Being a tech slave is not cool
Many hold the belief that displaying their affection and attachment for their gadgets in public is cool.
The writer’s thoughts resonate with a reminder earlier by the Sultan of Perak to “disconnect from the phones and spend more time on building interpersonal relationships”. It has come at the right time, when communication and miscommunication are becoming issues needing immediate attention in our society.
The power of communication is often underestimated. Not many are aware of its capacity as a double-edged sword; it can be detrimental when there’s either too much or too little of it.
The young as well as the old have become victims of modernity by voluntarily or involuntarily trapping themselves in the grip of technology. The real meaning of communication is lost in our hunger to adopt the latest technology; and what begins as a harmless attempt to stay connected has brought about negative effects to human relationships.
Besides affecting a person’s ability to have face-to-face conversation, it also robs people of the precious human touch, creating a meaningless and mechanical communication and insignificant relationships. The natural ability to engage in conversations, which is vital in human relationships, is being eroded as the gadgets begin to dictate our every move.
Some may argue about the inability to disconnect as the demand to stay online has become crucial. The truth in this claim cannot be disputed, as some workplace culture requires employees to be available online 24/7.
As sharing of information
and notices are becoming easier via certain apps, most employers resort to making it compulsory for their employees to be available. The trend is catching
up and reaching a worrying stage.
At any given time, an em-ployee is forced to be a member of at least 10 different groups – and the number only keeps growing.
Technology is created by people with the noble intention of assisting humankind to progress, not to replace them.
Let’s not let technology dictate our life. Let us end the social isolation and smell the roses. Let’s disconnect – to connect to the real world.
SR2
The Star/Asia News Network
