Tuesday, March 07, 2006

Maturity v Convenience

Once again, I see that Americans are not ready for the technologies we employ. I can't speak for other nations, yet it would not surprise me to see similar or accelerated versions of what I speak of here. What I speak of is the volatile relationship between how fast technology develops and the proper use of said tech by humans. To illustrate, consider Moore's Law. This principle states that the speed of computers doubles every 18 months. That 3.4 Gigahertz computer you bought at the start of 2006 will be 6.8 Gigahertz by July of 2007! The size of these computers grows smaller, to boot, making portability an increasing possibility. More power, smaller size, more things you can do on the road. I carry a Dell Axim x50v, which is perfectly able to manage not only my contacts, calendar, and to-do lists, but also pictures, audio, and video files. My wife is awaiting her iPod shipment, which will consolidate and make mobile a large portion of our multimedia collection.
+ There is a problem when mixing people and peripherals. Like anything that can be used for good, there is a way to abuse it. A lack of maturity is increasing as these newfound devices discover new roles. Take, for example, the Playstation Portable. You can game on the go, which I find very appealing. The device also plays a small form movie disc and can be connected to a PC to play audio and video content on the road. People are taking this device and using it to store their porn collections so they can indulge wherever they are. It isn't enough to surf indecent content from home, NOW you can take degrading pictures and video to SCHOOL under the guise of a gaming system.
+ The push to consolidate to an all-in-one device is getting stronger, as Microsoft is partnering up with other companies to create the Origami (2)(3)(4), a voice, video, network, audio, video, and organizational tool. Apple also has a patent or two for new devices in the same vein of thought. How will those devices be used?
+ These devices are not inherently terrible, but the immaturity of a nation makes it a bad idea to allow them to handle the technology. Do you hand a gun to your three-year old? You and I BOTH know the FIRST thing he will do is look right down the barrel. Stupid? Immature. You may think I am exaggerating, but studies show a large amount of criminally convicted citizens have a history in pornography. (Beware what you surf from that last link). Do we hand a means to people who are thinking about negative ends?
+ You can't pose a problem without a solution, right? Hmm. The world is not going to stop producing devices based on maturity of users. I find the only solution is given to us from God in the Bible. If you are not a Bible fan, consider the words of Galatians regardless. I know I am not invincible or perfect. I recognize this and it makes me stronger in my struggle to protect my mind from the deluge of trash out there. Just that simple knowledge can make a man out of a baby and keep the gun pointed in the right direction. I keep telling myself "I am in the world, but not of it".

4 Comments:

At March 07, 2006 4:39 PM, Blogger Katrina said...

I don't know if this applies just to Americans or to humanity in general. It seems to me that just about any new scientific discovery or technology can be applied to either good or evil ends. The rate of technological advancement doesn't seem as significant here as the absence of inner boundaries or self-control that a lot of us struggle with. The same old sins exist--science and technology just give us new and more convenient ways to practice them.

I think your encouragement for each person to look to his or her own heart and hold it up to the standard set forth in scripture is a good one. No lasting change in a man's life can come from outside the man--it must be born within.

I guess I'm saying that technology isn't the problem; it just magnifies the problem so we can see it more clearly, like bacteria that is cultivated in a petri dish.

 
At March 07, 2006 5:14 PM, Blogger Amber Joy said...

Humans will use what resources are at their fingertips to do what is in their nature to do: sin. Until there is a change in the heart and mind this will be the case. Unfortunately, morals cannot be legislated.

 
At March 11, 2006 2:00 PM, Blogger Call me Ishmael said...

Hi Friend, It's former youth member Shaun Garrett. I have not heard from you in a while. I was sitting here at the church thinking about many things and I just happened to think of you and a flash flood of memories from high school and youth group came to mind. It seems that you're doing well. How is your wonderful wife and child (children?)??? I'd like to catch up on the past 5 years or so if you want to email and or phone.
By the way, I competely agree with the rediculous behavior of those who choose to make technology their direct link to the sewer line of indiscretionary material that flows through the internet. I fear for the kids in my youth group who's parents hand them the keys to the world with computers and PSP's.

 
At April 05, 2006 10:00 AM, Blogger Amy said...

I don't know how I've missed the link all this time, but I've enjoyed reading your wife's blog for quite awhile now and just stumbled across yours.

I totally agree with this post. To boot, technology is changing so fast that parents aren't knowledgeable about how to even work their children's "toys" more or less to be checking on them.

We are entering a very scary time where the temptation and the availability of sinful things is abundant paired with an ever-decreasing sense of morality.

We must look in our own hearts but certainly we must also take a stand and continue to fight for God's Word!

 

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