This very moment, we’re witnessing the highest levels of technological advancement the human race has ever seen – just look at the latest breakthroughs in communications and medical science, and all those amazing features that make cars and planes safer and more comfortable than they’ve ever been before.
Despite all the amazing conveniences we have at our fingertips, it seems like people are always in a bad mood these days. Is this trend somehow linked to the advancing technology and gadget-y gizmos of the 21st century?
The more incredible our technology gets, the less time we have for ourselves. We’re constantly expected to chatter with all those hundreds of people we know online, chatter that cuts into the time we should be using getting out and experiencing life. We’ve started using terms like e-personality and e-courage, but the gentle manners of our parents and grandparents are fading almost to the point of extinction.
People my age are becoming short-tempered, overly efficient people. Our lives are limited to Facebook chat rooms and text messages, and every other person you see on the street is either talking on his N-97 or typing on his iPad. Teenagers can’t go five minutes without communicating with someone in one way or another, but we still feel misjudged and lost.
What’s the solution? The next time you’re feeling depressed, angry, lonely or scared, try this – set down your phone, turn off your computer, take the headset off your ears and talk to the people who live with you in your house.
Remember them? Your family? That tall guy who taught you how to ride your bike? That sweet lady who cooks all your food? That boy you used to play football with and the girl who always wanted to tell you about her day?
Forget about the latest tweet, the most recent status posting, the ping of your text message inbox. Take a little time to spend with your family because they still care about you – way more than your 500 “friends” in cyberspace.
Trust me – you'll feel better in no time.
Mohammed Ali Karrar, age 14
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