technology

Dear ro,

I share your feelings about the upsurge in technology. Like for you facebook or other "social networking" did not exist in my youth, I had already passed my thirtieth birthday before I had my first mobile. And while I am using the internet for a lot of things, to check holiday sites, get information, email, and iceberg obviously, I don't feel in any way inclined to get further into the "social networking" habit. I went back to college as a mature student a few years back and a friend of mine suggested that we stay in touch with facebook, so I started a facebook account. However, after two months I unsubscribed again, because I felt I was spending way to much time in front of the screen, while missing out on reading a good book, going for a coffee with fellow students, or in fact studying. I just realised that I valued direct personal contact so much more, where I could see somebody's smile, hear the voice, give a hug, sit there with some candles lit and a glass of wine.
I think that technology as such can put to very good use, if used in moderation. But it also can cause incredible distress, as I see with people who get bullied online or photographs being put on these sites that would compromise somebody else.
I love the virtual community we have here, to support each other, motivate, encourage... I also like all the positive material that can be found on the web, youtube, or certain blogs... and I certainly use the internet a lot for research. I also like skype very much, as it allowed my partner and me to communicate with her son when he was abroad, or it gives me the ability to have a chat with a few friends back home. But other than that I far more prefer the old fashioned methods of communication.
I remember a period in my teens where I had an incredibly close friendship with a girl that live far away in another city, and we communicated almost daily by writing long letters that would be sent by the normal post. It was exciting to wait for the postman, to receive the envelop, to get a cup of hot chocolate and sit back somewhere in my favourite place, open the letter and read.
I feel that life in our society has got so much faster with all the new developments, which again certainly has its good aspects, but it also puts many people under a lot of pressure, they don't take the time any more to sit down for a real quiet chat, or just enjoy the moment.

Thanks for the post, it made me think back again to times that were so very different from now... hmmm, almost makes me feel a bit old or out dated, :-) but I also feel that younger generations might be missing out on this very different experience...

Love,
xxx Robin xxx