the best and worst inventions that have ever happened to people. It is a milestone for technology, however on a social level it has destroyed our empathy and encouraged a lot of misconduct among our generation. I've seen countless videos on Facebook, Instagram, and other social media where people with disabilities, physical features that are not accepted by societies, and any other deformity is severely made fun of. We've become insensitive monsters that only thrive off laughing at fifteen second videos that mock others.
ReplyDeleteEven though I have seen the cruelty that is splayed across the internet, it is important to realize the good. I've learned about more injustices from the internet than I've learned from the news. Cellphones show the good that people are doing and reaching out to others. I believe that everything has drawbacks and should be used in moderation. Sherry Turkle is right, we need to start talking more but that doesn't mean we should eliminate the use of phones either. It's important to realize that not every single person using cellphones are using it for bad things or using it to separate themselves from each other. I know a lot of people that don't even use their phones - it's a rare breed - but still not everyone is as addicted to phones as other's might think.
Are we becoming insensitive? Yes.
Do we need to start talking more with one another? Yes.
But, do we need to rid ourselves of something so great? Absolutely not
Well said Khadijah. You "squared the circle" of the issue and that is why we need to model and recognize the importance of empathy.
DeleteDr. Turkle makes a valid point in her article. All of the technology is pulling people away from each other. It pulls away our ability to emotionally understand each other and our ability to have legitimate face to face interactions. People glorify the idea of a more convenient cell phone or a more convenient computer. They say things like, " It makes life easier", but they don't realize the consequences that come along with its convenience.
ReplyDeleteThe article is really something that everyone should read, because everyone in some way shape or form is effected by the technology around us. In my family, my parents and I are all limited when it comes to conversation even if we don't realize it.
My dad has a big work load, so we could be sitting in the park or taking a little walk and he'll bring out his work phone, scroll through his emails or even take out his personal phone and text a few people. I'm no less guilty, I could even be in the middle of a conversation and i'll take a look at my phone to see if i've gotten a text or just randomly look at things on the internet.
Whenever i'm eating with my parents and I look at my phone, my mom always says, " dude, put the phone down we're having a conversation". Truer words have never been spoken and after reading this article I appreciate my mom saying that more. Hopefully I can pull away from the technology and help people relearn how to look at each other face to face and hold a conversation which lasts longer than 20 minutes.
Michelle you bring up a very interesting point about your dad using his cell phone for work. Lines are getting blurred between work time and time off and it becomes harder to not work all the time when money is at stake.
DeleteTurkle is definitely justified in her warnings about the negative effect technology is having on today’s youth.
ReplyDeleteI think everyone has been in a situation in which they’ve looked around a dinner/lunch table and saw their family and friends looking at nothing but the screens of their phones. It’s something that we are not always even aware of, but our generation has become extremely dependent on our Androids, Blackberries, etc. Take away a teenager’s phone for a week, and he or she could very well have no idea what to do.
It’s definitely annoying to see how obsessed some people are with technology, but I never considered just how badly this obsession could affect our social skills until reading this article. The fact that overusing tech can actually damage our ability to process facial expressions is really crazy, but I suppose that should've been expected. When we are looking at emoticons all day we forget what actual emotions look like on an actual human face.
This issue is definitely not overblown. In fact, it should be taken far more seriously. Most teenagers associate this argument with older grandmas and grandfathers grumbling about today’s wayward generation. If someone sat down with teens and explained to them the scientific facts and research that show too much tech is a serious problem, then I think we would generally become more mindful.
It's sad to think that with the rise of technology, humanity would lose some of the traits that make us uniquely human (such as empathy). We need to all learn to stop living on devices and instead live in the actual world.
