Food for thought

[Hiatussin]

In the present world, where a pocket calculator costs $1, few people can still divide 9453 by 37 by heart, or even quickly add large numbers. The mind is easily capable of far more complex calculations when trained for them, but there is no need.

Is it possible that with all the technological gadgets and tricks involved in communication these days, chat, forums, cell phones, text messages, profile sites, we have reduced our ability to efficient and careless direct personal contact?

We wouldn´t worsen our language, because it is conserved even in these new things, but are we less good at using it in combination with facial expressions and body language and timing?

 

[silverfish]

It's true, the internet is one of the reasons people don't or can't communicate effectively anymore. When was the last time anyone actually sat down and wrote a letter to someone, fully expecting to get a letter in return. People used to be outside all the time, social interaction was very important, and still is to many. But the internet is making it easy for kids and adults alike to hide behind a persona and have an "active social life" online.

 

[Hiatussin]

Bars and pubs are going out of business a lot too. I live in a student city, 100 k inhabitants of which 50 k students

there are maybe 25% of the amount of bars here compared to 15 years ago.
Talking happens in emails and MSN Messenger and on cellphones. It used to be, you had to talk to someone and they lived in your town, you went over there. You had a drink with them. No more.

It used to be you have to go get all your courses and supporting printouts physically in person and you´d see your costudents there. These days you can download it all. It´s possible if you plan well to pass your courses without going to a single lesson or meeting co-students.

Nobody talks about it much anymore but the method of finding sexual and/or romantic partners is still ever shifting towards digital too. It´s been on a steady slow rise since the invention of the concept and has long since moved beyond the realms of the supernerds. Attractive desirable succesful people are doing it too now. A nice clear-cut match just for you, judged by a series of answers to standard questions.

I´m too young to be nostalgic and maybe this isn´t so bad

 

[KillahBee]

This isn't exactly a brand new school of thought, but I agree with most of it (the bar theory seems a bit far fetched, considering it's the most volatile business out there with the worst success rate anyway...).

One thing to add is that with all the new means of communication, society is becoming increasingly more dependent on others and people do not know how to be "alone" anymore. Go to a college campus and wtach what happens when class gets out - everyone jumps on their cell phone. Then back to the dorm for some IMing. While this can be a great thing, it can be (and is) a very dangerous cycle as well.

 

[Hiatussin]

the bar thing is very real.

I know bars come and go. But the overall number of them here has plummeted and the ones remaining are rarely full and are having to increase their price for one beer with more than twice the rate of inflation every year.

I don´t pretend to put forward a new school of thought.

 

[KillahBee]

the bar thing is very real.

I know bars come and go. But the overall number of them here has plummeted and the ones remaining are rarely full and are having to increase their price for one beer with more than twice the rate of inflation every year.

I don´t pretend to put forward a new school of thought.

Didn't mean to say you did "pretend".

And the bar thing - you may be somewhat right, but there are so many variables affecting the success and traffic of bars that it is difficult to make such claims.

 

[JayC9]

"television the drug of the nation breeding ignorance and feeding radiation"

 

[Spartacus]

I just had a big bowl of red beans and rice

 

[hawaii50]

i eat carrots cuz they're good for my eyes