How technology affects how we communicate

October 2019

Pocket Sized Morality

Emmy Jansen
MSMU Class of 2023

I have never lived in a world without technology. While I didn’t have the newest of everything growing up, it was a foundation of my education and I spent formative years learning how to increase my typed words per minute and use certain software. Most Americans my age can attest to this same elementary education. Middle school was met with the surge of Apple devices, our clammy hands gripping our iPods on the school bus. We continued this trend in high school, documenting teenage drama and relationships all over our Instagrams. Classroom teaching became paperless, trading books for power points and videos. Every club, organization, or team had a Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter to go with it. College and job applications are almost selectively online, saving time and money. This is not only the life we live, but the life we were born into. So, when those of older generations ask us if we can imagine a world without our cellphones, as they always do, we honestly can’t. But I challenge the older generation with a statement I once heard said about the cell phone epidemic: "I’m not here to yell at your generation about being on your phones. After all, my generation invented them, and they were made to be used."

We live in an age where technology is rapidly advancing, and as the technology advances, so does the fear. Grandparents watch their grandchildren trade toys for video games and fear what it means for their mental growth and development. Artificial intelligence is created, and we fear it becoming sentient and destroying the human race. What we should be asking in that scenario isn’t, "How will we fight back?" but, "What makes them want to destroy our race in the first place?" Many of the dystopian novels that are popular on bookshelves involve the misuse of technology. From The Hunger Games to 1984, it is the technology that gives the oppressors power over the oppressed. Here at the Mount, every first-year student reads Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, which is a fatalistic take on the industrialization of America, leading to an immoral society built on technology similar to those used in eugenics. The main question we’re tasked with answering is, "Are we living in a Brave New World?" Somehow, the answer always comes down to the technology and the meaning behind it. And nearly a century later, we are close to having the technological capability to do what Huxley feared of. While this fear of losing our morals in return for technology is present in many first-year students, professors, and people all over the world, I counter it. We have the technology to do almost anything, but we have the morality not to do any of it.

This speaks to all of technology, even something as harmless as calls, emails, and text messages. We have the power to use it and the power to misuse it. Whether we like it or not, technology has impacted every aspect of our lives. At the end of every chapter in every textbook I’ve read in my first month of college, there is some statement along the lines of, "Technology has changed ______." Whether it be mass weapons changing international relations, social media changing the peace industry, or household devices changing the way we communicate, technology has left the world entirely different than how it was before its existence.

Social media is the most obvious example but if you look deeper, you can see the impact technology has had on our communication and how we view the world. Twitter has replaced the presidential Fireside Chats. Battlefield letters and diaries are now long-distance Skype calls. Violence is livestreamed and war is in our living room. We are more connected than we have ever been, but we have never felt more alone. This, I believe, is the problem with technology: not the use of it by teenagers, but the isolation we feel as a result. We have the power to talk to virtually anyone in the world with a few clicks of a button, which should unite us. But the internet and social media are instead full of hate, negativity, and despair. Suicide skyrockets globally and mental illnesses are becoming more prominent in teens and young adults. And when we wonder why, the evidence all points to the screens. Is this a reflection of human nature? I don’t want to believe so. But you have to wonder, when our televisions are full of thousands of channels of meaningless talk that we don’t ever watch, and our throats are choking on words we can say to anyone in the world but don’t dare to speak.

With this new technology, communication has struggled to catch up. Nonverbal expressions, tone, and context are lost when you trade face to face interaction with the online version, even with video chats and pictures. While the internet makes things efficient and easy, it complicates even the simplest of conversations. The true meaning of words is lost, and we often forget that there is a human being on the other side of the screen. Is the existence of the internet entirely negative? Of course not. The mere fact that we can talk to people on different continents in seconds is powerful enough to speak for itself. Separated families are connected, long distance relationships can thrive, and knowledge once resigned inside borders has spread globally. A core trait of humanity has developed around the world, and it will continue to grow as we become more interconnected with our counterparts across the oceans. The benefits of technology outweigh the consequences but not enough for us to ignore them entirely. As we charge our phones, we should recharge our brains and hardwire our hearts to translate compassion into code. The virtual world does not have to be different than the real world. Instead, we should learn to combine the two. But there is a learning curve that comes with this new power and we must revisit our foundations of society to truly understand how it should and shouldn’t be used.

