Has Technology Created A More Socially Inept Society?

I know those of us with SA will have had it regardless of whatever technology we have access to. However, I have come to realize with the explosion of the personal computer's popularity, society as a whole seems to have become less and less sociable on a face-to-face level. It used to be if you wanted a new CD (or record or tape if you are old enough) you would have to go to the record store and buy it. There, you may see somebody you know and have a chat or have to ask one of the employees a question or two. In rare cases, you might just bump into somebody you didn't know, strike up a conversation and meet a new friend. Ditto for the book store. I used to love to take my time at book stores and browse the different titles. Now all I have to do is go to iTunes and download my music. I have a Nook now so all my books are downloaded as well. So, no human contact/interaction. Just a quick convenient online purchase. Now I hear that grocery shopping will soon be done online. Just order your groceries and somebody delivers it for you. Also, working from home is being seen by more companies as cost effective and very do-able.

Even special interest groups have gone hi-tech. Forums such as this one have replaced support groups that would meet and bonds may be created. Have a hobby or just bought a new car? Simply do a search for a forum on that subject and you have thousands of online contacts. I love it that I can do this (I'm ecstatic that I found this forum!) as you get to talk to people far away from yourself who you would probably never meet without the internet. On the other hand, I have to wonder if the opportunities to actually meet new people aren't quickly dwindling away. Some day we may see an entire world of people who have SA primarily because they rarely get to practice interacting with others.

What are your feelings on this?

I agree that human socialising is taking a hit, especially in the last 6 years with the invention of smart phones. A lot of tasks can be done online these days.

However, we can whinge and whine and moan about it all we want - it's here to stay. And I actually enjoy online buying, since my hobby (heavy metal CD's) are very difficult to find in stores.

I don't like people in general but I do a lot of research on the computer before I buy something. I don't use anything but cash so my purchases are still done in person.

I think it depends in the end on how you use that technology. For me, technology helped me become more social. I have groups with friends on my mobile phone for all sorts of subjects, like "cooking together" "festivals" "spending the evening" and so on. It allows me to stay in contact with them more easily, and meet up as well. Sometimes I wonder if I'd still have contact to certain friends from back then, if mobile phones would have been more widespread at that time.

Yes, the technology of today allows people to stay more reclusive than ever before. But it also offers the opposite. What you make of it is up to you.

I don't think that we're in a situation as bad as predicted by Zack & Evans in their famous song "In the year 2525".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lWzTvdtEx0

Might indeed be true.

I have to say though that my being anti social pre-dates the computer age.

I don't think it's made us inept or that being able to do more online makes us inept, necessarily. Growing up we still interact with others, if nowhere else, at school, and eventually at work. A book store has minimal impact compared to those. If they don't make a difference, I don't see how not downloading books will.

MikeyC said:

I agree that human socialising is taking a hit, especially in the last 6 years with the invention of smart phones. A lot of tasks can be done online these days.

However, we can whinge and whine and moan about it all we want - it's here to stay. And I actually enjoy online buying, since my hobby (heavy metal CD's) are very difficult to find in stores.

Click to expand...

Totally agree about the smart phones. Sometimes when I am in a public place, I'm amazed at how many people around me are glued to the screens of their phones. They're in public but they aren't socializing face to face with anyone around them.

Flanscho said:

I think it depends in the end on how you use that technology. For me, technology helped me become more social. I have groups with friends on my mobile phone for all sorts of subjects, like "cooking together" "festivals" "spending the evening" and so on. It allows me to stay in contact with them more easily, and meet up as well. Sometimes I wonder if I'd still have contact to certain friends from back then, if mobile phones would have been more widespread at that time.

Yes, the technology of today allows people to stay more reclusive than ever before. But it also offers the opposite. What you make of it is up to you.

I don't think that we're in a situation as bad as predicted by Zack & Evans in their famous song "In the year 2525".

In the year 2525

Click to expand...

This is an outstanding point! I agree that in many instances some people have become more sociable because of technology. I hadn't really given it much thought until I read your post. I have friends on Facebook who I never would have kept in touch with had it not been created. I admit, I don't meet face to face with them but at least I can catch up on their lives. There's no way I would have reconnected with about 4 childhood friends from elementary school had they not been able to track me down or I been able to track them down. Good way to look at it alternatively.

Not inept. More convenience for people, easier to communicate and learn because of it.

But certainly more distractions because there are so many more gadgets on the market.

Which possibly leads to things like ADD and obsessive compulsiveness, because if you have lots of things, then your mind is trying to decipher when to use them, when you should be using them, keeping a mental list of everything, etc. Which is distracting and fills the mind up with concerns of using those gadgets.

In 1998, you probably had a desktop computer, maybe a nokia that had dial/text and the game worms. all still new technology on the market and basic. You might have had a playstation. That's about it.

In 2011 you had smartphones, laptops, ipads, ipods, handheld gaming, wireless internet, easier access to online and communication, pen sized flash drives. And more stuff. Televisions are HD.

I wouldn't just say it's technology, it's also hardware products, DIY, furniture, white goods, food has also a lot more choice then in the past. Which is really good but is it distracting?

It really was once the simple life but with less convenience? But if anything things are more convenient with more choice.

The only thing that has really changed is people getting attached to smartphones. I mean in the 90s people probably had their walkmens and discmans, but people seem more involved with things like smartphones.

I definitely feel that I need to speak less to get through the day. Nowadays, supermarkets have self checkout stations so i dont even have to greet the cashier. I shop online and order food by phone. However, these conveniences make me want to get to know the lives of people even more. Whether or not it makes us socially inept? My answer is: yes!

absolutely. I created a thread on this few months back. People are lazy in general. Increased tech has made us even worse.