Technology_Interference_Diminishing_Socialization_Skills_Observational_Essay

Drew Dickerson Technology Interference Diminishing Socialization Skills Observational Essay Throughout history we as a society have taught ourselves to learn The ways of communication as well as, the intricacies of appropriate behavior with the nuances of eloquent interpersonal relationship skills, that defines who we are. In this age of rapid technological advancement, a rift has been growing; separating our desires to be social with one another in respectful face to face conversation. With the advent of the mobile devices, that we are made to feel that we cannot live without, we have begun to in a sense digress. We are quickly becoming a society of almost anti-social beings. The PDA’s, cell phones, tablets, WiFi devices and laptop computers, have made our lives completely mobile. There is no need to be tethered to a corded land line phone, or working in the cubicle spaces, of the business world. Technology has offered us the easy of connectivity and the ability of performing business and life functions almost simultaneously. The separation of personal time and business time is all but nonexistent. The technology is causing an array of problems from Car accidents related to speaking on a phone and driving, to misunderstanding’s between people, because a text message was interpreted the wrong way, and even poor job performance, due to the lack of focus, that focus that is drawn into that mobile device. The communication of the world went from face to face meetings, phone calls and flights or long rides to a business meeting, to being replaced with mobile devices. The board room replaced with net meetings, the paper documents became electronic correspondence that at a push of a button or voice command can be sent instantly to every employee of a company. The unseen to all of this is the rapid decline of social skills, relationship skills, verbal communication, and public speaking. The effects of this mobile technology are even being seen in the family structures, and most importantly causing the children of today, harm in the respect of spelling, grammar, written communication, and over all laziness. The far reaching affects of this technology is that the children of today, from the preteen to the grad student, are showing great disabilities in social engagements, interviewing skills, and even in personal relationship skills. This technology for all the good it does is at the same time causing just as many problems. I have come to these conclusions, after a brief almost 24 hour observation period of two complete groups. I didn’t plan it that way it happened that way, for the very reason I did the observation. You cannot get away from this technology. The first part of the observation was watching the customers at a Applebee’s restaurant. The observation began just before dinner rush. I had positioned myself at a table that was essentially a great vantage point, to the right and left of me were clear views of the restaurant. To the back of me was the entrance to the kitchen, another great vantage point, to incorporate the staff into the observation. The results were stunning, and eye opening. While I was scanning the restaurant watching the hustle and bustle of the dinner rush beginning to happen, I observed not only excessive amounts of customers all tied to a cell phone, laptop, or smart phone. During the observation of the restaurant a great many truths were revealed and questions answered. One of those truths was revealed just in a brief scan of the customers and staff of the restaurant. They all were engaged in their electronic devices, and all exhibited anti-social behavior, moreover they also showed great lack of verbal communication other then a few surface conversations that I could catch. The staff I observed that out of the 10 servers 8 of them could not put down the cell phone all texting as if there life depended on it. This is a completely in appropriate behavior for a work place. Taking that a step further the staff, were also so focused on the device in hand that they were completely unaware of the loud call for food runners, they ignored to the point a manager stepped out of the kitchen and reprimanded them for it and the cell phone use. Unfortunately this is not an isolated observance it is happening in all businesses, this serves to illustrate a question that was part of this observation. That question, Have the mobile devices become like a drug' That answer is yes, and proven above. I turned my attention away from the staff to notice that a table had a family of four sitting at it. What caught my attention is that the entire family was on their phones and the father on a laptop also. I observed that for the entire time they were in the restaurant they rarely spoke to each other, the father nor mother told the children to put the phones away, The children were a young girl about 10 and a Boy about 16, both had their devices and neither made eye contact or really talked other then showing each other there phones. Seems that Society has indeed developed a dependence on technology, that family was more solid proof of the diminishing social abilities, along that thought if the children are all ready dependent on the technology and not practicing socialization skills, what will they grow into' I can shed some light on that question with the second part of the observation. Two fo my friends showed late, that same evening, and I thought what a perfect pair to use to compare to what I had just witnessed earlier in the evening. My friends Chrissy and Jeff arrived about midnight and upon entering my home, there was an aura or issue, the reason for that was that they entered my front door I got a quick hello from Chrissy and she went right to the bathroom. Jeff said hey and he immediately went to sit down. Chrissy returning from the bathroom sat on the couch next to me on my left; Jeff sat down in an arm charm and turned it so the back was towards us. A brief description of the subjects: Chrissy 5’7” blond hair, blue eyes, statuesque 26. Subject 2 Jeff is 5’10” Black Hair, Blue Eyes, 25. They have been a couple for over a year and both have a Type A personality, and are both Alpha in demeanor. The room was silent for about 5 min, the only sound was the clicking and chiming of the Cell Phone Jeff was on. Then the Clicking became louder as Chrissy started to play with hers. I sat just staring in utter amazement at then both on their phones not 10 min after arriving in my home. Then without provocation Chrissy broke silence and began to verbally assault the room about the issue that she had, and that issue explained the tension I felt when they arrived. Jeff not saying much turned his chair around. The conversation was getting pretty heated as Chrissy got more excited while talking. The most striking thing at this point is that neither of them is breaking focus on their phones. During this time they were proving another of my suspicions that, this technology is becoming more of hindrances for many, in the case of this couple a unhealthy obsession. I redirected the conversation to lighten the room and air, I then got up to jot my thoughts and notes down when I hear a heated argument beginning. I stay quiet and listen closely. The argument is over text messages, and miscommunication, followed by an argument over face book posts and messages. This is what I was looking for validation on the theory that Not only has technology caused verbal communication problems, but is proving that these devices are so entrenched in society’s personal lives; it is the root of poor interpersonal relationship skills with so many couples. That point was proven further with this couple as I later found out there phones were disconnected, and they were using their phones over my WIFI for internet and application downloads. After I received that knowledge it became clear to me that for all the good that this technology has done for society, it is having a rather systemic side affect. That side affect is this: Though we live in an age that is wondrous with invention. These inventions are causing society as a whole to become Lazy mentally and physically, and most importantly is causing a steady breakdown of proper healthy communication, and basic Socialization skills. The youth are not learning basic educational skills, because of things like students having to use kindles for books, and Computers as well as calculators for home work. As a final thought at what point do we as a Society say enough is enough' Or will there be places that have signs up stating a “No Technology Zone”'