Reaction to Did You Know? Video

I'm going to be honest, I openly embraced technology and its usefulness.  I don't own a Kindle or an IPhone (I know, shocking!) but, I do have a digital TV package that includes almost all the movie channels and when I leave the house without my cell phone, I feel alone and naked to the rest of the world for that day.  I frequently hit up Facebook to connect to my friends and classmates, and I mostly communicate via e-mail or text messaging.  My parents still get a paper newspaper, but I may only refer to it once a week for the comics section.  I either get my news online or by watching the morning news on my bedroom TV.  I feel that I am pretty "normal" by usage standards.  I may only spend a combined 2 hours of time streaming the internet, using my computer, or using my cell phone in some way on a normal day.  This time has drastically increased since class started though!

The video Did You Know? scared me in a few ways.  Although I embrace technology and think its the best thing since chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream, people abuse it.  Just as the video says, "Convergence is everywhere.  Its easier than ever to reach a large audience, but harder than ever to really connect with it."  This truth is very disturbing.  Children (and adults) are not out in the world experiencing new things anymore.  Its like they live vicariously though the internet or television instead.  Even when they are out and about, I rarely see people conversing with each other face to face or actually watching where they're walking.  To give you an example, I recently went out to eat at a local italian restaurant with my boyfriend.  There was a family of 3 sitting next to us, and the entire time we were at the restaurant, they did not say one word to each other.  Instead, they were all playing with their IPhones, even when the food got delivered!  Mannerisms like that disgust me because its like humans are becoming automated and don't know how to maintain personal relationships anymore.  Also, has anyone else noticed that kids don't seem to ride their bike everywhere as they once did?  As a substitute teacher, I always heard about video games and computer experiences, but rarely did I hear about how kids rode a bike outside, played catch, or went for a hike.  It seems that society is losing its touch with the real world, and instead is living via a virtual one.

Moreover, does anyone else find it disturbing that presidential campaigns are being funded through social networks and not benefit dinners anymore?  I feel if you're going to be the leader of this country you should at least try to meet with people in person and talk about your platforms and their concerns.  We really need to find a balance between technology use and being able to not lose our touch with reality.