Often in the age that we are caught up in, the question is tossed forth of how our Identity and way of living is effected by technology, it being a cause and effect relationship. We live in a time now where there is a whole influential generation who has no memory of being no Internet. Arguments of technological advancements making issues come forth are found from many schools of thought. The statement of the generation of emerging teenagers have little multitasking skills and possess short attention spans is often given in with little argument for otherwise. What must be examined is the thought that like any relationship, technology exaggerates our pre-existing behavior and personality traits that effects our outcome.
I think of an example that involves a friend of mine where I wonder what his sociability would have been like if he was born a hundred years previous. His personality of disliking being put on the spot, issues following through, and having an aversion to accountability are all accommodated and unchallenged based on the help of technology. He will not answer cell phone calls, only responding to texts, and at his own time, using reception issues as an excuse for not getting back to me. He is younger than me and I have observed friends with comparable personalities that instead grew up in a time of not owning their own cell phone and due to the lack of accommodating technology were forced to get over their fear of cold calling and being held liable at certain periods to give answers. His comfort zone has not been shaken thanks to the shelter of his cell phone.
Anakin Skywalker with his friend R2-D2. His inability to change led to his downfall.
In her book Alone Together, Sherry Turkle mentions a case of a man with historical issues with relationships discussed his opinions and feelings when he was proposed with the idea of having a robotic partner. In his mind an A.I. as a partner would be a good relationship for him as the intricacies that in his mind wear away at relationships are now a non-issue with the accommodation of a technology. He cited the case that he disliked having the pressure of his former partner caring about his issues and having to live with that “stress”. He has issues relating and human relationships require him getting out of his comfort zone, similar to the case of my cell-phone friend. The argument at hand is not that technology creates these issues, but it brings out and is the ultimate accommodator to our flaws. While some people have used technology for their life’s advancement, alteration, change and furtherment, others manifest their innate behavior that much more apparently.
References:
Turkle, Sherry. Alone Together: Why We Expect More from Technology and Less from Each Other. 2011. Basic Books: NY
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