Sunday, October 6, 2013

Technology a thief

Please share this with your friends.

Technology a thief?

 This past weekend I have been thinking about how much time I spend on the computer and/or on my phone, and I didn't like the answer I came up with.
Now, I'm not a couch potato by any means, but most of my "off time" (coffee before work, lunch, afternoon coffee break, and at night after supper) I spend on the computer. Mostly on Netflix, youtube, facebook, and a couple of online forums I enjoy.
So technology can be a thief of your time, and talents that take time to practice. I used to be pretty good on the guitar, and could pick a little on the banjo.
Now the other day I decided I wanted to learn how to play a new country song that I had heard on the radio. So after supper, I got on the laptop and found the chords and lyrics on a website. I tried playing along with the song off my phone, but playing chords that I once found easy to play were now almost impossible!!!!
So not only have I allowed technology to steel my time, but also a talent that is somewhat important to me.
I realized all this on thursday evening, so on friday morning I had to go to town to get some cat litter from the store (I had stepped in a bread pan full of used motor oil that I use for tempering knives... what a mess), and while I was in town I decided that it has been far to long since I had read a book cover to cover. So when I got to the library I picked up a book that I have been wanting to read for quite a while. It was "Walden, By Henry David Thoreau", and after reading just a few chapters I realized that I didn't get this book just by chance at this time.
In "Walden" Mr.Thoreau talks about how little a person actually "NEEDS", and how petty technology really is.
I know that some of yall have heard me say this, but for everyone elses benefit, I'm gonna say it again. If most modern day technology is supposed to be "time saving devices", then why don't we have more time to spend with our family and friends?
Please give this some serious thought and share it with your friends.
As for me, well I'm still enjoying the writing of Mr. Thoreau, plan on spending more time with the people I care about, and reacquainting myself with the guitar and banjo.

3 comments:

Nick Audet said...

I would say that in many ways tech is a thief. I work, but I also sped lots (lessening) amounts of time on my laptop and iPod. I would also say that using tech "steels" from areas such as spelling and grammar. :D

Mike Silvius said...

Just remember Thoreau lived in a tiny cabin on Walden Pond, but once a week he rode the train to town and brought his mother a bundle of his clothes to be washed. For all we luddites malign it, technology is a good thing and much better than beating your clothes with a stick.

Nick Audet said...

Also, (lazy) Thoreau prided himself on self sufficiency of his small crop. However, his mother gave him bag lunches frequently. Not to mention the fact that he was a weird transcendentalist.