Computers
“Today,'
she told it, 'death comes to all your circuits. Will it be slow and
systematic, or fast and brutal?' Considering, she circled it. 'Tough
decision. I've waited so long for this moment. Dreamed of it.'”
J. D. Robb
(Witness in Death)
Both my sons grew up with
computers. Technology is like a second skin for them—a completely
understandable extension of their brains. With a few flicks of the
thumbs they can answer any question, find settings, make
adjustments, and do every other kind of techno-magic. I, on the other
hand, grew up with...well...radio, and a little later TV. Computers,
though I use mine many times each day, remain a complete mystery to
me. If they don't just boot up and run on their own, I'm lost. In our
current world, if you are technologically lost, you're in the dark, witchy-woods!
Back when I had no
control of my temper (a few weeks ago), when things went wrong with
my computer, I wanted to do what the character in J. D. Robb's book
Witness in Death did—which was to take hammers and pulverize what
she called the “Antichrist of technology.” Now, I take a
few deep breaths and make the short trip to Office Depot for their
geeks to sort things out. I accept my limitations in this
area. I can say without hesitation or embarrassment, “Hi, I'm Jane.
I'm a techno-idiot.” Because I am old, I expect people to make
allowances for me in this area.
I understand that the
computer has opened up entirely new vistas for us. Steve Jobs called
it, “the most remarkable tool we have ever come up with. It's the
equivalent of a bicycle for our minds.” It's incredible to have the
world, its peoples, its vistas, its languages, and every sort of
information right at our fingertips—even space and distant galaxies
are “googleable.” Is that a word? I understand the fascination computers hold for people with curious minds—instant gratification. What
I worry about is the distance they create for us with our fellow
human beings. Not only that, but the absorption they command, which
is quite simply addictive. If you are sitting at dinner with friends
or family, and someone at the table is flipping through their phone,
they are simply not there. They have lost contact with the human
beings around them, and now, may as well be in another town.
Computers are mystical
creatures. We are fortunate to have them. But they are not warm
blooded and they cannot relate to one's soul. Today, seek out a
fellow human—you'll recognize them by the skin covering, blinking
eyes, and fact that they don't glow in the dark. Stay connected in a
real way.
In the Spirit,
Jane
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