Who is in Charge: Technology, Conveniences or Us?

I was writing this article for a future blog but in light of the recent Amtrak/East River Tunnel derailment it seems appropriate to publich it now.

Have you ever wondered about all the conveniences around us?

Sometimes I wonder who is in charge; modern technology or us? It is great having
electric lights, phones, cable television, the internet, computers and our cell phones but are they there to serve us or it is us there for them. When then power grid went down in
2003, how did you feel? Did you feel free? Scared? Confused? Unfortunately on that summer day I was stuck in the middle of Long Island City with a wonder of how I was going to make it back to East Meadow that day.

With no electricity the traffic lights and the subway were as good as the junk in the street. Fortunately, I was able to get a tide from a friend of mine who offered to drive me out of his way home.  When I finally got home (barely) after risking every intersection without traffic lights, I noticed many of my neighbors acting confused because there were no TV shows to fill their evening, no microwaves or electric stoves to cook the food.

Some people were wondering how I got home if the electric was out; they asked me how the car I was in was able to drive. I felt relieved that the power was out for some time because now my family and I had to get back to nature and use conventional ways to get through the rest of the day. My mind felt clearer for once because my choices were reduced dramatically.

The only way to eat dinner was by used of my trusty barbeque; light was provided by our emergency candle supply and flashlights and  the only entertainment was books, talking or play a sport with the neighbors.  So do you ever feel like many we have too much “tech” in our lives? The biggest commander of our attention has to be our cellphones followed by the internet and video games.

So often I experience the feeling that the cellphone is more important than me when I am talking to someone. Many times I will be talking to someone when in the middle of the conversation their phone rings and without thinking for a minute the call takes over. What ever happened to simple manners?

The cellphone almost commands the attention like a spoiled child. The internet has taken over a way of getting information to and from; many times I am told that the recipient will only accept an email or electronic transfer. Paper is now the enemy. No wonder my mail carrier has nothing to do, there no mail to pick up anymore.  Once in a while it would be
good to just put it all aside for a day or two and get back to “real life”.

Think about it!