Professor Ausra Buzenas
English W 130
November 3, 2015
Technology Controversy
There was a time when families were able to go on vacation, take pictures with a Polaroid or a 35 mm. camera, and continue on with having fun as a family. Upon returning home, we would take the film in to the local Photo Shack and have the film developed, which took a few days to do depending how many rolls were brought in, but that was the worst part of it was the waiting. When we got the pictures back, I remember the fun we had as a family showing the pictures to friends and other family members, and being emotionally connected with each other. The bond of family and friends was real, and so was the conversation. Fast-forward to today’s modern times …show more content…
Let’s Talk”, further supports my claim of technology replacing human interaction and empathy in conversations by creating acceptable situations to excuse our use of technology during social gatherings by asserting, “In conversation among five or six people at dinner, you have to check that three people are paying attention-heads up- before you give yourself permission to look down at your phone. So conversation proceeds, but with different people having their heads up at different times. The effect is what you would expect: Conversation is kept relatively light, on topics where people feel that they can drop in and out” (para3). Turkle has spent the last 5 years studying the interaction of families, friends, and people in relationships along with businesses and schools who use technology in their everyday conversations and is still trying to understand why people would rather use technology to talk then to have face-to-face conversations. Furthermore Turkle elaborates that, “Where we learn to make eye contact, to become aware of another person’s posture and tone, to comfort one another and respectfully challenge one another - that empathy and intimacy flourish. In these conversations, we learn who we are.” (Para …show more content…
Some may say that the constant use of technology by children is an addiction, but Boyd insists “They aren’t addicted to the computer, they’re addicted to interaction, and being around their friends. Children, especially teenagers, don’t want to only socialize with parents and siblings; they want to play with their peers”. (Para