Technology Shmecknology

I feel so out of touch lately...ever since my laptop died on me.

It’s amazing how reliant we become on technology. It used to be that we had rotary telephones and televisions with one dial. We didn’t have answering machines – we just called back when they were home. We didn’t have call display- we just found out who it was after we answered. We never had remotes for anything. We got up off our fat asses and changed the channel, answered the phone that was attached to the wall and actually chatted with people in public. I was on the subway the other day, and I usually take this time to sit there without reading, listening to music, etc. I like to turn my brain off and relax. In front of me was a guy my age, playing with his Blackberry. The guy beside me was playing video games on his cell phone. The man across from him had his laptop out of his case and was typing away. Why is it that people can’t step away from technology for two seconds? And we wonder why kids are being diagnosed with ADHD more often. The parents/adults are guilty of the same thing.

Now we need giant screen plasma TVs, every function on your telephone, and remote after remote. Cars are fitted with radio dials on the steering wheel because apparently it expends too much energy to extend your arm out and change it that way. People blame getting fat on fast food and poor diet, when a lot of it is lack of movement as well. We will create anything to essentially make ourselves lazier. Don’t get me wrong, I am just as guilty. I will walk around my apartment when I have lost the remote, instead of just walking to the TV and changing it that way.

I wouldn’t dream of answering my cell phone when in the presence of a friend. I find it incredibly rude. I find call-waiting incredibly rude as well. I mean, you made plans with me...and you’re answering your phone? When I called, I called first. Why the hell should I wait for you to speak to 2 or 3 other people that called after I did? It doesn’t make sense. It’s no wonder that friendships dwindle over time nowadays. No one makes a proper effort. No one is made to feel special, however gay that sounds. I don’t even think it’s about making someone feel special. I think it’s proper etiquette and a bit of common sense, and just being plain considerate. If you were closing a one million dollar deal at work, and your cell rang, would you answer it? Hell no, you wouldn’t. There would be too much at stake. Friends and family are just as important. If you lose them, you have lost more than a million dollar deal. Of course there are exceptions to this rule - if you have kids at home or are expecting an important call, or an emergency occurs...etc... I'm not totally unreasonable.

But I digress.

I used to be a total gadget girl. I loved technology. Now, I have entered the “getting old” zone where I find fault in anything new. I like my 14 yr old television. I like my Olympus mp3 player. I like my 15 yr old stereo. It suits me fine. The older I get, the simpler I get, and that is fine too. You start to realize that it’s not the “things” in your life that make you happy, but rather the people in your life that do.

And for that reason alone, I couldn’t be happier. I have the best people in my life and I will never answer my cell phone around you, or make you wait while I answer the other line. If I lose my remote, I may ask you to get up and change the channel though. No one said I was perfect :)