Emerson40
An evening spent dancing
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2012
- Posts
- 13,838
A short time ago a friend and I were having a discussion about technology, about how it has changed how we live, and the speed at which it changes and evolves. My friend commented that he felt disappointed in some of the technology, as it was supposed to make our lives easier, shorten our work week, and simplify things, but instead he works longer days, seems always connected (or tethered) to work and life outside of home and family life, and with data gathering, reporting, and the different ways this information is used, finds things far from simple.
I suggested to him that it wasn’t the technology that was causing him stress, but the way the technology was being used (abused).
Not so many years ago you could be out from the office and if someone called, a wee pink note was left on your desk with a message. You returned the call later that day, or even the next.
Not at home, a message could be left on an answering machine.
Then came pagers, handy devices that had some driving around with ashtrays full of coins and rainman-like knowledge of where payphones could be found throughout the city. The first tugging on the electronic leashes started here, when customers / colleagues started adding the -911 suffix in order to get a call back right away.
This expectation to reach somebody immediately only increased when mobile phones flooded the market. We all remember those times where someone called your mobile, left you message, and then they called you again in five minutes because, hey, they left you a message and you hadn’t called them back yet. Another yank on the electronic leash.
Fast forward to today and the leash has become fortified with email, Facetime, and texting (Why haven’t you replied back? I see you read the message).
I’ve hired a company a few times that has it written right into their employment agreement that the employees are expected to answer all calls that come in to their company-supplied phone, or return the call within 10 minutes.
I saw this article this morning and it reminded me of a few folks I know, including the friend who was disappointed and stressed with technology. Just last week he almost lost his mind when he had to wait almost an hour for a reply to his text regarding some fantasy sports league he participates in.
Do you stress over not receiving immediate replies to texts and emails?
Do you expect you phone calls to be returned immediately? Perhaps just from some folks (kids, employees, spouse)?
You can see similar behaviour on message boards and forums, where users needlessly bump their own threads when they appear to be falling below the fold or on to the second page. You just know they are constantly refreshing to see if anyone is replying.
Has technology changed you where you now expect immediate results / gratification?
＼ ☆
| ☆
(⌒ ⌒ヽ /
＼ （´⌒ ⌒ ⌒ヾ ／
（’⌒ ; ⌒ ::⌒ ）
（´ ） ::: ） ／
☆─ （´⌒;: ::⌒`） :; ）
（⌒:: :: ::⌒ ）
／ （ ゝ ヾ 丶 ソ ─
Do you feel the rage inside?
I suggested to him that it wasn’t the technology that was causing him stress, but the way the technology was being used (abused).
Not so many years ago you could be out from the office and if someone called, a wee pink note was left on your desk with a message. You returned the call later that day, or even the next.
Not at home, a message could be left on an answering machine.
Then came pagers, handy devices that had some driving around with ashtrays full of coins and rainman-like knowledge of where payphones could be found throughout the city. The first tugging on the electronic leashes started here, when customers / colleagues started adding the -911 suffix in order to get a call back right away.
This expectation to reach somebody immediately only increased when mobile phones flooded the market. We all remember those times where someone called your mobile, left you message, and then they called you again in five minutes because, hey, they left you a message and you hadn’t called them back yet. Another yank on the electronic leash.
Fast forward to today and the leash has become fortified with email, Facetime, and texting (Why haven’t you replied back? I see you read the message).
I’ve hired a company a few times that has it written right into their employment agreement that the employees are expected to answer all calls that come in to their company-supplied phone, or return the call within 10 minutes.
I saw this article this morning and it reminded me of a few folks I know, including the friend who was disappointed and stressed with technology. Just last week he almost lost his mind when he had to wait almost an hour for a reply to his text regarding some fantasy sports league he participates in.
Do you stress over not receiving immediate replies to texts and emails?
Do you expect you phone calls to be returned immediately? Perhaps just from some folks (kids, employees, spouse)?
You can see similar behaviour on message boards and forums, where users needlessly bump their own threads when they appear to be falling below the fold or on to the second page. You just know they are constantly refreshing to see if anyone is replying.
Has technology changed you where you now expect immediate results / gratification?
＼ ☆
| ☆
(⌒ ⌒ヽ /
＼ （´⌒ ⌒ ⌒ヾ ／
（’⌒ ; ⌒ ::⌒ ）
（´ ） ::: ） ／
☆─ （´⌒;: ::⌒`） :; ）
（⌒:: :: ::⌒ ）
／ （ ゝ ヾ 丶 ソ ─
Do you feel the rage inside?
