Saturday, September 17, 2011

"Don't follow me, I'm lost too."

I grew up with a typewriter in the house. I remember Mom typing away and I can even remember the noise it made as it jumped to the next line on the page. She taught me to type. I excelled in typing class while others were still learning where to put their fingers. We had an answering machine and a rotary house phone.

Fast forward 20+ years. My son is 2 and will see his first typewriter when he googles one. He knows how to unlock my cell phone. He has THREE toy laptops and two toy cell phones. He has also thrown my $400 phone across the room but I digress.

I HATE technology. Hate sounds a tad strong and it may be but it's the truth. I can't stand it but here's the catch: I love technology. I realize this doesn't make any sense but it's also the truth. I entered my first chat room in high school and entered a room full of words and strangers, weirdos, and probably a lot of grown adults pretending to be teens. In college, I joined collegeclub.com and LOVED it. Then there was blackplanet.com...friendster.com...myspace.com...facebook.com. I signed on daily, spent way more hours than I'll ever admit to. Let's not forget instant messenger services...yahoo, AIM, msn, I had them all. I have had the pleasure of meeting many people in the "real world" that I originally met online. Some are still friends of mine and some I have no interest in ever speaking to again.

What's next? Where do we go from here? We are a society stuck behind our laptops, peeking over our cell phones, engaging in conversations while using our ipads, and reading books on our nooks. We cry when there's no wifi and lose our minds when we forget our cell phones at home.We abbreviate words that don't need to be shortened, dumb down our posts so everyone understands and misspell words because it's "cute".


People think it's odd I still subscribe to magazines and buy books. I want to make picket signs and protest outside on someone's lawn (don't get scared unless you live nearby). No one will hear me over their Ipods though so I'm discouraged. My cd's have piles of dust on them and I no longer own cassette tapes. The lady at the register of my favorite clothing store (or grocery, shoe, hat, anything store) asks for my phone number or email address and looks offended when I say "No" and tries to justify why she NEEDS it before I make my purchase. "I can't continue with the purchase until you give me the info," she replied. "I just want the jeans," I mumble.

When we meet people with internet access, we assume they have a facebook page. "What do you mean you DON'T have facebook?" We walk away shaking our heads at their paranoia for being "too connected" to the world. We can "check in" to places for the whole world to know exactly where we are. We get tagged in photos we would never have shown the public.  If there is a "Stalking for dummies" book, it is no longer necessary.

All I'm really saying is: I support growth and progress. I just hope we don't lose ourselves in the process. Writing letters, phone calls, meeting REAL people in public...is it a lost cause? I won't tell you how many texts I've sent this past month (my poor thumbs) but there's NOTHING like real conversation. There's also NOTHING like sending a slightly inappropriate text to the wrong person so be careful.

This blog was inspired by Pitre Braxton. I went to his blogspot page earlier. He had links to his blog, youtube, facebook, skype and twitter. I was impressed and disturbed. I have email: yahoo, 2 aol, gmail, bellsouth, work, and used to have 2 hotmail addresses. WHY!? My favorite man (more about him another day) has 3 gmail addresses. I've never asked why and I'm sure he has others. Today's my second day as I blogger and I am now a "follower" of several people. Twitter scares me but eventually I'll join and you'll follow me (yes, you).

Just be careful out there. Not everyone is headed in the same direction. Not everyone needs to be followed. Look behind you sometimes, there are a few trying to catch up to bring you down. I've learned THAT lesson too. Have fun though. Enjoy yourself but be a little paranoid. There's enough on the internet for me to find you, your first pet and your mother's maiden name.

 The irony of all of this? I typed this entire blog on my android via a blog app. I guess I have to use this technology since it's not going anywhere, huh?

Now excuse me, I have family to visit, friends to CALL back and letters to WRITE. I encourage you to try this novel idea. The recipient will be pleased (no guarantees).


Oh and follow me here on blogspot if you dare..I'm headed places! I'm also on fb, Gtalk, tumblr and youtube.
*sigh*

Ttyl LOL Ijs

~ Miss J

4 comments:

  1. I absolutely loved reading this, sis!

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  2. What a great writer you are J - loving this. You realize you are just making me even more connected by adding yet another must-read blogger to my already long list of bloggers? :-)

    P.S. - my tech pet peeve - watching people walk and text or talk and text or the worst - people sitting across from each other at lunch/dinner/wherever texting and ignoring each other the ENTIRE time. Breaks my heart. P.S. I resist by disabling text svc on my phone. Yes, I am the only person in the country who neither receives nor sends text. It's my last holdout, my stronghold, I WILL NOT BE MOVED!

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  3. Technology is a double edged sword...with that being said, you're really taking off with this blog. Lovin it.

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