Unsociable Society

I will admit that of the posts I make in which I may seem to damn some actions I am not myself always innocent, and when it calls will happily admit my guilt. Of this post and the things I shall discuss of many of them I am extremely guilty with. Some might ask if I am so guilty what is my right to preach, my right lies in the acceptance of my guilt and my honest whole hearted desire and action to make right my wrongs.

It is said that the things that made humans the successful creatures (because we are just animals and don’t you forget) is that we interacted with each other in a way sublimely unique. Communication. Though some will point to the menagerie of the world an exclaim “but they have communication!” it is true to an extent, and part of me even wishes to believe that secretly they are in far advance of us, however their communication pails in the face of our abilities. Some might argue that we are at a level of communication never known before with tools once unimaginable at our disposal. So why is it that we seem so incapable of being sociable? It seems more and more as we become fixated with the latest inventions and versions of old technologies the less we care about each other. So happy to sit and watch a computer screen waiting for some one to update rather that going to that person and asking the what they’re up to. This technology almost steals the pleasure of real converse and crudely attempts to replicate it. Texts and tweets lead to abhorrent abuse of language, chopping and changing wherever possible. Face to face is replaced by facebook to facebook and discussion is replaced with chat. With these imposing possibilities to further our online selves our real life selves die and as we develop computer skills we forget the skills of human interaction. I am not going to condemn these technologies because in many ways they are a gift, and they have an amazing potential to help us become more it is merely with misuse (or at least misguided use) that they limit us. The internet and mobile phones and all the other gadgets that force their way into our lives are there to make our lives easier and they can, it is just trying to make them part of our lives than ruling over them. However my concern lies in the evident problems arising in people.

I would like to blame technology for all the issues that are present with communication and social interaction but it is impossible and irresponsible for me to do so. This is because no matter what it is people who are choosing to not interact face to face, to not greet strangers, to not talk. A question of why comes to mind and the only answer I can muster is that there is an infection of today’s society and culture. This infection is the irrational distrust and dislike of anyone you don’t know. It varies in its reasons but it is basically the same in that: I won’t talk to someone because they will undoubtedly react in some way I don’t know. We don’t trust them to react well and we don’t like them for it. And how do we deal with this dilemma? But the simple acceptance that it might not go so badly, in the hope that something good might come from it, and from the simple decision to leave your computer and not answer you phone for fifteen minutes whilst you enjoy a conversation.

This is a topic I am fascinated with and would greatly appreciate comments back on this, or should you see me on the street feel free to just talk to me as I will be endeavouring to talk to more people myself. I also intend to write further on this topic and other similar topics so keep an eye out.