In Sherry Turkle’s speech entitled “Connected but Alone”, she affirms a lot of factuality about technologies and how it plays a role to every individual when interacting with each other. She also wants to share about a particular effect of technology – that we are letting technologies take us to places that we don’t really want to go. She also insisted that we let these small devices manipulate our actions, where we always depend. They are so powerful that it does not only change what we do, but also change who we really are.
In today’s generation, we are more likely an investor of these devices. Can’t you realize that even in meetings, we were with these devices? In school? Even when having meal times with our parents. We are together but no being together. How ironic that we always want a real conversation but our dependency on technologies always prevails. We don’t realize that we are creating troubles in such a way that, we are used in isolating ourselves from others. What burdens most is that if given an option, we would not mind getting rid of all real conversations like a face to face conversation. Turkle emphasized her idea of “Goldilocks’ effect”, which means “not too far, not too close, just right”.
People like having a lot of someone as long as it is from a distance and they can still control it. As the talk moves along, she expresses how human relationships became demanding, how “conversation” turned into “connection”, and how “connection” turned into “isolation”. We should learn to have a conversation because it is also a way of learning to have a conversation with yourself. She again makes a strong juncture. She contends that we expect more from technologies and less from one another. This is because technology appeals to us when we are at our most vulnerable stage.
People are afraid that no one will listen which leads in spending time with machines because we are tempted by machines that offers companionship. We feel comfort with technology. We are losing our self-confidence to have a conversation with one another which leads us being alone. We are lonely but afraid of intimacy. We covet the illusion of companionship without the demands of friendship. What technologies bring us gives the three (3) gratifying fantasies – attention when we want it, a sense that we are always heard, and letting us know that we are never alone.
The most important thing that we need to do is to learn how to be alone. This is because if we do not know how to be alone, we will just make ourselves lonelier by diving into technology and moving away from reality. Let us not cultivate the capacity to solitude where you find yourself so that you can reach out to people. Let us focus on ways technology can lead us back to reality. They all need us.
The speech "Connected but Alone" by Sherry Turkle made me realized two major points – we need to learn how to be alone not be lonely, and focus on ways technology can lead us back to the reality. They all need us. Indeed, technology had always been a part of our lives. Practically saying, some people cannot go through the day without using devices. However, people should learn how to use technologies in a sensible way. We should not take technology for granted.
As what Turkle said, we are more focused on these devices and less with one another which leads us being alone. Being alone is different from being lonely. Being alone is when you want to be with yourself to find something in you so that you can reach out to others. Meanwhile, being lonely means you have all by yourself, having no one to turn to. Based on my own experiences, I think I never been lonely. Sometimes, I'm alone because I want me to spend my "Me Time", but I never consider myself as lonely or having no one to turn to. I grew up having people who cared so much for me. And I am thankful.
Honestly, my first time having an android phone was 3 years ago, unlike today, that even kindergartens have their own phones. It saddens me to think that they are more engaged with games on their phones rather than playing outside with their friends. My sister was like that. But I always told her not to practice such behavior. As I was browsing on Facebook, I saw someone shared pictures of the kids during our time, when technology was a stranger. I suddenly missed my childhood days. I always came to think of what might be the kids today if phones are not invented? Or rather phones are prohibited to kids? Maybe, there will be no more social issues that triggers teenagers nowadays. Maybe there will be no high expectations or judgements.
As an engineering student, I admit that I am also with technologies because in my field of study, where machines will be invented, come to think that it will be so difficult if technologies weren’t there. Technology makes everything easier for us that is why, as future engineers, we are making a way to develop more our technology by creating machines that will help the majorities. Our field of study is focused on agricultural machineries, which I like most because as an Agricultural country, we can create machines that will help in the progress of our country. However, we are not merely considering technology as a way to just make works easier, but as a way that leads us back to the reality. Reality needs us. We should not avoid it. Technologies plays an important role in our profession. It was, I think, the main “frame” of engineering. When I said “frame”, it was the basic structure, support and shape of engineering. Without technology, there will be no machine. And if there will be no invention of machines, there will be no engineers who will invent machines.
On the other hand, being an engineering student is a pressure which sometimes leads to our emotional breakdown. During these times, technologies were always there. I have some classmates who cried because maybe of a failure in a subject. I can see that sometimes they are alone. I even discovered that some of my classmates are “costumers” in our clinic. Then, I noticed that they are posting on social medias, a product of technology, how they felt. They found a way to lift their burdens, even in a small way. If we come to realize, technology sometimes became the companion of people. If we are having a hard time, we use our phones, play games or do things which satisfies us. The mentality of human enables us to do some things which is beyond the reality. We don’t want realities because it hinders us to be happy. We want to do what makes us happy, and we found a way in technology. We are afraid of having a conversation with example, to your friend, and just chose to be with technologies where we think we can find comfort but still lonely. That is the saddest part – when we chose to be lonely rather than having a real conversation, well in fact, what technologies bring us are just gratifying fantasies.
Source for the first image: Source: https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fscarter7.uneportfolio.org%2F2017%2F03%2F04%2Fconnected-but-alone-ted-talk-summary-and-reaction%2F&psig=AOvVaw3nHQOiXfuSnPWp4dqgsTNM&ust=1620818807057000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCJCUgN3CwfACFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD
I agree to this. Having a gadget gives us a chance to do things easily. But on other part, it also limits us and put boundaries with our loved ones. So just be balance. Use gadgets in a right way, right time, and right place.