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Americans Experiencing Technology Overload Armstrong Williams Wherever you turn these days, it seems everyone is listening to an iPod, talking on a cell phone, or typing on a BlackBerry. The overuse of technology in everyday life is like smoking in public – it's harmful to users and nonusers alike. I'm not claiming that overusing technology is causing cancer – although the verdict is still out on that one – I'm just saying that overusing technology is unhealthy, unproductive and downright rude.
When you plug into your iPod in a public place, you are basically telling everyone else that you do not want to interact with them. You are telling the world that you want to be isolated and left alone. The likelihood of someone asking you for help, seeking your counsel or striking up a conversation while you have an iPod stuck in your ears is very unlikely. Thus, excessive iPod users do more than just ruin their hearing, diminish their creativity and harm their ability to think and reason in silence. They also miss out on spontaneous interactions (which can lead to exciting and surprising situations), they don't learn how to chit-chat or small-talk (which is essential in the business world) and they rarely experience the feeling of helping or meeting a stranger (which feels like a thousand bucks). For those of you who are addicted to your MP3 players, try cutting back on them while in public places and eventually use them only while you are alone. You'll be better off for it, and we'll all like you better!
When you constantly talk on your cell phone in public, you are hurting yourself and irritating others. You harm yourself because you eliminate opportunities to think, reflect and develop creative ideas. You are unable to embrace your surroundings and hear the sounds of nature or the city. And you develop attention-deficit problems because you develop the need to constantly be talking, talking and talking. Story Continues Below
Using your cell phone in public also irritates others because it is disruptive, annoying and rude. According to the 2004 Sprint Wireless Courtesy Report, 78 percent of San Franciscans say that people are less polite, courteous and respectful when they use cell phones than they were five years ago. I think the solution is pretty simple: Use your cell phone only when nobody is within hearing distance.
Checking your BlackBerry at every opportunity is not a good habit either. The obsession that politicos and business people have with this handheld computer is becoming an embarrassment. People are typing e-mails as they drive, as they converse with others and as they eat meals. Not only is this dangerous and disrespectful, but it's unhealthy for your body, mind and soul. You must learn to leave work at the office and to live in the moment. If you are constantly taking work wherever you go, you will diminish the quality of your relationships and enjoyment of situations. You need to realize that the e-mails can wait a few hours, the business will not fall apart while you're away, and the world will not stop running while you catch a few winks, grab a bite to eat, or converse with your friends and family. As for your BlackBerry, try leaving it at the office when you go to lunch and turning it off completely when you get home.
Between iPods, cell phones, BlackBerrys and the numerous other wireless gadgets, people are becoming metaphorically deaf and blind. They are tuning out the world around them and focusing merely on their own tiny existence. This incessant need to be in control of situations wherever you may be is not a way to live. It's rude, it's unhealthy, and it's counterproductive. So, you may be wondering, how can I actually go on a technology diet without my personal and professional life going to shambles?
Tell co-workers and clients that you have a 24-hour-response policy. This will allow you to handle calls and e-mails on an as-needed basis rather than handling them all as they come in. Be forthright about your insistence to leave work at the office. Put in a hard day's work and then enjoy the fruits of your labor, whether that be your family, your friends or your personal time. And finally, set realistic goals for your gadget usage. Use your personal cell phone only for personal calls. Use your BlackBerry only for work-related issues during the workday. Use your iPod only while alone or at the gym. These kinds of usage expectations may feel strange at first, but once you get used to them, it will be a great relief for you mentally and physically.
Yes, new technology makes a lot of jobs easier, a lot of workers more productive, and a lot of companies more efficient, but we need to draw the line somewhere. We need to realize that there's a time and a place for everything and that these gadgets are not our masters and should not run our lives. They are tools that can help us function, but they are not the key.
Our world is on overdrive. Instant gratification and momentary elation are the norm. Speed dating, sound bites and fast food are considered acceptable. It's time to slow down, unplug, and forgo a call or an e-mail for our mental and physical well-being.
Is that too much to ask? If so, you can e-mail your response to me at arightside@aol.com.
www.armstrongwilliams.com
Editor's note:
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