So, we?re in the midst of the technology age. We have gadgets that fit into the palm of your hand that can hold thousands of songs, games and videos. There are GPS systems that can tell you the best route to go to avoid traffic and your mother-in-law. And these devices know when you don?t follow instructions. How many times have you heard ?You missed your turn, dummy,??? from the same voice that lovingly guides you to your destination as long as you do exactly what she?I?ve named mine Shirley?says? Oh, and let?s not forget about Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace where you get the latest greatest updates about anything and everything that your family, friends, and coworkers are doing at any given time including whether their last trip to the restroom was successful or not. Every few minutes you?ll get an alert that says, ?That last one was a doozey. Whew, I really didn?t think I?d make it out alive. By the way, if you happen to be at the Kmart on route seven, you may want to avoid the restroom. I?m telling you this for your own good.???<\/p>\n
Recently, I went out on a date where it took two months for our schedules to line up where we could have one-on-one time. Translation: It took two months for my date to make the time for us to have one-on-one time. Now, I know you?re wondering why I would wait around for two months for someone to make time to get to know me. Well, I was really interested in the person and I figured that maybe my date really was just that busy. I mean, I get busy too. If Desperate Housewives is on, don?t even think about calling me. And, on top of that, I have a life. The plants need to be watered. The fish has to be fed. The bookshelf needs to be dusted. And somehow I?m still supposed to find time to squeeze in my two sit-ups for the month. See, I?m busy too. Yup.<\/p>\n
Anyway, so after a two-month waiting period, I finally got to hang out with my date. I thought it would be magical. I showered and everything. I expected fireworks. I thought I?d see my date and Karen Carpenter would start singing, ?Why do birds suddenly appear, every time, you are near? Just like me, they long to be, close to you.??? I thought we?d talk about our hopes and dreams. And if Karen Carpenter was busy, (well, she did kinda die a while back so odds weren?t very good that she would have been available), I expected the birds to sing, and violins to play in the background. I mean, there was so much I wanted to know about my date. I just wanted to talk. Share a secret or two. Put down my big manly armor and be vulnerable for a moment.<\/p>\n
But before I had a chance to get comfortable, the competition for my date?s attention began. Contrary to what I?d hoped, there were no birds chirping or sounds of violins. Those sounds were replaced by the sound of my date?s phone chirping and the typing and texting that followed. After a few minutes I said, ?You finally got me here and you?re going to spend the time texting???? My date replied, ?I?m not texting. I?m on Facebook.??? I guess, on some level, this was supposed to have made me happy that I wasn?t being ignored for some measly little text messages. Instead, I was being ignored for Facebook and all of its urgent messages about how jalapenos don?t go well with waffles. What a relief? Call off the firing squad.<\/p>\n
As much as I enjoy technology, I have to say that I?m starting to agree with some of the experts about how it?s affecting the way we deal with each other when we?re up close and personal. It?s like we?ve forgotten how to relate to people unless we?re sitting behind our computer screens or hiding under our beds with phone in hand. We get confused when we actually see someone?s mouth moving?oh my gosh, it talks. I picture these texters, Twitters, Facebookers, and Myspacers pulling up to a drive-through, being asked to place their order, and them getting all confused about what to do. ?Umm, are you supposed to be talking to me? Can?t I just text you my order? I?m going to need to speak to your manager.???<\/p>\n
Although I mentioned the texting\/Facebook issue, my date continued to type like it was nobody?s business throughout the few short hours we spent together. I?m not sure how to feel about that. Maybe Facebook has some policy that says messages that aren?t checked within two seconds of delivery will self-destruct. Or, maybe there?s some type of fine imposed if you don?t read and respond to messages immediately. Or, maybe all those gym bunnies really don?t like working out, but go to the gym every day because it?s a part of their sentence for not commenting on their Aunt Mabel?s status update about her taking shots of Metamucil.<\/p>\n
A couple of my friends say I should take my cue from the movie He?s Just Not That Into You or get used to the fact that I?m just not that interesting and I have the looks and personality equivalent to a pile of dog poo. Now, I can neither confirm nor deny this allegation, but I think that, at the least, they could have compared me to something a little cuter. But seriously, as we walk around with our phones and IPods that can make breakfast, spank the dog, and drop the kids off at soccer practice, aren?t we as people getting more and more out of touch due to the many technologies developed to keep us in touch? What do you think?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
So, we?re in the midst of the technology age. We have gadgets that fit into the palm of your hand that can hold thousands of songs, games and videos. There are GPS systems that can tell you the best route to go to avoid traffic and your mother-in-law. And these devices know when you don?t […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[47],"tags":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"\n