In today's
society, millions of people use computers and other electronics on a daily
basis. While the Internet does have its advantages, especially when it comes to
communicating information in a time efficient manner and being able to help
businesses flourish, it still has its downsides as well. Think about
relationships. The Internet and electronics have become so commonly used by
people that relationships are often harmed by them. From spending too much time
in front of the TV playing games on an Xbox 360 to literally spending more than
ten hours a day on the Internet, many people have lessened the amount of time
they spend verbally talking to each other; this issue plays out negatively in
many homes and relationships.
Social Isolation
Much research
has been conducted on the affects of Internet and electronic addictions. Just
like any other addiction in life, such as to food and drugs, the people that
suffer the most are those we are close to. To keep it simple, we hurt our
relationships. These relationships can be those that are at home, with loved
ones, friends, and even co-workers. Too often, people substitute electronic
relationships in place of real ones, and this can unfortunately lead to social
isolation.
Reduced Real-Laughter
Everyone knows
that laughter can help lift people's spirit when they are feeling low; however,
when someone types 'LOL' on an electronic device and sends it as a text
message, no real laughter is heard. People should not substitute real
conversations with those that are typed out on the display of a computer or
electronic device. Instead, people should remember that face-to-face
communication as well as talking over the phone can be used to boost one's
emotional health and spirits.
Confused Text Conversations
People often
become confused, and sometimes infuriated, through text messaging. When
communicating in this manner, there is no real way to identify the tones being
used by the people texting. Due to this unfortunate characteristic of texting,
people often send messages in one way, but the receiver interprets them in an
entirely different way; this only hurts relationships and causes them to
function in unhealthy manners.
Overcoming Electronic-Relationship Issues
One of the best
ways to avoid hampering relationships due to electronic devices is to limit
oneself to the amount of time used on them. It is also important never to
communicate a message on the Internet that one would never say in person to the
person who is receiving the message. Furthermore, it is pertinent to keep in
mind that face-to-face conversations are much healthier and less confusing than
those sent via electronics.
Posts
0 comments:
Post a Comment