In These Modern Times (2)

Adding to what I wrote in my last blog. Technology can prove a valuable asset to us, we are able to be more widely read, able to listen to preaches more readily and able to contact people millions of miles away, however it often becomes a convenience thing, far from making us more effective, it gives us an easy option, texting instead of the calling, calling instead of speaking face to face, or staying in and watching TV instead of going out.

It can also be more time consuming, scouring the web to find what you want can take a long time, or the numerous distractions of games and funny videos. You often end up doing less than you hoped for, unless you are really disciplined. The scariest thing for me is when I go onto autopilot in the morning and immediately turn on my computer to check if anyone has sent me e-mails or the news has changed, since I checked it last night! I mean how much happens when I sleep?

Technology is good if it helps us to glorify God, but where it comes instead of relationships, where it makes us less effective and not more, then it's purpose has been lost and the problem it is solving still exists.


I've included this diagram from a module I did last Semester which involved High-tech companies.The diagram shows different peoples reaction to new technology. Innovators ("techies") buy new technology as soon as it is out, even with the likely bugs and problems, these are the type of people that buzz when Apple announces a new product. I think in someways it's good to be an innovator, we should celebrate creation as it is an echo of God's character, as long as we recognize God as the author of all things and worship the creator above the created (Romans 1).

The gap or chasm between Early Adopters and Early Majority is because it is difficult to transition a product from the techies to the Majority, e.g. this is where HD-DVDs recently came unstuck and even Blu-Ray has yet to crack the Majority market.

Personally I am in the late majority, partly due to not wanting to waste my money on any product that is merely a "gizmo" or gadget, I want something that is genuinely helpful and good, rather than something to show-off to my mates. For instance I don't own an I-pod because I think they are over-priced for the technology, you can get better MP3 players, just not as well branded ones, I use my phone very rarely because there are cheaper and more effective ways of communicating, as I mentioned in the previous blog. I think I shock the sales people on the phone when they ask how much I spend on my phone and I tell them I top-up quarterly between £10-£15, they usually sheepishly mutter about some deal and realize it is far beyond what I spend.

Does the technology you have add to your life? Does it make you more or less effective?
Are you addicted to technology?

In these Modern Times

I often hear the phrase, I can't believe that this could happen in 2008!

It stems from people's belief that society has got better as the years go by. Its not the most irrational thought it must be said, surely we are getting wiser, learning from the mistakes of previous generations. Well it appears not, you need only look at the newspaper to see that morality is not only just as bad, but the lines are increasingly blurred between what is right and wrong. As a Christian I hold on to the truth of the bible and God's holy spirit inside of me for my moral compass, but even Christians have deferred from this.

The fact is that however technologically advanced we are, the fact is that mobile phones, TVs computers and the internet, have not made us happier, just more accessible. These have become necessities, but needless ones, things that we believe we can't live without but actually we would be as happy if not happier without them. Have you ever thought how you survived pre-text or pre-internet?

Now I am as much a slave to these as the next person, I own all of the above and I use them regularly, they are not wrong in and of themselves but they are things that we believe we need when actually we don't.
I have started to read more and more as I realise that reading as archaic a pursuit as it is, really fills your mind in a better way than a TV or a computer can, I have more control over what I read and there are a vast amount of books that contain knowledge that will help me. I believe 5 minutes spent in a book (obviously depending on the book) would so outweigh 5 minutes on the internet or watching TV, yet so much more than all these I would argue is 5 minutes spent with God, in his word or praising and communing with him.

It seems that even though we have more ways of communication, the standard of communication has dropped considerably. When I read of British political Orators like Edmund Burke and William Pitt or more recently Churchill, it almost seems as if they have found new words to express their opinions, yet we surely now have a multitude of words not accessible, not even spoken in their eras.

We have seemingly become lazy, lapsing into text language or into slang, without trying to find the correct word that would fit. Nothing can substitute for a face to face conversation, when you consider that in a conversation 55% is body language, 38% Vocal tone and just 7% the message (this is a general rule and not applicable to all situations). When you consider these percentages you realise how easy it is to mis-understand a text message, or e-mail. I find it frustrating when I am trying to communicate something funny, to do it in written format is very difficult, especially with sarcasm or to communicate with emphasis or special note, BUT I guess there are probably ways of doing it, but it is very hard to communicate the message, although I hope I have done so here?!??!?!?!?!?

CGI vs Classic Film

I put on one of my favourite films this week, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. I hadn't seen it in a while and watching it reminded me why I enjoy it so much.

In a day where we have CGI and amazing graphics in films, it seems to me that we have gained these at the expense of decent scripts and great acting.

Butch Cassidy has some great cinematography, there's some lovely location shots, and a beautiful shot of a bicycle wheel with the light changing on it.

However it is the camaraderie between Robert Redford (Sundance) and Paul Newman (Butch) that lights up the film, I can't think of any recent films that have this feel to it, and as much as I enjoy CGI, for instance I loved the glossiness of Transformers, I wish someone could make a film with a great script and great graphics, or maybe even just a good script. These days films have poor titles, that give away how bad the film is, e.g. Over her dead body, or Snakes on a Plane.

I'll leave you with some classic quotes from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid:

Butch Cassidy: If he'd just pay me what he's spending to make me stop robbing him, I'd stop robbing him.

Percy Garriss: Morons. I've got morons on my team. Nobody is going to rob us going down the mountain. We have got no money going down the mountain. When we have got the money, on the way back, then you can sweat.


Whilst surrounded in a valley by lawmen hired to kill them
Butch Cassidy: Well, the way I figure it, we can either fight or give. If we give, we go to jail.
Sundance Kid: I've been there already.
Butch Cassidy: We could fight - they'll stay right where they are and starve us out. Or go for position, shoot us. Might even get a rock slide started, get us that way. What else can they do?
Sundance Kid: They could surrender to us, but I wouldn't count on that.

[during a gunfight with the Bolivian police, Butch and Sundance run low on ammunition]
Butch Cassidy: We're going to run out unless we can get to that mule and get some more.
Sundance Kid: I'll go.
Butch Cassidy: This is no time for bravery. I'll let ya!

but this fight scene is probably my favourite

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2y87EaadjqM

Enjoy.