Yes, communication has changed, significantly, as a result of technology. But humans have not. As we adapt to the newest iPhone, we should learn how to adapt our humanity and morality to also fit in our pockets. Industries like politics, journalism, and others struggle to catch up to the everchanging technology and we should grant it that delay. But we should recognize the immense opportunity we have to use technology for good and not let it be a meaningless luxury item. We, as a human race, deserve more.

Read other articles by Emmy Jansen

Innovate or Introspect?

Harry Scherer
Class of 2022

"Technological progress has merely provided us with more efficient means for going backwards." This is the case, at least for 20th century writer Aldous Huxley. In this quote, Huxley mentions the concepts of technology, progress, regress and the relationship between these three meaningful ideas. As we live through the technological revolution, it is important for us to consider these concepts with even greater intention.

The cultural age of rapid technological advancement was germinated and continues to grow without very much intentionality or reflection. One of the symptoms of this lack of concern is evident today in an apparent inability to communicate interpersonally. The public square is cluttered with insults and attacks because of a fundamental misunderstanding of what "the other" truly believes and desires. Our political debates quickly derail into raucous fights because of a lack of clarity and a great discomfort in opponents giving each other the benefit of the doubt.

Technology certainly plays a great role in this interpersonal disconnect. Technological advancement, though, is a symptom of our discomfort with intrapersonal communication. The culture demands that we only think about ourselves, or if we think about others it is so that we may further satisfy our self-esteem. Within this warped philosophy is a poor understanding of who we are supposed to be.

Consider, for example, the vocation of a mother. Her calling is to painfully bear children in her womb for nine months and then dedicate her life to their growth with undistracted attention for years. A true mother is a giving woman who does not live for herself or her betterment, but for that of her children. True and good mothers raise good men and women.

How does this definition fit with the cultural expectation that we live primarily for our own benefit? They are immediately at odds with one another. The caring mother can only be so if she, in the words of Socrates, knows herself. She has to understand the limits of her patience, the extent of her energy and the scope of her knowledge. Without a penetrating self-awareness, the mother yields ineffective to the children into whose care she has been placed.

It seems that there is a crucial misunderstanding today about the purpose of living for God and the other after a painful understanding of oneself. This cultural phenomenon is made evident when contrasted to the suffering involved in the monastic life. I spent about a week over the summer with the Trappist monks of New Melleray Abbey in Peosta, Iowa. At the retreat-seminar properly entitled the Monastic Wisdom Seminar, one of the monks said, "that’s the tough thing. You have to look yourself right in the mirror." The monastic life is an other-centered life, contrary to the belief that it is an escape from the troubles of the world. The hours of time spent in silence and meditation seem to inevitably lead to the mirror effect which the monk succinctly expressed.

The rapid technologization of the past 70 years indicates a symptom of our discomfort with looking inward. This makes sense based on our anthropology and our nature because looking inward requires that we examine our failures as much as our successes, our sorrows as much as our joys and our vices as much as our virtues. Because sin infects our human nature, a discomfort with a radical introspection is not specific to our generation or century. Rather, it seems that our blind obsession with technological advancement, regardless of the cost, is the way in which our generation responds to this perennial discomfort.

After we have found that it is better to live for God and others by recognizing who we are, it would be appropriate to describe some cultural effects of either being ignorant of this precept or disregarding it altogether. The habit of walking around with earbuds in, for example, has become easier with the invention of AirPods. This is an example of a technological advancement which was created for the sake of convenience and comfort but has little function other than tuning out every sound that is going on around us except for the song we want to listen to. Events as seemingly trivial as listening to the birds chirp or the traffic wiz by has been discarded because of the self-interested habit.

Another example of a needless technological innovation is the ability for us, students, to see our grades at any time during the semester. Just because it is easily possible to allow us to follow along with our progress on a numeric basis does not mean that it is preferable. Data-driven administrators are encouraged by the feature because they are better able to track how we perform throughout the semester compared with other data which is being collected about us, but students are left limiting the value of their education to a number which increases and decreases through the weeks. This constant attention which is given to grades does not lead to an increase in knowledge, but an increase in emphasis which is placed on the game of succeeding in school. Much like the prevalent trend to disregard standardized testing because the examinations do not test knowledge, but rather the ability to take tests, the constant ability to track grades makes students more intent on cunningly overcoming the obstacles of schoolwork, rather than pursuing growth in knowledge, wisdom and understanding.

