mindlessness

I am sitting here trying to write something for the open prompt blog that's due for next class and I'm completely stuck. For a half an hour I have been mindless starring at the T.V. During commercial breaks I would look down at the computer and try to think again. But once "Gilmore Girls" cam back on I was hopelessly distracted. I find that I do this most of the time I try to do homework. I can spend hours on one assignment just because I am too busy trying to multitask and watch T.V. at the same time. But why don't I just turn off the T.V.? could this be because I'm addicted to watching T.V.? I can also catch myself getting on Facebook if I'm doing work on the computer or texting throughout my study time. I know I'm not the only one who does this. I think it could very well be a sign that today's generation may be addicted to technology.

computers, computers, everywhere!

This past weekend I went to Virginia Tech to visit my friends. The whole weekend I never got a chance to get on Facebook or use a computer at all. It wasn't like I was too busy since some parts of the day we were just hanging out and watching movies, perfect time for mindless "facebooking". But I never felt a strong urge to actually get on the computer. So maybe I'm not "addicted" to technology. However, that wasn't the case last semester.
I took a class dealing with today's society and the progression of technology. I had to go three days without technology and I couldn't do it fully. That led me to believe that I was addicted to Facebook, TV, etc. Maybe it was only difficult though because I was focused on not using it as opposed to last weekend when it wasn't on my mind.
I'm still trying to get to the answer of my question "Are we addicted to technology?" Dictionary.com defines an addiction as "the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming, as narcotics, to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma." This does not seem to fit how I or many teens and young adults feel about modern technology. But there has to be more kinds of addictions than what we normally think an addiction is such as drugs and alcohol.

Cracked

     I'm going to take the time to write this blog mainly to bounce ideas around my head. Since my blog topic is a question and not a statement of my beliefs, I need to consider all sides of the subject to come to my own conclusion. If you ask and adult maybe 40 years and older, they would claim children and young adults today are addicted to technology. However, if you ask a child or young adult if their generation is addicted they would probably say no. I also can't help but notice the difference in responsibility between the ages which I connected with technology uses just yesterday.
     Yesterday I carelessly through my phone to my friend confident that she would catch it. Instead it fell to the ground and the screen cracked in the corner. It is small and my phone still works, but I am upset with myself for being so careless with something I use so much. My friend on the other hand has cracked her phone's screen many many times. Her phone still works but you can hardly read the screen. She even cut her finger on the glass once. We are reckless, not always thinking about consequences before we act. We both have damaged what some would say is our "life-lines".
     I find this very ironic. If we are so addicted to our phones, why wouldn't we take more care of it? A person addicted to smoking cigarettes would never throw a pack away due to carelessness. I'm not saying I have proven anything, but this idea I have observed is not consistent with an addiction. But then again, maybe people my age just lack responsibility.
    

"Is Google Making Us Stupid?"

In class, we just read an article called "Is Google Making US Stupid?" by Nicholas Carr. I felt like Carr's article related with my question, "Are we addicted to technology?" Carr argues that people rely on the Internet to get information quickly and use their reading skills electronically. We now skim articles and don't put too much deep thought into the articles we see. Carr believes that the Internet is not only changing the way we read but the way we think. Therefore, technology is affecting our minds and how we act. It is changing us as a generation. Is it changing us because we are addicted to it? How would you define an addiction; where do you draw the line? I think that Carr would probably say that we are becoming addicted to technology.

They Say...

For this blog, I brought up the question, "Are we addicted to technology?" As a teenager, I am used to hearing that I spend too much time on my phone, on the computer, or watching TV. Most young people do not see the amount of time spent using technology as a problem. They have adapted to the lifestyle and it is customary to have a day long texting conversation with someone or multiple people. Adults do not agree with this generation. My mother learned how to text in the last few years and still asks me to help her with her phone. Though most adults fully comprehend how to work their TV or computer, cell phones are constantly changing. Adults usually use cell phones for professional reasons not social which is the opposite for teenagers. However, more and more adults are getting Facebook accounts. The "they say" really depends on which side of the generation gap "they" are on. Older adults may think today's generation is addicted to technology because they did not grow up using it. Meanwhile, today's new generation do not think they are addicted because they do not know a way without it.

Technology and Education

I read an article the other day discussing the distractions technology can bring into the classroom and other areas of learning. The article provides facts about decreased abilities in correct spelling and grammar and also statistics on plagiarism. While studying this article I notice three elements of the writing that helps expose its real purpose. First off, the pitch of the article is the idea that technology is affecting the education process. The second component is the complaint. The complaint of the article is the concern that technology is developing quickly and over time student's education will continue to suffer. The final concept is the moment. The moment is the opinion of many adults that teenagers may possibly be addicted to technology. The article even points out that students use their phones at school even though rules prohibits it. Though facts show that spelling and grammar has worsen through the years, how can we be so sure that technology is to blame? Other factors may contribute since technology is not the only thing that has been changing.

article

Are We Addicted to Technology?

I was inspired to write my blog about addiction to technology through a class I took last semester that focused on different types of sustainability. I was still left wondering if Americans today have a technological addiction. I have a Facebook, cell phone, Ipod, and TV and use them every single day. When I have nothing else to do, I find myself on Facebook for hours at a time. Sometimes I am watching TV, on Facebook, and texting all at the same time while attempting to do my homework. I know I am not alone and that many Americans and maybe even people from other countries do what I do daily. This appears to be a problem, but are we actually addicted?