Technology and the Missing Piece

While the concept of Facebook has intrigued me (and I will see the movie) and does provide certain advantages for keeping in touch with others on a momentary basis, I find blogging to be more authentic and a vehicle to allow a thought and discussion in a more conversational manner (mea culpa-haven't been a good blogger of late). I know many find twittering quite productive, but I don't twitter. There just aren't enough hours in a day ..

In the news today is a sad story of a first-year college student who took his life seemingly after having an intimate incident videoed live on a social network by two other students, one his roommate. Is the rampant use of technology somehow detaching the user from his moral and social obligations? In this case, a first-year college student is hardly too young to understand that one's actions have repercussions. Is it the sense of anonymity that technology provides the user to be quick with a thoughtless comment or film intimate events without the filter of judgment?

Working in a college setting, I know well that many students view the campus as an isolated cocoon. But we are all creatures of a society and hopefully have the values instilled us from many resources to care about fellow human beings. Technology has provided a tool to us to increase our knowledge, keep us in contact with others around the world, guided us and entertained us, but it is my hope that along with these benefits come a sense of obligation from the user.

Thanks, I feel better now ..

Big Brother is Watching You - Shop?

Does anyone use the ‘shopping buddy’ at their grocery store? I'm not sure whether this technology is readily available. But I used it this weekend while food shopping at our local Stop and Shop. Food shopping is one of my least liked chores - sort of like ironing, making the bed, dusting, etc. etc. I always thought it a waste of time and energy/unnecessary duplication of tasks to place grocery items in a cart only to take them out of the cart at checkout and then put them back in the cart after bagging. So the availability of this new techno gadget was appealing = scan, bag and checkout from your cart!

An added 'bene' - the savings offered on some items as a ‘gift’ for using this gizmo. The idea of a running total for items spent/saved was helpful to the budget.

Downside – I’m not a good bagger and this procedure works efficiently IF you bag your items as you go. (Prior to shopping, load up on plastic bags in specifically designed carts that hold the bags open.) Some of the negatives: uses plastic bags -for those who are green-conscious might be irritating. Spent more time shopping (scanning and bagging items). The store’s publicity states this is not taking the jobs away from employees as you still checkout to complete your transactions/pay for the items/give coupons, etc. But, once again the human touch is replaced by efficiency….. Hmmmm - Will grocery shopping go the way of the # sign? Am I revealing even more of my personal information and shopping habits to strangers?