Let's Keep Blogging & Technology in Perspective

After digesting this week’s readings, I'm wondering if humans are placating to technology? Okay, I’m going to digress for a bit on the topic of sensory overload. At least once a week, I try to meditate on this topic. As a graduate student, I find it difficult to live in the moment – the coursework alone does not allow for it. I have to admit with my various roles and responsibilities that I’m so good at multitasking these days that I probably do it my sleep.

In the case of technology, I think as students we have become so driven in our need to consume all things technological that we have become even better experts at denying the real consequences of overloading our minds. These consequences can more than likely cause bombardment, burn out, and at some point the possibility of failure!

I love the idea of mastering the latest technology. It’s wonderful to know that as writers, we don’t have to reinvent the wheel to come up with a good piece of writing. But, are we really better off, if obtaining all these things and acquiring all this knowledge compromises our senses or our ability to function?

I think it’s important to start acknowledging this bombardment - if just to verbalize that a real problem exists. Let’s face it - our minds cannot be copied to the nearest hard drive, uploaded to the nearest jump-drive, or backed up to the nearest server. The mind happens to be our most precious resource and overloading it for the sake of not wanting to feel left behind is not only overwhelming, but it can also be dangerous. Like everything else we have discussed in this course – blogging, using technology, and loading the mind with information should be done at our own risk, but more importantly, in moderation. First and foremost, we are writers. We need technology to do our jobs; however, our ability to strike a balance between being on the cutting edge and controlling what we do is critical to our sanity, and thus to our success.

Baby we’ve come a long way.
Patience