2/9 TEARING DOWN TURKLE

“We live in a technological universe in which we are always communicating. And yet we have sacrificed conversation for mere connection” – Shelly Turkle

OK hun. First of all, you’re writing in the opinion section of the Sunday Review so I’m not really expecting you to look on all sides to begin with. You claim that the little devices we have don’t only change what we do but who we are. Yes. That is true. But so did the big devices as well. That is the very nature of technology. It changes what we do, making life more convenient. However Turkle, you claim that we sacrifice too much for this convenience. I’m intrigued.

Next Turkle talks about the customization of our involvement in “real life” in which we can “log out” of real life by checking Facebook. She talks about the “tribe of one” that everyone is choosing to become as a result. That’s not a bad thing at all! If anything, the way people use technology should inspire them to share with the world! That’s what it inspires me to do at least!

But Turkle isn’t really talking about me. She is talking about the people who only consume technology and make no contributions to the Web. For the ones who are contributing, be it art or writing or videos, technology is very much an extension of real life. The original work that we are capable of sharing on allows us to connect to so many new people and that’s wonderful. It is unfortunate that Turkle only has the balls to bash connection as a negative. It’s not.

I do agree with the idea that connection can’t replace a real face-to-face interaction. Technology hasn’t gotten good enough to replace the five senses all at once. Technology can’t capture the uncensored in-between moments that are what makes us human. Those who don’t realize that are simply stifling their humanity and need to go outside and talk to the person at the bus station about the weather RIGHT NOW.

Connection can provide real companionship on an arguably equal level with face-to-face conversation. But this is true only if the one trying to make the connection is not attempting to imitate a face-to-face relationship but is instead advancing one of the face-to-face relationships that they already have in their life. Technology is not the problem Turkle. It’s how people choose to use it that can cause issues.