Recently, Louis C.K. was on Conan O’Brien, talking about how smart phones destroy one’s empathy. We begin talking about that, asking each other if we agree with Louis C.K.’s thinking. Then it’s on to the physical ways smart phones make us feel when we ask each other if we’ve ever felt separation anxiety when not able to use our phones.
Like it or not, the Internet (and easy access to technology) has changed the way we do so many things. We talk about why we’re online and, as writers, we take a few moments to ask if online promotion has been worth it for us…or if having a “brand,” “platform,” whatever we’re calling it this week is all hype.
Speaking of hype, a lot has been written about how always having access to information has degraded human focus. We ask if we had more focus before or after technology became such an available thing. By reading this online, it’s clear that on some level, the gorilla men are okay with technology, but what technology makes us cringe? Do we feel the need to keep up with everything? Can we make it through a lunch without checking for or answering a text message — find out!
Back to technology’s physical effects…we take a few minutes to ask if checking Facebook and other things is a reflex. Do we play games on our phones, or is that the line we draw where we say, “Nope, that eats up waaaaaaaay too much time!”? Then it’s on to our biggest tech weakness and a discussion if we can — or even want to — change it. Have we ever been so connected that technology has affected our sleep?
Thoreau had Waldon; now, simply taking a one-week social media break is cause for writing articles…we discuss taking social media breaks and ask if we could sit in a cabin all weekend without any tech. Finally, we wrap it all up by asking what is gained (and lost) by always being connected.
If you’re reading this and listen to the show, you obviously have feelings about technology and the way we’ve all come to use it. We’d love to hear your thoughts about this episode in the comments.
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An inbox can be cleared? I can really do that?
If you spend your time doing nothing else, it’s possible. I’ve been to the mountaintop!
I’ve heard that it’s such an accomplishment that it merits a social media status of “Inbox zero!” Which, I assume, means that person never understood that if you ignore trolls, they generally leave you alone…’cause the moment I see that, I’m sure I’m not the only one to send them a bunch of email about how happy I am to hear they achieved no email in their inboxes.