To me technology really only means one thing...Speed. The purpose of technology is to speed up processes that would otherwise take us longer to do. As the world speeds up, it causes people to speed up as well. People have more and more time but consequently are in more and more of a hurry. Time has become more valuable than ever, and because of it day to day relationships are diminishing. Appearance has become more important than who the person acutally is. The way someone looks is a quick and easy way to judge who you think that person is and what kind of person they are. People pass judgements quickly as they walk down the street in a hurry from point A to point B without taking the time to actually get to know somebody.
As technology has created this faster, more chaotic world, it has also created a whole other side to it. Chatrooms, email, cell phones and online communities are bigger than ever. The ironic thing about the superficial society that technology has created is that these ways of communiticating through technology actually allow for personal relationships. Online dating services are bigger than ever and chatrooms are filled with millions of users who can say whatever they want under the cover of a screen name. If you connect with someone, you can have a one on one conversation and slowly disclose more personal information. Some sites like www.facebook.com and www.myspace.com are a little more revealing by allowing users to put up pictures and create a profile about themselves.
Is love possible over the internet? Only time will tell. There are more and more stories everyday of people meeting through email or on a chat program only end up starting an online relationship that turns into more. I think the reason for this success is because through technology (especially the internet) a person can filter their searches to things that they truely like. Thousands of people with similar interests and personalities come together everyday and share ideas. While everyone deals with our superficial and speed-driven society on a daily basis, millions are turning to technology to detach themselves from the system and try to find people who are similiar to themselves and share ideas. If love is a connection between two people, then technology is helping people make that connection that would otherwise not be there.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
12 comments:
I'd like to see some exploration into the world of chatrooms...
I like the asking of the question "Is love possible over the internet?". I don't know, but I would like to hear what other's have to say or their views about it. It really makes me wonder and start to think.
It's interesting that you make the connection of technology and our everlasting quest for speed to our prioritization of relationships. I think this is a reasonable conception but it would be interesting to explore the idea of convenience. Does a relationship really take up more time than the "addictions" to Facebook and whatnot? Or is it the impersonalization and convenience of technology that impels us to substitute? Perhaps people feel safer exploring the prospects of relationships online because it is less personal and, thus, less hurtful.
Very good insight on this topic. Online dating or networking sites really do speed up processes that would usually take forever. Also, this brings up a point of opening relationship possibilities to more than just a close proximity. The internet provides thousands and thousands of people to connect with rather than just a certain smaller area of people.
This is true. It's hard to believe how fast relationships move today. I wonder if this hurts the relationship by not establishing a good foundation.
I like where you're going with this. From a guy's perspective, speed is the ultimate goal. The faster we get a girl, the faster we'll know if we want to keep her. It'll be interesting to see where you go with this.
I like where you're going and how you detail all the technology in your life. It would be interesting to see if there is reserach on how much romance and dating has changed with us since our parents' age. Obviously the divorce rate has skyrocketed- could this be why? Are we getting that detached that we marry someone we don't know that well?
that's interesting. I always thought online dating services were kind of dumb, i've always wanted to meet someone who actually had a serious relationship that stemmed from that. I know I'd never put my profile on one of those!
I think that love is possible over the internet, or at least infactuation or lust. I think the reason that these sites and chats are so popular is because people are more comfortable saying what they want and approaching others when they can hide behind a computer screen. It gives people who are too scared to go out in the real world and meet people out to present themselves to others the way they want.
I really like how you talk about how everything is speeding up. I think this is really changing the way relationships work, especially in regards to online chatrooms and dating services. It would be cool to research how many of those relationships actually work out.
I agree with the idea that people like these forms of communication because of the ability to remain anonymous. However it seems to me that common interests can only take you so far, I think there has to be more than that, but can the internet give that extra spark that successful relationships have? I don't know the answer to that though. :)
A co-worker of mine does online dating. He always struck me as a guy who never really had a problem with meeting a girl. He's an attractive guy, intellectual, can carry a good conversation, well you get the picture. What drives people to online dating? Who is the target audience for online dating?
Post a Comment