How has modernity improve our communications with one another?
- May 7th, 2010
- 1 Comment »
Henry David Thoreau wrote the following thoughts during the period of 1845-47 when he lived in the woods, and I feel it speaks so aptly about the way we live our lives in modern society:
“Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end, an end which it has already but too easy to arrive at; as railroads lead to Boston to New York. We are in great haste to construct a magnetic telegraph from Maine to Texas; but Maine and Texas, it may be, have nothing important to communicate.”
We are besieged daily by the major telecommunication companies to get the latest gadgets with the state-of-the-art applications, the fastest modems, and lots of free text messages. And we are constantly glued to the facebook and twitter etc, yet how has all these modern technologies helped improve our communications with one another? More often than not, the messages we get from these channels serve little for the enrichment of our lives except to know the latest gossip or that someone got an itch on his nose!
Henry David Thoreau added: “…such a predicament as the man who was earnest to be introduced to a distinguished deaf woman, but when he was presented, and one end of her ear trumpet was put into his hand, had nothing to say. As if the main object were to talk fast and not to talk sensibly. We are eager to tunnel under the Atlantic and bring the old world some weeks nearer to the new, but perchance the first news that will leak through the broad, flapping American ear will be that the Princess Adelaide has the whooping cough.”
We may find these thoughts amusing but do make a conscious effort to observe and be aware of all the ‘communications’ (or lack of it) that are happening around us.
How often have we used these modern telecommunications in strengthening relationships with one another, in having a better understanding of one another, and to touch one another at a deeper level?
Be mindful of your intentions the next time you activate your mobile or email or facebook – on how these connections are improving your communication with all others.
This is a very interesting article. Thank you for sharing.