...Technology...

I really hate how much our generation relies on technology. Cell phones, social networking, texting, and emails. I am no saint in this department and constantly am on one of these devices if not multiple. When is it time to unplug? If it weren't for my parents or grandparents I would rarely talk to someone over the phone. Texting is a constant in my life and I feel I have become so detached from relationships because of this. And because of texting and ichatting, it becomes easier to write words than to feel them. Interpretation is all over the place when there are simply words and not emotions behind them. I have been a victim, as well as, a culprit in these type's of conversations. I hate that.

Facebook is another situation. I guess it depends on what type of person you are and how seriously you take things via the internet but these social networks have completely obliterated face to face contact. I actually tend to miss High School because I was surrounded by my friends, constantly. It is like taking all your Facebook friends and having them all around you, actually speaking words and the walls echoing with laughter, compared to the "lol" and "rofl" replies you get from the internet. I highly doubt you are "laughing out loud" or "rolling on the floor laughing". I almost forget the feeling of literally laughing so hard your sides hurt and tears are streaming down your face.

I am sad to say that in my last relationship we were both on our cell phones or computer constantly. Even though we were sitting in the same room or even next to each other we weren't really involved in what the other was doing, we weren't connecting in an emotional way but simple both zoned into our computers. It really is sad thinking about all the free time we had to spend together, just the two of us, that we didn't take advantage of. Just to sit and talk to each other, genuinely listen to what they had to say, how their day was. Face to face, eye to eye. How are two people suppose to connect intimately when phones are buzzing and the glow of the computer is mesmerizing. I want a relationship where, there is life outside the computer, facebook, texting, smartphones. I want to unplug.  

I sometimes get to go and watch my grandpa play with his band at a night club or dance and it is amazing to see these elderly people out there dancing and laughing and enjoying themselves. When they were our age they got to sit on a porch, drink some sweet tea, and most likely had a chaperon watching their every move. I would love to have gone out to dance, a dance that actually was classy and technical. Being asked to dance, and just feeling the music. This is kind of off topic, haha. But the point is they had to actually get off their butts and go see each other, travel around, make plans.

But technology, though usually advertised as making things simpler has seemed to only make life more complicated for my generation. As much as technology has brought us easier ways to keep in touch, be organized, and share anywhere anytime, it has also brought a whole different level of insecurities, bullying, and danger. It has just become such a greater burden in my life than help. It has brought out a side of me I don't like, I mean feeling such insecurities because of what someone says on the computer or on a text message, seems ridiculous. Those are just words typed out. Real love, real emotions come from the heart which are spoken from the mouth, not typed into a text message. I have come to realize that people who use texting or other such things to say nice things or flirty things or mean things are just cowards hiding behind words, seeking some sort of reaction that they could never face or don't want to face in person. It has all become so fake. It is really disgusting and most of the time pathetic.

I feel like the people who know this, who have realized this much sooner than me, are the ones who are truly enjoying life and living it to it's greatest potential. They aren't tied down by cords, they live life the way they should, completely happy, uncomplicated, and free.

One day I will just unplug and disappear and make people come find me. It will be the greatest adventure of my life.