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Do we really want to replace village life with the net?

4/9/2015

17 Comments

 
PictureUK village
Well, that's going a bit too far back for most people, although there are still villages in England.

I grew up in Australia at the end of the Second World War. I knew most of the people in our street who were parents of the friends I played with. My mother sewed clothes for some of them. During the 45 years I lived in various parts of Australia, I continued the custom of greeting people I met if they looked non-threatening. I've heard it said that primitive cultures are friendly. But when society develops and becomes overcrowded, people are more insular and don't greet each other.

That happened when I arrived in England, all alone and seeking a job. Strangers walked by on the street with their eyes averted. I soon became used to that way of approach. We only speak to people we know. Now, I greet regular walkers and neighbors when I see them. At least I have some real human contact.

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But, the way things are going, all that is about to change with our dependence on the internet.

A YouGov poll of more than 2,000 consumers found the average UK household now owns 7.4 internet devices and four in 10 homes bought a tablet in the last year.

Smartphones are the most common internet-enabled device, at 1.7 per household, followed by laptops (1.3) and tablets (1.2).

Four in 10 households now own one tablet, one fifth have two, and 11 per cent own three or more.

In our flat, I use a computer to write and look up information. Even my use of the internet takes up too much time away from my husband. He has a basic mobile phone (not a smart one), in case of emergency. 

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Just over half of people in the survey said banking and finance was the area of their lives that would be most affected without the internet or mobile phone, followed by keeping up with current events (42 per cent), shopping (38 per cent) and their relationships with friends and family (37 per cent).

Use of the internet has changed the basic polite nature of personal contact. With obscurity, people think they can say whatever they please on Twitter or Facebook.

The internet frees malicious people to say things to virtual strangers they would never dare to say if they met them face to face.

However, the media contact has many benefits. A UK lecturer in media communication at Birmingham City University believes that social media gives us a connection with each other that we are all craving.

Wouldn't it be better to go outside and chat to someone? Ask a neighbor how they are? Talk to each other about things that concern us?

At the moment, my husband is batting cancer and I'm in such pain I can hardly walk. We just manage to take care of each other every day. I'm not likely to chat about that to someone online. But, if I met a kind soul who knew about our problems, I could share my concerns and maybe their words of advice would give me inspiration to carry on.

There must be so many people out there who need our consideration. Don't let the internet change our basic humanity.

Do you spend more time using the internet than talking to real people? Do you long for human contact?





17 Comments
Mary Burris link
4/8/2015 07:18:00 pm

I have always been an introvert, and the internet has drastically made this even more so.

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Alana link
4/8/2015 08:28:52 pm

I am so sorry for your pain and your husband's situation. I don' think Internet contact substitutes for true, face to face contact, but it can be a good temporary substitute. My mother in law is homebound in bad weather and uses her iPhone - but it just isn't the same. As for me, I am an introvert, and a lot of my contact is online, but I also have a full time job that provides me lots of interaction with others.

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Lata Subramanian link
4/8/2015 08:40:21 pm

Francene, this one touched a chord. Totally agree with you about the need for personal contact. Maybe social media is helping a lot of lonely people but that cannot substitute for the real thing. Our generation is lucky in that we know the difference. Sorry to hear that your husband is battling cancer. I know how that must feel because my mother had cancer too. Difficult for both the patient and the caregiver. You can read some part of what we went through in a blog I wrote titled Angels with a stethoscope.

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Ajay Pai link
4/8/2015 09:43:07 pm

This is how the new generation is, Francene. Sorry to hear that your husband is battling cancer. I am privy to a cancer patient who was next door during my childhood days. With all these challenges and concern, I am suprised and amazed to know that you are a person with high spirits and so much fun to interact with.
They say that prayer reduces pain. For a moment, I close my eyes and pray to the almighty to take care of your husband and yourself in the best possible way. Amen!

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Woody link
4/8/2015 10:09:52 pm

Totally agree I think to a point we have become far too reliant on the internet and we use too much myself included although personally I love nothing more than actual human interaction with my IRL friends and wife :)

Great Post

- Woody

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Kathy Hadley link
4/9/2015 12:07:37 am

Dear Francene,
I think whenever there is new technology there can be an emphasis on what is bad about it or what is good about it.

As for me and my family, friends, and most of my business associates, it is a real blessing and it allows me to be a much larger part of their lives.

Because of social networks like Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram, and Vine (to name a few) I get to see real daily pictures and videos of what my nieces, nephews and all the little ones are doing. I get to be a part of their every day lives.

And as for my neighbors, we hardly knew each other until we got hooked up with each other cell phone numbers and social media and now we stay in contact much more. We even all get together once a week now in person because of all the internet and cell phone connection.