The disregard for external surroundings which is made evident in the incredibly popularity of AirPods and the shift in the purpose of secondary and higher education are two unfortunate symptoms of our understandable discomfort with introspection. In 2019, technology is our medication to overcome and distract from this discomfort. Regardless of our influence in the tangible world of technology, we are called to overcome our cultural malaise and respond with the example of the best mother we know with a look inside so that we may better serve for the other.

Read other articles by Harry Scherer

The big screen that is life

Angela Guiao
MSMU Class of 2021

Sometimes, I sit in bed and wonder how the world would work if we didn’t discover technology. It wouldn’t be too crazy right? I mean, we didn’t always have technology. It’s crazy to think about just how integral a part technology plays in our daily lives today.

Every person I know owns a cellphone. Not having a cellphone is like being cut off from the rest of the world. How would you communicate with your friends? With your parents? With your family? How would you know how to get anywhere? Or here at the Mount, how would you know what assignments were due? Now that I come to think about it, how would I even write this article?

Technology plays a part in almost every single aspect of our lives. And.in my personal opinion is that it’s gotten to the point that its presence in our lives is just a little excessive. I mean, come on, do we really need WIFI in our cars? Or do we need cars that can drive themselves? I understand the argument that the reason for technology’s existence is to make life easier. But it does beg the question that if technology becomes too advanced, will technology even need us?

While it has certainly played a giant, vital part in human progress, hasn’t it also diminished human usefulness? I just feel like there are some things that do not need technology involved. For example, as a rule, my family does not use technology on vacations. That means no work or school emails, no handheld games, no portable movies or disrupting group chats. Possibly the only electronic we ever use on vacation is our digital camera. And even that, we do not use very often.

Now, I know that for some people that may sound crazy. I mean how can we not post our vacation goals on Instagram? And honestly, the answer is simple. We just don’t. I found that holidays I had where I did not use technology were 100 times more relaxing than the holidays I had where I did use technology. That just brings up another question for me. Why are we so obsessed with sharing every single little thing that we do?

Recently, I attended my cousin’s birthday party. I held the cake. And as I stood there singing happy birthday, I looked around and noticed every single person at the party was holding their phone and recording. Now before you all react and ask me whether I have ever done any of those things, the answer is yes. I am guilty of overusing technology. And if we are being totally honest, sometimes I regret focusing so much on getting the perfect shot or taking another video instead of just enjoying the moment. I mean, sure, by taking a video or photo, I have a keepsake of things that have been happening to me for the last few years. But sometimes, just looking at a picture isn’t as satisfying as actually remembering an experience.

I know what you are thinking. Why am I even bringing it up? A person without technology would fall behind. Technology connects. It connects people from all over the world. It connects employers to jobseekers. It connects future lovers. It connects long lost family. It connects those with the ability to help to those in need,

I just want to be completely clean. I am not bashing technology. How can I bash something that I use every single day? And I understand that while technology may have affected us negatively when it comes to real life interactions and social skills, it impacts us positively by exposing us to real world issues.

At the tap of our fingers we can access news reports from all over the world. We can choose to make injustices or acts of violence go viral and be brought to national attention. We have more of a say in how we want the world we live in to be. Without technology we are ignorant. We do not know so we are not hurt. With technology, we are forced to be hurt. We are faced with cruelties and discrimination, poverty and abuse that we would not be aware of were it not for technology.

We created machines that enabled us to discover more, that allows us to deal with molecules so small we can reengineer certain cells or viruses and find a cure. We built aircrafts so strong that we are able to discover space. Technology enables.

So, now that I have established that technology can be both a good and a bad thing, I guess the only thing I can ask now is if the good things make the bad things worth it? And that is a question that I cannot answer myself.

All I know is that in my life today, I don’t need to use technology as much as I do. In fact, whenever I get really overworked at school or my life just feels like a mess, I would often take a hiatus from technology. And, for me, those are some of the most peaceful moments of my life.

But that’s just me. And right now, I’m just a college student if you’re out there and you’re a scientist, an engineer, a writer, s surgeon, continue using technology! Keep innovating, keep developing, keep trying to make our world s better place.

