Technology Takes Attension (blog 10)

Sherry Turkle addresses in her article, "Can You Hear Me Now?" how technology alienates you. It takes your attention from others around you and from yourself. She also mentions that it is bad for children to have cell phones, because they are always connected to their parents and don't get out in the real world by themselves. I agree with Turkle on the point that technology alienates us from our surroundings and somewhat ourselves, however I disagree that it is negative for children to own cell phones.

Turkle uses the reference of the PDA the Blackberry often in her article. As a Blackberry owner I have experience in being alienated from society. The Blackberry can receive your facebook and myspace updates, text messages, emails from all accounts you have, instant messages, and phone calls. Your phone is constantly chiming in with your new information. In most of the technology today they have phones that have all these and more features in your cell phone. This always gives people something to do in the technology world, you can check everything anywhere. I myself don't know what i would do without my cell phone. Turkle writes in her essay how technology like these can be addicting, and she is absolutely right. I myself have even had friends and relatives who spend all their time on their phones and text while your talking to them. I have gotten the "huh" and head nods a lot from friends not paying attention lost deep in their cell phones. Cell phones have disconnected us from society and ourselves.

Although I agree that technology is alienating, Turkle fails to support the opposition that we need these technologies to and extent. Turkle says in her article that children and teens these days should not have cell phones because it allows them to always be connected to their parents, not experience the real world, and not learn to fend for themselves. I disagree with this thought. The world has gone to crap. You are constantly hearing news stories of the increasing violence, kidnappings, homicides, and disasters. Do you want to be able to get a hold of your child in case they become a victim of the world's evil? We need these technologies to stay connected to our children and informed of whats going on around us in the world. Isn't that what parents are for anyways, protecting and being there for their children?

Yes technology is distracting, alienating, and disconnecting, but think where would we be without it. We need our cell phones, email, Internet, and other forms of communication to an extent. It all comes down to today's society, and how we have abused the technology given to us. Technology has made us rude. Next time your in class, having a conversation with a friend, or driving, put your phone down and have some respect.