Modern Aesop's Cyber Fable...'Chasing the Mechanical Rabbit'

Remember the Aesop fable about the Tortoise and the Hare. The boastful hare or rabbit challenged the plodding tortoise or turtle to a race. Of course, the rabbit made fun of the slow-moving turtle, over-confident that it would win rather handily. Many of us know the ending from this Greek fable: The rabbit loses the race, because of cockiness, too many stops and starts along the way...while the turtle was steadfast and took a measured, calm path to victory.  

             "the race is not to the swift"    (Ecclesiastes 9.11)

On a slightly different note and with a modern twist, I was thinking about dog races...that is, greyhounds chasing the "mechanical rabbit" or lure on circular race tracks and for betting purposes. 

Saw this firsthand at a dog track in New England. Confident of their speed, the greyhounds run and run and never catch the "mechanical rabbit." Being an animal lover and supporter of the SPCA, this is another chapter on animal cruelty--both physical and mental torture. Unfortunately, the dogs do not know any better.  They continue their chase of the "mechanical rabbit," all to avail. 

Humans do supposedly know better, yet we continue our chase of the "mechanical rabbit" called technology and all of its varied trappings. We think we are winning the race to increased productivity and meaningful communication.

But alas, the lure is more "apps," upgraded and flashier devices/models such as Droids, Razers, iPads, iPhones and the conspiracy of planned obsolescence. Our cyber world is filled with more pins and passwords and usernames than we can ever remember. There is barely enough time to absorb the meaning of our uploads and downloads, before we ask for more "speed."

We now insert barnacle-like, contraptions to our ears like a badge of confidence or delusional thinking that we are "connected" and way ahead of the curve. Soon, the devices will be "plugged" into more, private bodily orifices and appendages. The challenge race is to be the "early adopter" or the first in line at Best Buy for the next gadget.

Our children suffer worse addictions to "speed" and technology. They barely function without their technology toys, seemingly catatonic when it comes to face-to-face, encounters which require basic social skills. That is why there is such a strong movement to measure "emotional intelligence" instead of "cyber intelligence" in academics and in the work place.

We will never catch the "mechanical rabbit" at this rate, no matter how fast we appear to be moving. The finish line to communication is always just beyond the horizon, a mirage that's analogous to the "cruel and unusual" punishment that's inflicted on the greyhounds.

On the flip side, there is much to be said about the pace of the turtle...no matter how boring or mundane it appears to be. Even the cable companies poke fun at the turtles for their lack of speed, when touting their Internet services. I will take the "turtle" as my mascot any day and in any race. Catching our breath, listening more, smelling the coffee and less narcissistic Tweeting and Facebooking might give greater meaning to our communication.

If the Aesop the Greek were around today, he would have a field day with our cyber addictions....and still pick the turtle to win the race.       

      "the more haste, the worse the speed"... (Wikepedia..Samuel Croxall)