Remember the times when we were young and facebook, twitter, IRC, blogs and what nots did not exist to our knowledge and the only thing we knew about was the TELEPHONE?
The world has really came a long way from a simple telephone to the many internet based communications available for us now. The question is, is it really as beneficial as we think it is?
Facebook, Msn, Blogs, and Twitter, it is a very good way to get some social networking, you can make friends with people you've never met, or you can enhance your friendship with someone you've just bumped into once. It's like a dream, a magical device that helps you overcome your weakness by hiding behind a screen.
Yes I don't deny that all of these wonderful inventions and creations have been very "life enriching" for me. I've made more friends and got to know others better. However with so much time spent on the computer, I have naturally forgotten how nice it is to spend time outdoors. I have forgotten that outdoor activities and social events like gatherings are actually a form of social networking too! At the same time I have been neglecting my family due to this compulsive internet usage. Gone were the days where watching tv or having dinners together were simple yet enjoyable.
However benficial these online social networking programmes are, sometimes problems do exist using these programmes. When we are talking through a screen, we would not know the tone of the person you are conversing with. The real thoughts and feelings might have been misintepreted by other party, thus leading to misunderstandings and broken friendships. In the end, how many real friends have you made through these programmes? Not many, I would say. Many would just be your everyday-on-the-surface-friends.
All these could be avoidable if everyone were to just conversed face-to-face or via telephone. I would give anything to be able to go back to the times where the telephone was my only way to get connected with my friends when I am not with them. Though it might not be as fun filled as what the online programmes offer, but at least I am able to hear the thoughts and feelings of my friends in real tone; through a closer communication method.
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Somehow this entry reminds me of a text I did for my Literature O levels entitled "The Machine Stops" by E.M. Forster.
ReplyDeleteYou can read the summary over at wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Machine_Stops
Anyway, yes, I agree that mediums like msn, twitter etc has helped us connect to people we've lost contact with and also to catch up with friends whom we are well, too "busy" to catch up with.
But I guess people do take personal contact for granted nowadays. I feel building relationships isn't just going to be satisfied through commenting on facebook statuses and reading my tweets.
Owells, despite the many advantages of the internet (you know what I mean~~~~) I'd still like very much to meet up with you, Sarah Jane.
:D
i do not disagree that networking has played an inportant roles in our lives. Look at how important it is right now? using network to study to gain acces into overseas to reach to your families and more.Although you may have been right at the point where it takes away your family time or dinner altogether but discipline is what it takes to get up and move away from it.But i do like network compared to the telephone. Meeting people face to face is just time that is needed to be planned. While you are at home there is always the phone or the computer which is so easily accessible compared to the phone. So in my opinion the network real yhas gotten us started and made it really convinient for all of us. cheers mate! interesting topic.
ReplyDeleteeverything has its benefits and negative effects. over-excessive patterns of dependence on the computer is never healthy, but i highly doubt nobody relies on them AT ALL.
ReplyDeletejust remember the most essential thing - BALANCE.
ling: HAHAHA! nice, yes i know how much the internet mean s to you. true, it has widen our vision on the world and open our mind to other cultures. but yes face to face meet ups would still be the best for both of us :)
ReplyDeletedanny: yeah i know it takes huge discipline to contorl our usage. However, these online mediums are a huge source of distraction as well. true that such networking give us a boost to creating friendships but then again, how long will it last?
jon: hey jon! yeah balance is good. not too much of reliance over one thing would be good. the point where you mention nobody relies on them at all? dont really get you there, i thought people these days over emphasize the importance of computers
awwww! heartwarming! (:
ReplyDeletewould you like for me to call you everyday to talk to you on the phone for at least a few minutes? (:
sad to say, social networking has caused quite a bit of commotion in our lives. haven't it?
from strangers or maybe even people we know hiding behind the screen with a screen name talking bad about our friends and also quarreling with out friend so badly over the net. ):
but i do realize something about you! (:
you are someone who would choose networking face to face than thru the net. (:
like how you would rather sit down and talk through the problems face to face rather than thru msn. (:
the only thing different between humans and other living things other than being able to think and speak, is emotions and the ability to express our emotions. and only through networking face to face would we be able to feel those emotions to the maximum.
when i think of someone who is so into social networking online who cuts off all ties with the external world and only hides at home and behind this screen 24/7. i picture a lonely geeky guy with specs and someone who has no emotions. creepy.
YES.
ReplyDeleteWe all did fine with just a telephone(at home) and we still could converse with our friends and keep each other updated about our social lives etc. And it was at a more personal level.
Through the internet messaging or sms, you'll not hear the person's voice nor will you be able to know their emotions.
I prefer to old fashion face to face talk. (:
THIS IS WHY I DO NOT HAVE FACEBOOK (or friendster) AND I'M PROUD OF IT.
ReplyDeletebite me!
i'd never conform and sign up for an account no matter how many people has urged/persuaded/threatened me to get fb.
reasons being:
1. i don't like that i can be stalked
2. i hate having the world know where i went last weekend
3. i prefer to be "unsearchable" online
4. i don't have the time to play games or maintain the account
there!
i see no benefits in social networking sites at all, besides being able to grab your photos from a friend.
Well... have you ever gone out with someone, and that someone spends half the time on his/her phone, either sms-ing or chatting on it... if so... I rest my case... HAHAHA
ReplyDeleteHi Sarah
ReplyDeleteTo a certain extent, I think traditional means of communication(telephone) is better, in that it has a more personal touch to it. Sometimes, the internet(e.g. Facebook, twitter) robotizes interpersonal communication.
However, communication via internet today certainly has its benefits. I, for one, am able to keep in contact(though little) with my Navy and Army buddies. Also, if not for Facebook, I wouldn't have known a girl called Sarah! wow
Nothing beats taking on the telephone! (:
ReplyDeleteother than talking face to face, of course!
I really miss those times when we were highly dependent on such means to communicate. Emotions were expressed more truthfully, and with more impact. Unlike internet chatting, where emotions can be easily altered to fit whatever that is convenient, making it untruthful and unreliable.
But of course, if such alterations are absence, the mobility and convenience of the internet definitely surpasses that of the phone (:
The thing I love about facebook is that the random postings like quizes and what not give old friends excuses to talk to one another.
ReplyDeleteLike an old friend got asked “if Cheng were to take you on a space ship woud you go?” and that sparked the first time we talked in almost a year.
The thing i hate is how with cyber communication, so many people are becoming socially inept and can’t hold a real time conversation well.