There are a lot of things I like about living in
the modern world (plenty I don’t, too, but that’s another blog post entirely)
and the technological capabilities available to us is certainly a biggie. I
love the ease with which I can create, develop, research, communicate, save,
manage, retrieve, learn, connect, help, teach, experience and live. It allows
me to share a little of myself with the world, whilst getting to know certain
sides of those around me. The dichotomy that exists; sometimes the online and
connected world can make you feel part of something on a grand scale whilst at
other moments, lending perspective and making you aware of your own isolated,
fragile identity. I value the immediacy with which I can communicate through
this technological forum. I use a lot of
social media but I also carry on a great deal of my correspondence via text,
email and WeChat. (Don’t know that app? Well get on it. Now. Thank me later.)
Technology helps me follow the going-ons of family interstate, advertise things
I’m passionate about drawing attention to and facilitated one of my most
enduring and vital friendships with
my northern hemisphere way-more-than-an-ordinary-pen-pal-sitch girlie. I am
grateful for technology for sure… but I also know I rely a little too much on its existence in my life.
I realise of course the irony of this post; as I
sit here, furiously typing away, ready to share and connect online through my
blog and social media, utilising the wi-fi internet I feel so Neanderthal without.
I spent nearly two hours this morning
trying to sort out issues with my iTunes/iPod and it still isn’t resolved. The
level of frustration it elicited as it drew out through my otherwise leisurely
Sunday morning was absurd. I’m beyond irritated because I can’t store my
ridiculously large and ever-expanding music conveniently in one device that
will enable me to respond to every musical-mood-whim that may possess me… and
it isn’t an isolated incident. You should see the defeated sigh I give when I
realise my battery is below 20% but I can’t be bothered going and plugging my
phone in to charge! Or when someone calls me and the reception makes chit-chat
impossible. Don’t even get me started on internet troubles… It’s like I forget
how to human when the wi-fi is down. I
would certainly be a very different teacher (Sibelius notation software I’m
looking at you!) but it’s more than that, I can recall the time before the
internet/smart-phone/social media explosion but I can’t imagine my future
without it. I am saddened and scared by how dependent I am.
I live in the moment. I recognise magic around
me in people, places, experiences and vocation. I don’t speak to people in
public hidden behind my R2-D2 screen or block the world out with headphones. I
am thankful I can communicate in real time with my nearest and dearest (in fact
I will always delight in the memory of Nan’s face when she realised the “letter”
we had sent my Uncle in France the night before already had a reply waiting for
her) and keep myself updated on things that matter to me. I just wish I didn’t
feel like such a petulant child when the technology I so fervently rely on
inevitably stumbles and fails. What about you? What would you do without all
this technology stuff?
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