I was thinking tonight (as I played an intense game of Settlers of Catan at the Weichbrodt’s house) about the role of technology in communication today. It’s staggering how accessible people are today at the touch of a button. If I knew the right number to call, I could, in theory, get the President of the United States on the phone for a chat. Everyone has a phone or computer, and all of them are on just about all the time. Now of course this is very convenient in times of distress or when you want to be picked up, and you think your ride may have pushed the snooze button one too many times, but how does this translate into actual friendship-building conversations?
I recently came home for my first summer break from college, and there are many people who I would really enjoy talking to while I am thousands of miles away. While it is nice to be able to pick up my phone or computer and be able to talk to them at any time, there are also a host of issues that arise with this instant accessibility.
First, there is the question of the medium of communication itself. My usual complaint about text conversation is that it scares me a bit not to be able to read voice inflection or body language. Without those things, words can often take on meaning they were never meant to take. But then they had to go and invent the telephone! Still not perfect, but with the telephone at least voice inflection can be read. And then, within the last few years, a new invention came into play: skype. Now not only can we hear the voice of the other person, but we can also see their body language (true, somewhat skewed by the medium, but worlds better than nothing at all). Of course, when given the choice between technology mediated conversation and conversation in person I will chose the latter every time, but when the latter is out of the question, the former doesn’t look so bad anymore.
Now comes the question of constant accessibility in today’s hyper-connected world. I sometimes think that because anyone can be reached at any time there is this unwritten rule that I am in the wrong if I do not stay in communication all the time - that simply because the channel is open, it is meant to be used. This is a frightening notion, and can be very dangerous.
At this point in my thoughts I looked around and saw all of the wonderful people about me. It is easy to forget where you are when your thoughts are in a different place (and time zone). Sometimes distance can be good, but as one thing becomes distant, another becomes nigh. As my college friends spend their summer with their friends and family, I will be doing the same. If I try too hard to go to a place that doesn’t really exist, I may let the reality of the now slip by me. Of course I will stay in contact with everyone – I would be letting a great resource go unused if I didn’t – but I will make my best effort to be present wherever I am.
I am realizing more and more that this is more an issue of perspective than accessibility (though the chicken or egg arguments may be made). As long as I keep my focus on what is in front of me, everything else should work itself out. This doesn’t mean that I wont think about everyone from school, or that I wont communicate with them, but that I will remember where I am, and whom I am with now. We are incarnate beings for a reason. When we try to multiply or fracture ourselves, problems are never far off. I know that this will be as bit of a struggle these next couple of months, as this trip “home” seems more like a vacation than anything else. I will continue to pray that as I spend these next couple of months with family and old friends I will be able to keep my perspective on the now, not look backward or forward in my life too much, and that all else after that will fall into place.
