Technologically speaking...

Another rant in the key of awesome…

In so many ways and on so many different levels, the human race has defied logic and superceded even the greatest of expectations. Every day there’s a new technology, a new antidote, or a new discovery that propels us toward a brighter new age and brings us one step closer to god. We’ve tested and stretched ourselves beyond even our own comprehension. We’ve even discovered how to think without thinking and how to do without doing. The question is though, will all this knowledge and power kill us or make us stronger? Will Rome fall again?

While I firmly believe that knowledge is power, I also believe that it is poison. We’ve become too smart for our own good (or too big for our britches at least), and because of this, we’ve become lethargic. It’s almost as if we’ve already discovered everything we need, or care to know. Just think for a moment. The entire world is at your disposal. Anything you can dream of is right at your fingertips. You don’t need to know how to read, write, or even formulate a sentence at all because of your trusty Spell Check (which I’ll admit to using while writing this essay). You don’t need to make a trip to the music store to buy an album because you can download it in its entirety instantly. You don’t even need to interact with another person physically because you can chat with them via email and instant messenger. Did you ever sit and think that you never EVER have to leave your house EVER again if you don’t want to because you have everything you will EVER need right there?

This has created some serious social ramifications. We no longer know how to communicate with each other anymore. I see this especially in today’s youth. For example, having discussions with people my age sometimes is like pulling teeth. I’m not talking deep, existential conversations either. I’m talking light conversation and small talk--simple communication. So often I feel like I’m the only one doing the talking and making the effort to get to know the other person. I don’t think that they’re being rude or aloof necessarily. I really do believe that they just don’t know what to say or how to act in social situations because they’re not involved in them often enough and they don’t allow themselves to be. They’re just always plugged in to one thing or another—the iPod, the cell phone, the computer. Hey, I’ll admit that I am to some degree as well. I’ve even experienced cell phone and internet withdrawal once or twice.

I’m definitely not innocent. With everything so readily available to us, we needn’t expend as much physical or mental energy to do anything. It’s so much easier to solve a problem using a calculator; it’s so much easier to shop online as opposed to actually going out to the store, and it’s so much easier to gather an opinion of your own after reading someone else’s superfluous, long-winded and completely biased blog entry :)

Because people no longer have to expend energy or do anything that requires any physical movement, they become lazy. Quite often, it starts to show on the exterior. While this is an entirely different discussion altogether, I’ll briefly touch on the subject…

According to obesityinamerica.org, approximately 127 million adults in the U.S. are overweight, 60 million are obese and 9 million are extremely obese. While low physical activity obviously isn’t the sole cause of obesity in America, it is certainly attributable to the 400,000 deaths that occur each year because of it.

I’m not sure what the answer is to all of this. I’m not sure we should continue on this technological pursuit, but I don’t necessarily think we should slow it down either. Growth is part of life. We’d be selling ourselves short and we wouldn’t be achieving our full potential if we rested on our laurels for even a moment. We have an astounding learning and knowledge capacity that no other creature on Earth possesses; it must have been given to us for a reason. Why not use it, right?

Let me clarify before I’m accused of being provincial or “old school” that I think technology is absolutely wonderful and extremely beneficial in many ways. For the first time ever, we can communicate live with others from across the globe and we can perform the most arduous of tasks with the simple click of a button. However, I think it’s also misused, and it’s become a crutch to some. Without it, they wouldn’t know what to think or how to function.

I believe that in order to progress socially-speaking, we simply need to unplug once in a while. I’m not saying go back or nature and live amongst the natives. All I’m saying is go pick up a book, hang out with your friends, take a walk, or, if you’re just so damn computer-addicted, get in your car, drive to the local Starbuck’s and plug in your laptop there because at least it’s an excuse to get the hell out of the house. All kidding aside though, we must be able to talk to each other. Not online, not on text messaging, not on the cell phone, but face-to-face. Try it sometime. You might find that you’re good at it or, better yet, that you enjoy it.
~Alexx Calise

We Need a Hero...

I remember a day when a DUI meant hard time, when TV shows had scripts, and when celebrities were famous for something other than partying…no more.

I don't mean to be a traitor to my generation or anything, but where the hell are we headed? Even more important, who are our role models?

I know it sounds sick, but party girls and social climbers have become our heroes and idols. I don't know how that happened really. Maybe it's because we've become so celeb-obsessed and fascinated by the jet-setting lifestyle. I'm reminded of the story of the golden calf…

You know what I think the problem is? We're a generation of the moment. We're living in the age of the video game, the celebutants, the Internet, the iPod. We're all about instant gratification and feeling good here and now. Who cares what happens tomorrow? After all, that's just a buzz kill.

Hmmm…maybe these socialites are the poster children for this generation after all. They're just living up to those principles.

However, I must beg the question…what is to be learned from these people? That the law system is a joke? That all you need to do to open doors is open your legs? That sex is just a recreational activity? I mean, call me crazy, but I used to think that you needed to work hard in order to be successful and that there are always consequences for all of your actions.

These people are parasitic. By supporting them, you're continuing the cycle and putting more partying money into their already fat wallets.

I don't understand why these people are considered intriguing or admirable. What the hell do they even do? What are they all about? I mean, if you're a personality, shouldn't you have one? Shouldn't there be something to you that makes you interesting?


What baffles my mind even more so is when I see intelligent, independent, hard-working people watching these brainless, substance-abusing halfwits on TV and giving them even a second of their time. I mean, is this just sick curiosity or actual, genuine interest? Isn't it enough that you can't even go to the supermarket without seeing their faces all over the trash mags at the checkout line; why do we feel the need to watch them on television as well?

All I know is that I see a very, very sorrowful pattern developing amongst people my age. I see us heading backward instead of forward because we don't have anyone to guide us.

I'm where I'm at today because I worked extremely hard and I stood up for what I believed in. Nothing ever came easy and nothing was ever handed to me. I've never done anything underhanded and I've never screwed anyone over for my own personal gain. I'm able to look at in the mirror every day without flinching or hating myself because I'm proud of the woman I've become. I have self respect, morals and values and I have a will that couldn't be broken by anyone or anything.

While I'm not big on quoting the bible; there's a reason for the quote,"Thou shalt not worship false idols...". I just want to state to my peers that glorifying and emulating the vapid, self-serving girls on TV is not in your best interests. Do things your own way because it's much more fulfilling knowing that you've accomplished something by yourself, for yourself...It truly is one of the most rewarding things in the entire world. You don't need to starve yourself to be beautiful, you don't need to not wear underwear to get noticed, you don't need to sleep with someone to get them to like you, and most of all, you don't need to be influenced by certain girls you see on TV.