I had a similar conversation with a friend last evening. We're both in our mid 20's and find it increasingly difficult to find people that are interested in engaging with the physical world and having a genuine human connection. The rise of dating apps and "sliding in the dm's" has been an interesting development for young people who still cherish in person connection. Don't get me wrong, I've been on the dating apps, it's fun. And the dm's are an opportunity to (respectfully) introduce yourself to a stranger. But despite being a Gen Zer, I'd still rather meet at the bank when stranger asks to borrow my pen.
I couldn't have said it better. It seems that as soon as our lives take on an artificial quality of any kind we lose touch with each other and our natural ways. We get further from the garden with every fig leaf we utilize to hide from ordinary life. For this reason I am slow to adopt things that don't feel real to me. But, norms really do bring a momentum that can seem inescapable. I could wander off into the desert and never return, but what would I do without the joys and sorrows of human companionship? I guess maybe this was Adam's dilemma.
I’m generally optimistic, but I think we are still in the early stages of realization with regards to our relationship with this new era of electronic devices and vast global communication. I think as individuals it is paramount that we take time to pause and make sure we are spending our time as we want, not how our devices and their controlling interests want. I know I’m still very much working on this on a daily basis. And I think a lot of people feel there is something off, but are still trying to figure out what exactly it is that has shifted and how to right their own mental ship. A lot of middle aged/older folks have lived in both worlds, but for many in the young generations, this is all they have known… I’m doing my best to help teach my kids that the electronic world is not the real world... nor worthy of the majority of our time. But like I said, I think we are only just beginning as a society to realize how weird it can get if we abandon our true world and individual communities.
I had a similar conversation with a friend last evening. We're both in our mid 20's and find it increasingly difficult to find people that are interested in engaging with the physical world and having a genuine human connection. The rise of dating apps and "sliding in the dm's" has been an interesting development for young people who still cherish in person connection. Don't get me wrong, I've been on the dating apps, it's fun. And the dm's are an opportunity to (respectfully) introduce yourself to a stranger. But despite being a Gen Zer, I'd still rather meet at the bank when stranger asks to borrow my pen.
I couldn't have said it better. It seems that as soon as our lives take on an artificial quality of any kind we lose touch with each other and our natural ways. We get further from the garden with every fig leaf we utilize to hide from ordinary life. For this reason I am slow to adopt things that don't feel real to me. But, norms really do bring a momentum that can seem inescapable. I could wander off into the desert and never return, but what would I do without the joys and sorrows of human companionship? I guess maybe this was Adam's dilemma.
Bleak but good awareness to be shared!
I’m generally optimistic, but I think we are still in the early stages of realization with regards to our relationship with this new era of electronic devices and vast global communication. I think as individuals it is paramount that we take time to pause and make sure we are spending our time as we want, not how our devices and their controlling interests want. I know I’m still very much working on this on a daily basis. And I think a lot of people feel there is something off, but are still trying to figure out what exactly it is that has shifted and how to right their own mental ship. A lot of middle aged/older folks have lived in both worlds, but for many in the young generations, this is all they have known… I’m doing my best to help teach my kids that the electronic world is not the real world... nor worthy of the majority of our time. But like I said, I think we are only just beginning as a society to realize how weird it can get if we abandon our true world and individual communities.
Amazing writing. Very interesting to think about.