And as for business connections, I can hands down say I wouldn't even be able to stay in contact with all the people from around the world and learn all the fascinating things about them, their issues, their way of life, their opinions, if it wasn't for the internet.

So for me, the internet and technology has been a HUGE addition to my life and has made it much better on every level.

Love,

Kathy

P.S. I wouldn't even know you, Francene, and get to read all of your viewpoints and be able to pray for you and your husband as I wouldn't even know you, if it weren't for the internet. ;-) <3

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Carol Cassara link
4/9/2015 01:04:35 am

Trolls are definitely a problem--spewing vile stuff from their anonymous internet perches.

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Donna Ward link
4/9/2015 01:39:19 am

awww,,,Francene - I am so sorry to hear about your husband's condition and your severe pain - My prayers and love are with you.

The Internet has helped both my business and my husband's tremendously and I am grateful - and our community is a small mountain village connected to other villages - more like th primitive cultures - mostly are friendly - it's interesting to see people from the city come up - we can often identify them quickly. Big hugs

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K.Lee Banks link
4/9/2015 03:20:00 am

Hugs to you and prayers for you and your hubby!

Yes, back in the day...villages and neighborhoods were much closer and friendlier. Today, however, I don't feel nearly the level of safety to just walk up and start talking to neighbors who are more like strangers!

I have to concur mostly with what Kathy and Donna said - I'm thankful for the Internet and social media, because without them, it would be difficult to keep up with family members and friends who are scattered around the U.S. and abroad. It would also be impossible to do my freelance work, my doctoral studies, and all my social media activities and connections - including our mutual blogging groups! ;-)

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Barbara link
4/9/2015 03:44:24 am

I'm with you, Francene, I love small towns. Fortunately, I still live in a small town and I love being able to walk around the neighborhood and smile as I greet my neighbors. I also like to shop locally rather than going to the mall because the shop owners know me. Right now, however, I am at a tournament with my sons with many families that I have known for 10 years, so I am reminded to limit my time on the net and have more face to face contact. :) (Even though you and I have been visiting each other's blogs for some time now and I feel like you are a bit of a friend, too :) ) Glad you shared about your husband so that I can pray for you.

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Joan Harrington link
4/9/2015 08:26:37 am

Hi Francene,

Interesting post and there is never anything that compares to human contact :) I find that being on the Internet helps me make new friends and get my brand seen by more people so all in all the internet helps me :)

Thanks for sharing :)

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Shonda link
4/9/2015 08:59:07 am

Longing for human contact. Yes, I quite enjoy engaging with others in person. There is something to be said for human interaction. A computer screen will never quite take its place. I'm learning to intertwine the two. For instance, tomorrow I will connect with a colleague I've only known through work groups online. I'm in her city and reached out to her for some local insights. It will be great putting a face with a name.

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Laurel Regan link
4/9/2015 09:18:03 am

I think in this area, as in so many, balance is what's important. I greatly appreciate the internet for the connections it enables with people I would otherwise never have met; however, my in-person connections are important on a whole different level.

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Elisabeth link
4/9/2015 10:49:39 am

I see what you're saying... I love my internet because I can keep in touch with people (like my best friend from kindergarten) who I would otherwise have to spend a lot of money to talk to... but it can't substitute for all contact (even though I am a true introvert.)

I was lucky to spend time growing up in English villages so I do truly value village life. It's probably why we moved from a city of 3.5 million people to a rural town of 900. It's kind of like a village!

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Amy Bovaird link
4/9/2015 01:48:14 pm

Hello Francene,
I hear the longing in your heart. It is so good to be able to talk to someone face-to-face and have the human interaction. My sister used to echo your sentiments. But like Kathy and Laurel said, It's about balance. I wouldn't have so many connections without it but I live in a small town and have the other as well. In fact, today a man at the Sight Center said, "Are you the author?" and I felt so honored that he knew who I was. I know it's not the same to have an online friend but please feel free to email me anytime you want to share.
Praying for you and your husband.
Amy

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Sunita Rajwade link
4/9/2015 04:23:12 pm

It's true - people are spending more time digitally than socially. How annoying it is to see people texting, talking on their phones in the middle of social events!

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Jason link
4/17/2015 01:16:48 am

Interesting perspective. Agree that face-to-face interaction is not replaced by online interaction, but there are benefits to both. For people who feel outcast from their villages or communities, the internet can serve as a healthy outlet for them not to feel completely ostracized.

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    Francene Stanley
    From England, I use news items in my novels which you can see below, all linked to an Amazon near you.

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