But if you’re just like me, stop and think to yourself if you really need to check your phone. If you really need to watch the next episode. If you really need to finish that final level. Because usually the moments of our lives that we’ll remember when we get older are not the ones where our eyes are glued onto our screens, but rather the ones spent with the ones we love doing the things we love.

Technology is important. It is important in more ways than I can list, but don’t let the screen take your eyes off your life.

Read other articles by Angela (Tongohan) Guiano

Balance and connection

Morgan Rooney
MSMU Class of 2020

The world is forever changing. Thinking back to my childhood memories, I am certain that it’s a different world now. First of all, I would say that I had a happy childhood. Sure, there are some little things I would change. I wish I practiced piano more when my grandma used to give me lessons in elementary school and I wish I was a little more outgoing in certain areas and less shy around family members, but I also wouldn’t say that I have had any regrets when it comes to my childhood.

Technology did have a place in my childhood. I remember sitting at my dad’s computer when I was five years old. I would put in a disc and load up a fun, interactive game made for kids, some even being for learning. I had the tv shows I liked. I remember having a flip phone once I got a little older so I could keep contact with my parents.

My life wasn’t full of electronics, though. I would go outside to play in the sandbox my parents built for me. I would play with my dog, Reggie. I was always there when it was time for dinner and when it was time to do something as a family. When I was three, my sister was born and I would prop her up on a pillow and try to play with her, even though she was too young to reciprocate the fun I was trying to have.

I loved watching certain tv shows, and playing my computer games, and talking to my friends on my flip phone, and later when I got my first smartphone. I don’t feel like any of those things have taken away from my childhood. They seemed like a good balance. I could escape for a little while and come back and see people face to face.

Of course, a lot of things have changed throughout the last two decades. I am a person who believes in balance and moderation with most things. Of course, there’s certain things that shouldn’t even be messed with at all. You know, hard drugs, dangerous activities, other self-explanatory things. I see some kids today who can work computers, smartphones, and tablets much better than I can, and I have to use them on a daily basis to keep updated with my classes and keep in contact with the people who mean most to me. I think that says a lot about how things are today.

I know of some teenagers who hardly ever leave the video games in their room to come out and socialize. Some of my friends even seemed like that when I was a teenager. Again with my comment on moderation, I don’t think it’s a horrible thing to have days like that. I’ve had days where I wasn’t feeling well, stayed home from school and played a game or binge watched my favorite show all day. There are days when I’ve been snowed in (we don’t have snow plows in Texas) and spent most of my time using technology. I am guilty, but I always try to unplug and bring myself back to my non-virtual reality.

Over the past few years, I have created some very strong relationships through the internet which I wouldn’t trade for the world. It isn’t a virtual world I strive for, or a completely disconnected one, but one of balance and happiness.

Over this weekend that just passed, I attended a wedding in West Virginia for my cousin. It was in a cute little barn which was out in the country a little bit. It was nice and cool out. It had all sorts of nice decorations. Something I didn’t realize till about thirty minutes after my arrival was how weak the cell signal was so I could not easily contact anyone outside of the little barn. At this point, I put it away and began socializing with the people around me.

It was a long, exciting night and I didn’t even make it back to my hotel room till four in the morning. I spent time with people all night, even the ones I didn’t know very well and I feel like I really strengthened a lot of relationships by putting my phone away and having a few drinks with the family who I don’t get to see as often as I like to. Something I realized is that I should do this more often. Sure, there’s not everyday that there’s a wedding to attend but when I’m out with friends on the weekend, it may be beneficial to just put it away. Pretend I can’t get a signal and focus on what’s right in front of me.

After watching the United Airline video, I did begin to think about how much communication has changed in the past few years. It went from a handshake, to a phone call, to an email, to a text message. Certain things I find much more convenient through a text, or a phone call. Sometimes I don’t want to have to drive all the way across town to deal with something that I could easily deal with through the phone. Some things however, I think are done much better in person.

I have heard of some people doing phone interviews, which can be effective especially if someone is very far away and it’s impossible to meet up face to face. With fairly new developments like video chatting, you can get somewhat close to the real thing without actually having to be there. Nothing, however, can replace being with someone in person, face to face. This is something that will never lose importance. The presence of another human is something we require as social beings. This is something I learned in many of my philosophy classes at the Mount. Without these face to face connections, we can’t function as well as the people we are meant to be.

Read other articles by Morgan Rooney

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