We no longer do things just for doing them?

by Amrit Hallan on April 25, 2010

Kids in the compound wanted themselves photographed (a trend initiated by our daughter) so that they could post the pics on FaceBook. It was really dark, and with the kind of entry-level camera they had they were anyway going to appear like red-eyed ghosts haunting that leafless tree, but still, more than the joy of climbing a tree they were busy making poses for the camera.

I often see casual enjoyments like these stunted by technology. At home too sometimes I have to stop my wife from running for the camera whenever our daughter is doing something cute and adorable or something is happening that you’d like to photograph. Then everything becomes photograph centric and the focus is moved away from the actual moment.

And it is not just about photographs. On Twitter and FaceBook I see many updates where people seem to be doing things just so that they can post those updates there. Even when they buy a new gadget like an iPhone or a new laptop they want to post the update before they can even get connected to the Internet. I’m not saying it’s abnormal that you want to share your excitement and happiness with your friends and “followers”, but sometimes it becomes too obvious.

  • http://suvrobemused.blogspot.com Suvro Chatterjee

    You said it, Amrit. We are becoming increasingly like ants, which perform certain tasks superbly well when they are in vast, organised social groups, but become completely disoriented and helpless when individuals are separated from their communities! More and more we cannot even conceive living lives of our own. There is nothing called self-esteem beyond what others are saying about you, on the net or in the physical world. The growth of the individual life, mind and talent was once thought to be the hallmark of human civilisation; now all our vaunted progress seems to be taking us in exactly the opposite direction. I fear for our children. Do look up what I wrote about the need for solitude on my blogpost titled ‘Serving up on request’. Also try this link: http://www.theamericanscholar.org/solitude-and-leadership/

  • http://www.amrithallan.com Amrit

    Hello Suvro,

    Thanks for your feedback and the interesting links you left. In our own capacities both my wife and I trying to make sure our daughter grows up feeling positive about the world, without the fear of being left behind, or not being cool enough. We want her to simply enjoy life, and appreciate it.

    Unfortunately, she’ll have to live in this world, so we’re also constantly thinking about how to help her cope with it.

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