For many years our society and culture have produced more things in less time than previously dreamt of. We started with mass production of products through machines and automation. Improved technology meant higher technological gains in automation, robotics, and logistics.
Meanwhile, our lives were constantly improving and speeding up. Technology in the home improved with microwave ovens, garage door openers, and more devices being enabled for online wireless use. Telephones became mobile and were detached from the wall or desk. Shopping became something you could do from home. The world became faster and faster paced.
As a result, our habits acclimated to the speed of our machines. We withdrew from our neighborhoods into our homes and stopped spending time sitting on the porch in the summertime watching our kids play in the yards.
Our socializing also automated and went online in the form as social media. This step has produced many negative results. The speed with which we react to news is lightning quick, and many times without thought. Many people rush to pick up their mobile device to share a reaction with millions of others rushing to their mobile devices to record events. Many of the recorded events are mundane and boring. Many, however, are of much more importance and require thought and analysis.
Birthday parties, vacations at the beach, or dinner with friends are items of interest only to a few, and even then they rank low on the importance scale. Paying attention to those things that "go viral" will cause you wonder about the lives of some people that make such things to be viewed by so many, and commented on.
Videos of police interactions with citizens, or the aftermath of a crime scene, require a bit more thought. I recall seeing a video of people at an airport rushing toward the sounds of gunfire with their smart phones in video mode trying to capture the scene, probably in a desire to be first online with the live action, but not realizing the danger they are placing themselves directly into.
Most of us recall watching legal dramas on TV or in movies, and so have a somewhat informed view of what goes on during a trial. Witnesses, evidence, testimony, lawyers, judge and jury all play a role in determining truth and fact, before deciding guilt or innocence. Yet in our desire to be first and fastest, we boil a trial down into a 3 minute video from a smart phone, and determine guilt or innocence in a flash. Justice? Not even close.
My wish for civilization is that we begin to think more and react less on matters of such importance. We need to be more critical of ourselves and what we decide to share with our friends and family, but understand online these things will live forever and be viewed and reacted to by a large number of people. Therefore we should be a bit more methodical in what we choose to share and how quickly we share it. A casual review of various social media feeds will provide many items which would better be kept private, at least for a little while.
A good rule of thumb would be to ask yourself if you would share such thoughts with the people you were commenting on to their face. Then and only then click submit.
Meanwhile, our lives were constantly improving and speeding up. Technology in the home improved with microwave ovens, garage door openers, and more devices being enabled for online wireless use. Telephones became mobile and were detached from the wall or desk. Shopping became something you could do from home. The world became faster and faster paced.
As a result, our habits acclimated to the speed of our machines. We withdrew from our neighborhoods into our homes and stopped spending time sitting on the porch in the summertime watching our kids play in the yards.
Our socializing also automated and went online in the form as social media. This step has produced many negative results. The speed with which we react to news is lightning quick, and many times without thought. Many people rush to pick up their mobile device to share a reaction with millions of others rushing to their mobile devices to record events. Many of the recorded events are mundane and boring. Many, however, are of much more importance and require thought and analysis.
Birthday parties, vacations at the beach, or dinner with friends are items of interest only to a few, and even then they rank low on the importance scale. Paying attention to those things that "go viral" will cause you wonder about the lives of some people that make such things to be viewed by so many, and commented on.
Videos of police interactions with citizens, or the aftermath of a crime scene, require a bit more thought. I recall seeing a video of people at an airport rushing toward the sounds of gunfire with their smart phones in video mode trying to capture the scene, probably in a desire to be first online with the live action, but not realizing the danger they are placing themselves directly into.
Most of us recall watching legal dramas on TV or in movies, and so have a somewhat informed view of what goes on during a trial. Witnesses, evidence, testimony, lawyers, judge and jury all play a role in determining truth and fact, before deciding guilt or innocence. Yet in our desire to be first and fastest, we boil a trial down into a 3 minute video from a smart phone, and determine guilt or innocence in a flash. Justice? Not even close.
My wish for civilization is that we begin to think more and react less on matters of such importance. We need to be more critical of ourselves and what we decide to share with our friends and family, but understand online these things will live forever and be viewed and reacted to by a large number of people. Therefore we should be a bit more methodical in what we choose to share and how quickly we share it. A casual review of various social media feeds will provide many items which would better be kept private, at least for a little while.
A good rule of thumb would be to ask yourself if you would share such thoughts with the people you were commenting on to their face. Then and only then click submit.
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