Oftentimes situating our thinking into a new perspective helps us to better understand a concept. Technology, something that has become a part of our culture in only recent decades, has in many ways defined the way we as humans operate and live. It’s so present in fact that we can enter an ethical discussion about the ‘goodness’ of technology. One may argue that labeling technology as good or bad is like labeling the act of drinking wine good or bad. The labeling for both is circumstantial- technology and wine are good during certain scenarios and bad at other times, sometimes even grey.
Imagine a dinner party hosted by a wine enthusiast. In addition to learning some methods of wine making you’ve been offered various tastings from around the world and sit down to a meal where a rich merlot complements the courses- maybe one with a hint of dark cherry lingering on your tongue. Satisfying, luscious, slightly exotic, tasteful. The experience thus far makes you want to learn more about wine and even visit some vineyards, you make a mental note to obtain a travel book.
Who are you sipping this wine with? People from all walks of life, all cultures, every religion. Wine treats everyone equally. A glass or two brings inhibitions down, eliminates self-doubts of sounding silly, bridges gaps of communication. Strangers become acquaintances and friends become family. Too much wine, and, well we’ve all been there- overly comfortable with one another when emotions, both good and bad, are magnified.
Most of the guests drink two glasses throughout dinner, sipping water in between, and either coffee or tea with dessert. Laughter accentuates conversation, smiles and promises of future correspondence are exchanged. Two guests feel a romantic spark after sharing their interests, they excuse themselves early. One elderly man sips a recently released bottle of experimental blends, he claims his sore leg feels better with every sip.
As the plates are cleared guests wander around the room and onto the patio. One man points out stars, explaining navigation via the constellations. His audience, a woman just imbibed enough not to care tips her glass up while looking around for an escape. She watches two red-faced men argue, about what she doesn’t know, but the words have turned to curses and mere insults.
A group of women still sitting at the table chat, “I had a wonderful run this afternoon, there was a beautiful sunset and just the lightest breeze” The other women nod and smile as the runner sips some tea. The woman to her right pours herself another glass of wine, spilling a bit on the tablecloth, “I didn’t get to run today” she has trouble controlling the volume of her voice, “Planned on it, but didn’t go. I couldn’t- I forgot to bring my sweat band.” The other women glance around, some nod to be polite, the look relieved when one changes the subject.
A man in the corner polishing off a bottle mumbles alone after being inappropriate with some of the female guests. A few guests notice and feel sorry for him, one kindhearted man urges him to take a glass of water, he refuses. Another woman, drunk off too much as well, sits in the corner with her feelings on display: mascara running, face wrinkled in emotional pain, sobs cutting through breathless worries of never being wanted by a decent man.
Imagine the same dinner party, but replace the wine with technology, namely the internet, social media, and gadgets that have infiltrated many lives. Most people know how to benefit from technology in terms of sharing information, networking, and making their lives easier- like the woman who knows there’s a more reliable way to navigate than counting on a clear sky and using the stars, or the couple that found love quickly instead of wasting time with people whose interests don’t align with their own.
These examples counter those individuals too reliant on social media and gadgets, such as the woman who skipped her run solely because she didn’t have a piece of seemingly unnecessary equipment. She, like some people, would rather skip a work out instead of doing it sans music or a fitness watch, after all does the work out count if you don’t know your exact heart rate or number of calories burned? Some people are akin to the woman crying in the corner- she relies on social media to reaffirm her self-esteem, counting her worth in ‘likes’ and tediously snapping selfies to ensure only her finest version is posted for others to see.
Medical technology slowing infiltrates many lives thanks to scientists accomplishing medical marvels everyday using technology. For example recent studies using Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) have significantly reduced the neurological symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease, and 3D printing technology helps make better form fitting casts for broken bones and facial prosthetics. In our dinner party scenario when we replace the wine with technology that old man’s pain isn’t becoming numb with alcohol, it’s being treated with electrodes.
Even after listing benefit after benefit of technology, there are people who use technology with dark intentions, adding more negative aspects to the discussion. The drunk man at the dinner party is a technology (namely internet porn and social media) addict. He uses it too much to the point where he can’t interact with other humans at a basic level. The men arguing enjoy insulting others, for them the internet is a bullying playground with no consequences. They are the users who turn lively forum discussions into borderline hate venues.
Technology, like wine, is comparable to any other vice in life: we need to take personal responsibility for how it affects our lives. We can let it be like a few glasses of wine: vibrant, a great means of communication and information gathering, but not our only venue for doing so. Allow technology to grow and develop to make our lives easier and even healthier, don’t allow it to shred our abilities and humanity. We need to know how to read a map, not depend solely on GPS navigation. We need to know how to have a conversation then enjoy the quiet company of others, not reach for a screen when conversation lulls. Far too many children are handed smart phone and tablets to curb tears and boredom, what happened to parental interaction or relying on imagination?
Technology, like wine, isn’t evil, in fact it’s wonderful in many ways. It’s how much we allow ourselves to use and rely on technology that makes it appear questionable.