So this is kind of a random topic, but it kept popping into my mind, so that means I'm supposed to write about it, right? Well here it goes.
Everything about media is about convenience. Think about how we stick kids in front of the TV to entertain them so we can get a break, think about how we write a happy birthday post on Facebook so we don't have to meet up with the person and tell them in real life, and think about how nice it is to see pictures about your brother's family's trip to Disney Land on Facebook or Instagram so you feel updated on their lives rather than actually talking about it.This convenience especially stuck out to me while I was online shopping. Think about it. Online shopping is great because... 1) you don't have to wait in line 2) you do not have to leave your house to physically go to the store 3) people don't get in the way- like when you want to look at a sweater but a huge family is hovering around the EXACT rack that you are trying to get to 4) it's easier to look online for sales in stores rather than driving to a store and realizing there is not 40% off deal like you were hoping for 5) getting things delivered to your door makes it feel like Christmas and 6) you only have to drive to the nearest post office to return your item rather than going alllllll the way to the store 7) there are (usually) so many more options online than in-stores and finally 8) online shopping makes it so you can shop at mostly any store even when there is not one close by (Ahem... we need a Kate Spade in Utah.). Also, I lied about that being the final point. Because here is the point that I really want to talk about. And it's the point that I'd like to hear your opinions about in comments. Okay here is it...
Online shopping is convenient because there is no interaction with other people.
It's odd because (you may not want to admit it out loud) but that aspect of it is really nice because sometimes, people are annoying in stores and the cashiers always try to talk you into opening a credit card with their store. However, isn't it weird that we think that's a good thing? With media, real social interaction with people occurs way less than it did before media became a thing.
Media is convenient, but wouldn't it be better to play with your kids isntead of having them watch TV? Isn't it better to tell someone "Happy birthday" in person? Isn't it better to see your brother and his family to see how their trip was?
Media is convenient. Which can be a good thing and a bad thing. What do you think?
xo
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I think media can be both good and bad. Like you said, it is very convenient, but that's not always a good thing. I think it adds to our laziness. If we want something, we don't even have to leave the house. Another thing I am very guilty of is birthdays. I don't even have to call, send a card, or visit. I can post on Facebook or send a text. Media helps us keep in touch with people, but it also makes us fall away from people because we can stay up to date on their lives without even talking to them.
ReplyDeleteI think you summed it up really well. The convenience of media can have a positive or negative effect in our lives depending on how and why we are using it. Just like many tools available to us in life, if we utilize media for good (and do so in moderation) it can make the world a wonderful place. However, it can also really hurt us if we abuse it.
ReplyDeleteI agree with a lot of what you said! It is so convenient. It makes a lot of things in life easier and some may even say better. Then again, we are missing a lot of the same kinds of interactions that people had before media exploded. I think there are always positives and negatives, but we need to keep a balance. We must not let it take over our lives. That is easier said than done, but it can be done.
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