As any self respecting technophobe, I do have reservations and worries that concern me greatly about the use of social media. Some of these social devices can become addictive; just the simple constant checking of face book posts or twitter tweets. The number of times I have watched people in restaurants, sitting opposite each other, in an ideal situation to have a conversation and they are on their cell phones and not interacting with each other at all. This obsessive behaviour is becoming more prevalent and it worries me that people are losing so much from not interacting face to face as much as they did so in the past. I try hard to understand that this is the new way of communicating to a wider audience but with that comes the downside, which is less face to face time with each other. But then I am reminded of how Skype is used and the new video phones etc. which are being developed even further. I’m looking forward to seeing these in our homes in the near future. Then I hear a report stating that Japan’s declining birth rate is in part due to young people staying at home and interacting over the net. This worries me because young people miss the anticipation and excitement of meeting someone for the first time. Seeing and touching and reaching out in a physical sense rather than through a computer screen seems to me to be more human and I want our race to thrive and multiply but how can it when men and women remain at home in their own virtual world. With the influx and interest now in indoor gaming I worry about our youth’s future. I worry about children becoming more obese and less healthy as they don’t play outside or do physical play or organised games as much as in the past. Their leisure time is spent on computers. I watched some children of all ages at a recent gadget show exhibition and was amazed by the variety of games available; the commitment and skills shown by these youngsters was fantastic. They showed outstanding hand /eye co-ordination and thumb- finger hand dexterity plus the brain power needed must have been phenomenal however this wasn’t good for a whole body workout. Also, I worry about how many of these children are confident talking to each other; actually having a conversation with another person in real life rather than on a compute screen. I don’t want to become a dinosaur when it comes to technology and I freely admit to being an ostrich with my head and eyes being buried in the ground in the past. Technology is out there and I have to embrace some of it more than I do now but I do think that the term social media should be regarded with caution. The term social is important. The dictionary says it is the interaction between couples, and groups of people; a community working together for their greater good. I just wonder if we are thinking maybe too much about the global aspect of this and forgetting the basic principles of talking and sharing ideas side by side and face to face. I hope not. I want a technological future that can embrace both. Thought for the day: Technology should improve your life; not become your life!
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As a technophobe with very few technology skills or understanding I have become to believe that it is an awe-inspiring time that we live in. Quote, ‘Social media is the greater collective and for the first time in history our species are globally connected.’ Just thinking about that gives me goose bumps considering that I have been reluctant to take on board the many social interactive devices that are out there at the moment. Quote, ‘Think about what we can accomplish as humans worldwide if we can co-operate towards a common goal.’ This is a wonderful aspiration but when I look at the world today with the division and conflict between countries, faiths and governments I wonder if this is an achievable aim. We have come so far in such a short time that I truly wish that in my daughter’s lifetime that many of the world issues that abound today can be eradicated by working together globally with understanding and fresh insight into others beliefs and ideas. Quote. ‘Social media is the evolution of a shared human consciousness.’ This is so true. It beggars belief that we can be in touch with loved ones across thousands of miles in a matter of minutes and that by sharing our ideals and philosophies; we should be able in the future to reach a more common ground than we do at the moment. If technology can help to bring this about then I’m all for it. By working together and using the technology advances to help us to do this would be great! Remember; teamwork leads to dream work. Thought for the day: You are never too old to dream a new dream! Eavesdropping has always had a bad press but for me, like people watching, I find it fascinating. I don’t deliberately set out to listen to other people’s conversations but when they speak loud enough for me to hear them; I feel that they are fair game! Just recently I was sitting in a café at a table next to two business men. I was annoyed with the waiter as he interrupted my listening. Not his fault I know but you see my interest had been piqued by the comment, “I’ve got one and half million to invest as I’m trying to cut back and spend more time with my family!” I have to admit I gulped. These two men were discussing, so casually, an amount of money that was staggering; and over a cup of coffee in a village café! I glanced across. They had portfolios scattered across their table. Both wore matching tailored, quality blue shirts and were finished off with a clean cut polish that grabbed my attention. Surreptitiously I observed them. Their hands for instance were perfectly manicured. Their hair styles short and silver fox grey. They spoke with confidence. The waiter returned with my order and I missed some of their next conversation but my ears soon pricked up with the words, “I didn’t want her to cut into the inheritance but hey what can you do?” Who’s inheritance? How much? These questions raced through my mind. Looking around the area, which to my mind was definitely upper class, thoughts of a maiden aunt – you know the type, one who would have invested in the ‘Funds’ like the Earl of Grantham did from Downton Abbey. All I did know was that the younger of the two men wasn’t happy! The men continued to talk with comments beyond my understanding, with one of them writing notes. Once he had finished writing there was a pause and I knew another topic was about to be raised. Suddenly a child’s cry splintered the air, which made me miss the opening of the next thrilling instalment. The older man, who by now I presumed to be the investment manager, had a look of consternation on his face as if he had said something unpalatable to the younger man. I edged my seat slightly closer. “It’s not tittle-tattle! That’s not why I mentioned it. You see it’s all about perception!” Goodness me – tittle- tattle? What unusual vocabulary for him to use; a phrase that I hadn’t heard for many a long time yet so suitable for the village café environment. My mind exploded. I didn’t realise that business men gossiped. Whatever it was it had obviously displeased the other one by his slight change of body language and the frown that appeared on his close shaven face. A quick change of subject was initiated about projections and the conversation again veered away from me. By this time I had finished my drink and in all honesty could no longer justify hanging around waiting for more titbits, which was a shame. As I left the café I noticed two other tables with men and portfolios discussing goodness knows what. ‘Didn’t they have offices to go too?’ I wondered. So although there is a stigma attached to eavesdropping I felt quite justified because if I hadn’t had participated in this taboo activity I wouldn’t have had a blog idea now would I? Thought for the day: Today why not take a chance! Why is it when you lose weight it falls off the parts you don’t want it too? Why is it when you put on weight it sticks to the parts you don’t want it to? Why is it that people who start sentences with, ‘I don’t like to complain’- yet invariably do? Why is it that when you have to wait in for a delivery man; the sun starts to shine? Why is when you want a shop assistant to help you, you can’t find one? Why is it when you don’t want a shop assistant to help you; there are a plethora of them? Why is it when you have ordered your meal in a restaurant, you want someone else’s when it arrives? Why is it when you join any queue, the one next to it always moves quicker? Why is it when you buy a travel pillow for £7.99 you find one exactly the same in the pound shop? Why is it people who use the words, ‘In all honesty’ aren’t! Why is it when you try out a pillow in a shop it is comfortable, yet when you get it home and try to sleep on it - it isn’t. Why is it when you have been to IKEA and bought a huge flat pack contraption there are cars parked outside your house? Why is it when you decide to do the cleaning the sun shines and the day becomes hot and a really awful job turns into a sweaty obnoxious one? All I know is that Murphy can sod off!! (LOL) Thought for the day: Why not make something of all that wishful thinking! |
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