Technology and Human Interaction

Today in class we entered into a discussion about media, and specifically how relevant it is to our culture today. We also went into discussion about how it can be applied to and intertwined with religion. It really got me thinking a lot about the extent to which technology in general interferes with human interaction.
In class I shared a story about how when the TV was removed from the main room in my apartment, it increased human interaction and my roommates and I talked drastically more. This lack of technological interference created a whole new type of interaction.
Today it is so easy to zone out. Zoning out takes no effort and takes no thought. You simply pull out your phone and are able to zone out for as long as you want for as long as you want. I got on the transit after class today and was paying a lot more attention to how much technological devices actually steal human interaction away from people. I was on a full transit back to Creekside, a few people were even forced to stand because of lack of seats. I decided to take out my earphones and observe what I saw and heard.
As far as what I saw … phones. Lots of phones. People on their phones, people listening to music, people texting, tweeting, playing games, and everything you can think of. As far as talking, there was one guy talking to the girl next to him and by the end of the bus ride he actually got her phone number, no joke. That in itself goes to show how when technology is put away for a while, how much can be accomplished in its place.
I love my iPhone, iPod, and Apple computer as much as anyone does, but I do think that people today are becoming a little overly excessive with the amount of time that they use them, and the amount of time they take from interacting with others.
I spent a semester in Spain and it was the best semester of my life. This is mainly because no one over there had phones so people were forced to get to know one another, instead of constantly being in touch with those we left behind at home. Here people were forced out of their comfort zone. Friends were no longer a text away. People had to talk, interact, and learn about each other. There were no cell phone games to be played to kill the awkward silence between you and whoever was on the bus beside you. Instead, you asked their name and made friends.
I now live with a friend I met in Spain, and I would make the argument that if either of us had had our cell phones with us on that trip, there is a good chance I would be living with someone completely different. Just something to think about. Put down your device and talk to someone. It will get you somewhere.