"Men have become the tools of their tools." -- Henry David Thoreau
Our Digital Addiction
We're all aware of the many ways technology has enhanced our lives.., with no end in sight. The rate at which our technology advances is pretty damn impressive.., and no doubt, leading to more -- and better toys for us to play with… When when "play" becomes something else, as it has for many people -- lives can be destroyed.
In our present time -- right now.., digital addiction is a very real thing. Just ask the the two Koreans who starved their child to death because they were playing freakin' video games… I'd say those lives are pretty much destroyed! With all of it's benefits, still a child is dead while the lives of the addicts goes straight down the crapper.
Besides the more obvious effects, such as decreased outdoor activity in children and teens, to peoples obvious addiction to texting.., and staring at that screen -- there are other more dangerous effects… Our brains are a miracle, in and of itself -- they are so magnificent they will adapt to any given situation.., and with access to basically anything you want to know in the palm of your hand the majority of the day, we are robbing ourselves, our brains at the opportunity to wander and seek out the answers and meanings to the issues we encounter in life -- an imagination not used, is not an imagination.
"I fear the day that technology will surpass our human interaction. The world will have a generation of idiots." -- Albert Einstein
In our race to the future we are leaving out the most important thing.., our mind. Our mind, body, spirit and soul are being left behind with every tweet and status update. Instead of challenging the imagination, expand the mind and exercise our most important muscle -- we google it! Getting lost and honing our innate sense of direction, is a thing of the past.., we need to know exactly what corner turn right and exactly how many feet away we are… Our sense of exploration has been replaced by GPS.
The digital world to which we live in, is everywhere… From our health to our banking. Relationships to education. It buys us that first cup of morning joe.., and for the rest of the day, is no further away than our back pocket. What can be such a valuable tool, is handicapping our minds -- and even destroying the the minds of some.
Addiction is Addiction
Digital addiction is a lot like any other addiction… When all that time on social media is effecting your relationship, or checking Facebook so much it's affecting your work. Not getting enough sleep, while catching up on the latest tweets… Much like alcohol or drugs, when things that can actually enhance our lives are abused to the point, where they are now having a negative effect…
The surfing and tweeting, texting and chat. The updates and check-ins.., a never-ending stream of our favorite drug of choice -- AND IT'S LEGAL! There is absolutely nothing standing in your way of all this seductively alluring technology… Whenever you feel like it, you can whip-out your gadget of choice and blast out a tweet storm.., and even inform everyone you grew up with you just took the best crap of your life -- with the click of...
Much like the opioid addiction running rampant.., our digital addiction hits all this same pleasure centers -- increasing dopamine and boosting blood flow. From gambling to sex.., and now our technology, there are many things we can be addicted to, besides alcohol and drugs. And it is taking no hostages -- children, teens and adults alike are have fallen prey to the all present technology, the surrounds us daily.
As a matter of act, our brains have adjusted so well, we now check our phones at least once an hour.., and must respond immediately to that latest text. And just like a drug, the more we get, the more we need… You build up a tolerance the more you use.., and you need more and more, just to maintain all those artificially high dopamine levels. And when you don't get it.., look out -- You get agitated, irritated, impulsive, moody, cranky. Like a junkie looking for his next fix, for many -- that next tweet is calling them…
Mindfulness or Mindlessness...
Our quest for "mindfulness" is being replaced by "mindlessness" -- we are becoming and raising a bunch of zombies -- the walking dead! We are robbing ourselves of the natural simplicity of our lives. The inherent knowledge we possess in our core, lays dormant and uninspired due to lack of use… Technology was.., and is, inherently meant to make our lives easier… Relieve the burden, lighten some of the weight.
It was meant to give people more leisure time.., and shorten the work week, drastically (something like 15 hours a week)… Instead we are working harder than ever.., and that "40 hour" work week has doubled for many, just to get by… While technology serves us, it is also making us -- WORK HARDER! That is the total opposite of it's original intent (How'd we fuck that up)...
Technology has become so pervasive and ingratiated itself into every aspect of our lives.., from being children -- to raising them… It has kept us plugged-in 24/7. It has blurred the lines between work and play. The addict feels obligated to this technology and all of its brilliance -- and the boundaries are removed completely, affecting not only their well-being but their loved ones, as well… The obsessive nature it has manifested into -- is not healthy!
We are rarely present.., we don't give ourselves a second to just be in the moment -- texting, emailing, staring at that screen, we are always someplace else.., instead of that moment. And it's completely expected of you, if you want to "get ahead…" Instead of enhancing our lives, we are at its beckon call...
It's so overwhelming there are things like a "digital diet" and "digital detox" in order to gain back some control over our lives -- limiting the time you spent plugged-in, creating "Wifi-Free" Zones, even unplugging completely one whole weekend out of every month… And just like most addictions -- it's not a problem, until it's a problem.
"Computers are useless. They can only give you answers." -- Pablo Picasso
And while comparing digital addiction to a hardcore drug addiction is insane.., it does lend itself to the same parts of the brain. And as you read this, is ruining peoples lives -- like Pavlov and his dog, when that ding of a notification goes off, that brain lights up, right on cue! It is a real thing.., and is expanding, at a rate, greater than our minds. But using the "drug metaphor" is fear mongering at it's finest -- but it sells papers…
The New York Post got crucified when it ran an article referring to all your screens you spend so much time staring at -- as "digital heroin." Parents freaked out.., the science was immediately question -- the claws came out. People took sides and some even decried an existence of "digital addiction" at all. Technology is big, big business -- lots and lots of money involved.., and the last thing they want, is some kind of "anti technology" revolution popping up -- that could effect the massive profits.
Ignoring the fact that many people are suffering, at the hands of their digital addiction… That it is affecting our children and their parents, in ways unintended… From the lack of physical activity to more time spent alone. Creates more anxiety and at the same time.., has made us a little less empathetic… Instead of lightening the weight.., it seems to have increased the burden. I don't think that was the plan!
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