Technology has developed and spread rapidly in the last 200 years. The inventions of the telegraph, telephone, and internet have changed the way that people communicate. I disagree with the idea that technology ultimately seperates and alienates people. This opinion is illogical, disproven by common experiences, and too broad.
The use of technology as a cause, represents an error in logic. Technology is the created and used by humans. It has no power without a user. When you consider a cellular phone, or a laptop computer without a user this idea is obvious. It is clear that technology itself is impotent. If a person has a desire to be seperated they use technology for this purpose, but when they want connection they can use
technology for the same purpose. Studies of prisoners in solitary confinement, specifically Neslon Mandela's book regarding his experiences in prison show that humans need connection with other humans. In some instances prisoners choice physical abuse over solitary confinement. Considering this evidence it seems that When technology is present people will more commonly use if for connection than for sepeartion. One could suggest that technology allows people to become seperated and alienated, but alone technology has to impact.
Since the industrial revolution, there have been many advances in technology. The first important technological leap implemented in the United States was the telegraph. As replacement for letters carried by horsemen, the telegraph rapidly increased the speed of communications between distance states. Family members could keep in contact across vast distances. Furthermore, important national and international news was shared by people of different areas. This helped to build national pride and understanding of the difficulties faced by citizens in the developing Western States. Similarly, the widespread installation of the telephone allowed people to keep in contact with others. With a telephone people who could not be physically located in the same place, could have a conversation. Across the country millions of Americans make daily contact with friends and family by the telephone. When compared to a world without phones, it is obvious that people are less alienated now then in the past.
The opinion stated above is too broad in reach. One could argue that children who spend hours at a computer playing video games are seperated from others. News reports in China regularly carry stories about children who fail to perform in school because they spend hours at the keyboard. In this way technology seems to alienate, however the same computer can be used to contact other children around the world for free using Skype internet calling software. So we see that the above statement against technology is too broad.
I disagree with the opinion "Technology ultimately seperates and alienates people more than it servers to bring them together". First, technology itself is merely a tool. Technology has no power beyond the user of the technology. Second, everyday common experiences show us that technological advances have allowed humans to rapidly share thoughts, feelings, and events around the world. As a teacher in China, I was able to contact my sister in the United States regarding the condition of my mother, who was recovering from surgery. The response time was a mere 5 minutes. How long would this take without technology? Finally, technology can alienate in some situations, but is a great generalization to say that alienation and seperation are greater than the multitude of connections from technology.
Nov 20
20 Jul 2010, 20:57