For example, I can't beleive just how obsessed people can get with social media like Twitter and Facebook. I was for a while guilty of the "social media craze". A few months ago, I decided to get an Instagram account. Immediately I could feel myself being drawn into that terrible world of checking your account every ten minutes for updates, looking for the next opportunity to load a new picture, and spending ten minutes trying to take a flattering selfie. It was all good and fun at first, but eventually I realized just how ridiculous it was. I was living through a silly account on the Internet. Eventually I got rid of my Instagram and I couldn't be happier.
The best thing to do is to find a balance. It's perfectly okay to use social media, or browse the Internet, or play Candy Crush, or do whatever on our phones. But we should know when to put the devices away and actually look around us.
Balance is the key. Developing good habits and etiquette will help you live a happier life with technology.
DeleteIt’s fair to say that technology has consumed human beings. Perhaps not everyone, but enough people for it to be considered an epidemic. Texting in class, or checking your email at a party, as Dr. Turkle has mentioned, is indeed omnipresent in society. Nonetheless, it is my belief that diminished human contact will go way beyond this. Consider films like Her and Ex Machina. If enough of civilization has little to no qualms about interacting with technology at the expense of real-life human relationships, the notion that we can live in a world in which artificial intelligence persists as one half of a couple is not a far-fetched idea by any means. We may not have the technology right now, but imagine a robot, of sorts, that serves as soul mate, if you will. The future computer wizard will program it to do the things you want. For example: go to a baseball game, see a Broadway play, walk in the park, attend family gatherings, and more. If the consumer wishes, the tech company can program in idiosyncrasies to keep the relationship interesting.
ReplyDeleteOn a smaller scale, the examples Dr. Turkel provides are tremendously relatable. One experience in particular stands out. My dad’s best friend, Sal, and I sat in the back seat, as my dad was driving along Fifth Avenue. It was chaotic as usual. Everyone in a rush to get to work. Cars battling bikes, both zipping in and out and around each other. Some cheating red lights. Double parked trucks making it that more difficult to see and maneuver. It was then in this environment that my dad received a text message from a coworker. Without hesitation, my dad clasped his phone, unlocked it and began texting away.
It was a bone-chilling feeling as I watched Sal admonish my father against texting while driving. I had the privilege to witness a seldom-discussed perspective on the topic: a man who cherishes life, that of a man with terminal cancer. With not long to live, he knows, more than most people, the value of living a single day. He did not choose to be a victim of cancer. He does choose, however, to take action against what he has the power to prevent, even if it is as simple as asking his friend to pay attention to the road. My dad put the phone down and went about the business of driving responsibly. A simple moment like this, I believe, really speaks to how we’ve put technology first.
Excellent Taylor. Ex Machina is slowly becoming a reality.
DeleteI'm also glad you shared the story of your dad's friend Sal. Too often we're afraid to offend someone who might be doing something like texting and driving. It is crucial to speak up when we see it.
Technology is becoming bigger and better every year but is it a problem? I agree that phones could take up most of everyone's daily lives but I don't think its a problem. I agree with Dr. Turkle, we should "Stop Googling and Start Talking" . Every time my family and I go out to dinner on Sundays, everyone is on their phones. Either their on their phones to do work, check social media, or play a game. I’m used to it but I would like to have a normal conversation with my family. Sometimes I think that we just go just for the food and come back home instead of hanging out as a family.
ReplyDeleteI agree that electronics are a problem during social events, like working on a school project, but they could also be a solution. You shouldn't be using your phone to play games and text people if you're working on a project with other people but you could use the phone to go on the internet and help you complete the project. Using technology is not a bad thing, it just depends on what you do with them.
ReplyDeleteDr. Turkle is mot definitely onto something. As I’m typing this comment I’m also trying to three other tasks and none of them are making any progress. It isn’t just my sister being yelled at the dinner table for texting her friends. Its students not being able to absorb all the information they are learning because they are trying to split themselves in three.
Many people I know use their phones at very inappropriate times. People don’t understand what times are appropriate to use their phones because we are all so used to the instant gratification that comes with phones. Many people feel like they have to respond to text messages and emails which leads to people being disconnected with who is around them.