In a time past
We looked before we crossed.
We checked our change.
We spent only part of what money we had.
The rest we saved.
In a time past
We read books from cover to cover.
And articles from headline to closing paragraph.
Because most writers were credible.
In a time past
Friends had a vested interest.
They were few but sincere.
Who they were said much about you.
At a drop of a hat they’d come to your rescue.
In a time past
People we knew could get us on the phone.
If they needed a job, they didn’t reach out to our connections.
They called us direct.
Because anything else would be considered rude.
In a time past
When we did something, we just did it.
We didn’t write about it or call friends.
By keeping our thoughts to ourselves we preserved a part of us that made us seem … dignified.
Today
Pedestrians have rights of way
We use credit cards
And spend OPM.
Today
We scan.
And cite opinion as fact.
And get those facts from the greater depths of fiction.
Today
We have a friend named Natasha who attends college in Minsk.
She found us on a social network and thinks we’re hot.
Blake’s a friend too.
He’s friends with 286 of our other friends.
Including Natasha.
She thinks he’s hot too.
Today
We are all connected by six degrees of separation.
But we can only reach them through some third party’s website.
Or pay to get access to these otherwise strangers.
Who will hardly ever hear, feel or care about the drop our of hat.
Today
People do things then run to the computer to publish it for all to read.
Or they write fiction so the world believes they’re doing something they really aren’t.
But what they’re doing (whether they’re really doing it or not) has no impact on our lives.
Going forward
I’m not living in the past. Or knocking the present. But looking forward in the future, I hope we don’t let technology or the euphoria we place on Web 2.0 replace the preciousness of real life or our accountability within it.
Personally, I’ve scaled back on some things. I only LinkIn with people I really know. And accept Facebook friends after we’ve exchange meaningful dialog. I don’t publish what I’m doing right now. Frankly, it’s none of it’s anyone’s business. I will, however, write meaningful missives based on what I’m doing if there is consequential benefit to those who care.
Also:
I started counting change again.
And only spending my money.
And after 8:00pm, I shut down my computer and business phone.
And become available only to my wife, children, business partner and closest friends.
I know:
There’s a place for Web 2.0.
And there’s a way to use it to your advantage.
But, personally, I also believe in Life 1.0.
I think that’s one heck of a killer app.
– Davison
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Amen.
bravo!
Another masterpiece, Bravo!
My life is at least 10.0
Right ON!!!
Web 2.0 9 to 5 X 5
Life 1.0 the balance
I like it.
I love technology….but it gives us tooo much: Too much information, Too much Contact, Too many interruptions, Too much multi tasking, Not enough attention on the things that matter.
WOW! That's awesome! So true & very insightful. Too many of us have lost track & touch in so many ways because of technology. But it has to be remembered, "there is a time and place for everything…"
I wait impatiently for someone to say something brilliant and THIS was every bit worth waiting for.
Here in the small, "doesn't seem to matter in the big scheme of things" city of Cedar Rapids, where a handshake and someone's word used to be golden, things have definitely changed and gone by way of Web 2.0. Still in this Realtor's life, 1.0 RULES the house, because if it didn't rule the house, I wouldn't have a house. I too shut down communications around 8:00 p.m. or sooner. This massive shutdown of technology is almost always dictated by my 2, soon to be 3 year old boy, who comes up to Daddy's laptop and unapologetically closes it with his 2, soon to be 3 year old hand!!!
CRRE – Nice imagery.
And another Amen… I love technology and am excited everyday by the unending discovery of so much creativity on the net. Yet, there is that part of me… the private part, the artist, the thinker, the author, the musician, that longs for quiet, a good pad of paper, and a pen. Balance is key, thank you for sharing.
Wasn't the point of all this technology to connect in person at some point? At least in written dialogue if not over coffee or breaking break eyeball to eyeball. I do believe, some folks are beginning to miss the original concept of having a "meet up" and cant see the delicious forest for linking in, tweeting up fanning the facebook page etc etc…….
Indeed, all these tools are great ice breakers but they can never replace the face to face that really cements a relationship.
Another masterpiece, Bravo!