Ello, ello, ello! Hello and welcome back to Natsirt's blog where we talk about.....STUFF!!!>_<... Anyways, today I'm going to give my opinion on social media and electronics; so sit back and relax. Whether it's boring or not, you are going to read it dang it!Or not... Now on with the show!
With the coming of social media and the peak communication, our world has changed drastically; except that we still are not satisfied. Humans are greedy and insatiable. We seek more of what we enjoy in order to find happiness; or I guess, something to distract us for a while. We are a social species, so one of our many interests is communication. With the rise of social media, we now have the possibility of constant communication; limited by money, batteries, and wifi. To add to this, communication does not just mean conversing, but also the movement of information. Nowadays, almost everyone has some sort of communication device and/or a computer. We have the constant temptation to gain and use information. This has two sides to the effect. Communication has become an integral part of society on a global scale, so it should be obvious that communication can only be improving and getting better. On the other hand, face-to-face communication could be on an all time low; our faces are plastered to our screens and the lack of traditional communication. However, I see that while communication has changed, relationships would not change unless humans as a whole don't understand restraint and self-discipline. The thing is, we have gone through situations like this before. "Nerds" and "shut-ins" existed before the age of electronics. The only difference is that this is a bigger situation since the possibilities for the "digital world" is practically limitless. Regardless, humanity keeps moving on. Discipline and control are what we need and I believe that either, we'll learn it out of necessity, or will get help out of common sense.
I feel that the ways society is changing is bad, but it is simply a challenge that we must overcome. If we can understand and control what we want, the benefits from learning that outweigh the cons. To learn self-control, we can apply that to anything we do. Self-control is a great ability to have to imagine things. If we can visualize our desire, we can make choices to move towards or away from it. Right now, relationships are being broken down; not necessarily because of social media, but because our lack of care for others under the belief that everything can be found on the internet or the "world of games". As an only child, a gamer, and someone who watches a large amount of anime, I can say that the "digital word is not everything and eventually, we desire real interaction. Humans enjoy expressing themselves, and sometimes, only speaking will suffice. A natural face-to-face conversation can feel more real and sincere than a Facebook chat. I feel that we don't have to worry too much about our relationships as much as we should other issues regarding social media. We just need to adapt and regain awareness of what we are actually doing and why.
There are some however that can't find that self-control. They are consumed by their own desire. My tips are to interact with society without the use of a screen. Go out! While the internet may have everything, some experiences aren't the same as doing them first hand. For example, why watch a sport when you could do it yourself? Or why play online when you could meet the person face-to-face at an event. Talk to people! You have a mouth! Use it! Some people find safety expressing themselves behind a screen. In reality, no one will actually belittle you for stating your mind. If they do, punishments are issued; unless you stay quiet. People have to establish their "real" self in order to establish and strengthen their relationship. In fact, by using your interests, those with similar interests can be found. So go out there! Go and take control of your life.
Regarding institutions, I believe that there isn't much reason to restrict social media when compared to the benefits. The internet is a limitless source of information, so it would be a huge help to schools, which are places of learning, to make use of this great resource. There are many ways we can express our creativity with the internet and mobile devices such as the countless number of apps and programs to create various works. This is the age of social media and electronics. This is the present society we live in, so why are we rejecting it? We should incorporate what's popular in present society in our education system to make the most effective learning experience. Thinking about abuse of our technology is slightly pointless because that is simply adolescent rebellion. We do what we want and there's no stopping that. However, what our school does is block certain types of websites that don't seem helpful for the learning process. By doing this, we won't have as many distractions and we can focus on our work. There are still some distracting websites and apps not blocked by the school, but teachers can always punish the old-fashioned way and solve the problem. If it does not work, then that's our problem, and we'll suffer for it; not the school.
And that's all to it. The secret to our changing society is the ability of self-control and discipline. If this was boring, here are some extras that might peek your interest on the topic. Here are videos on why we are so addicted to video games. Here, is a video about communication regarding hive minds (you'll understand once you watch it). Yes, I love watching Game Theory. Keep doing what your doing Mat Pat! I also recommend these three anime related to this topic. The first is "Serial Experiments Lain" directed by Ryutaro Nakamura, which is about this girl who enters the world that is the internet. It is a wacky and confusing show that covers various subjects such as drugs, cyber-bullying, false internet identities, conspiracies, and even cults. It questions reality and the power of the "digital world". The next anime, "And You Thought There Wasn't a Girl Online" directed by Shinsuke Yanagi, is a lighthearted one about a boy in highschool who learns that his entire guild in this game he plays are actually girls at his school in real life. Eventually, he learns that the one who he is married with in-game is delusional and can't tell the difference from the real world and the game world. He and the rest of the guild decide to create a club to play video games and to help this girl with her problem. The themes aren't as heavy as Lain, but to a gamer or an otaku, many things feel relatable. Quick warning, there is a lot of "fan-service" and little plot in this anime so if you don't like it, that's your choice. The last suggestion is a blind one as I haven't watched it yet, but many time have I heard it's greatness. "Welcome to the N.H.K." directed by Yusuke Yamamoto, is about "neets" (otaku shut-ins) and how they live their lives in loneliness and suffering. We see how neets are seen in society and what they go through. The story put a main focus on a person who is being helped by a girl to overcome his problem. Well I hope you enjoyed and thank you for reading! Also, tell me, how do you demonstrate self-discipline and control in your life? Is it hard? Is it simple? Tell me in the comments below if you wish.
I completely agree with your opinion and I totally believe that there are no limits when it comes to "human evolution" - especially with technology. Humans are never completely satisfied so we will keep inventing until we create the perfect product that has no imperfections and will satisfy every human being on Earth. Good post man!:)
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