We all live in a society where technology is available right
at our finger tips, and there are many different ways to view how technology
has changed our interactions with others. Facebook is a great way to keep in
touch with old friends and family, and it is rather convenient to just shoot
someone a text rather than take the time to call them. Now, I text and use
Facebook just as much as the next person, but sometimes I wonder if my
relationships with others would be different if I hadn’t. I ask you, has
technology been detrimental or beneficial to the relationships that we have
formed with others?
Sending text messages can be very vague in a conversation.
Without being able to see the expression on your face or hear the tone of your
voice, people can’t always understand exactly what you’re trying to say. Has
that ever happened to you? I have to say that it has happened to me quite a few
times, and it can create a pretty awkward situation. Now, if you just need to
tell someone that you’ll be back in ten minutes or that you’re on the bus,
that’s not a big deal; but if you’re having a serious conversation with someone
that requires great detail or emotion, texting isn’t the best way to go.
Finding old friends on Facebook is fantastic. Every once in
a while, I’ll be poking around on Facebook, and I’ll come across someone that I
haven’t seen in years! Well look at that, it’s Such and So from middle school,
my how they’ve changed. That’s weird, seeing how much someone has changed just
in a few years, but that’s the great thing about Facebook, you never know who
you’ll see again. Being able to talk to someone who you haven’t spoken to in
years is one of the main reasons as to why I use Facebook; to ask where they’ve
been, where they are now, and where they plan to be is the best.
So what do you think? Detrimental or Beneficial?
I think that it is both a detriment as well as a supplement to our relations with others. We can get the chance to meet up with friends who we haven't seen in years because we can find them. It gives us the chance to arrange minor things without having to make five phone calls. However, as I found out earlier this week, there are also some challenges. For example, my one friend and I were having a conversation over Facebook, and he gave a sarcastic remark. However, because I could not hear the inflection of his words or see his body language I was unable to tell that it was sarcastic, hence mistaking it for a truthful statement. So I don't think that this medium does one or the other...I think that it does both.
ReplyDeleteThis kind of social networking technology can be beneficial if used responsibly. It should not be your only way of communicating with friends, only a supplement (like Ashley said). If someone uses Facebook, or Twitter, or texts a lot, then it can make face-to-face conversations awkward. Texting and FB messages or wall posts can be answered with careful thought and can be answered at a later time. This takes away speaking and conversation skills because the person can be used to taking time with responses instead of carrying on a flowing conversation.
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