Binary communication
I was born in times when the personal computer (PC) didn't exists. We didn't have a television nor a phone. We were talking to the neighbors, we knew them all. We were visiting family and friends. We were spending a lot of time with our parents. We had direct relationships with other human beings, not through machines. What would a fair estimate of the loss of human "contacts" in today's societies? I don't know, maybe 50 percent or more would be fair to say.
My questions is, do you think we are misusing technologies such as Internet and tend to replace human contacts instead of complementing them? Or do you think it's ok and it's just a fact we have to adapt to since it has opened such new and larger ways of communication?
Just an FYI, I am not against computers, I am a programmer 
4 Answers
The Internet and relationships are like most things. What you get out of it depends on what you put into it. I too am a programmer. I work from home. I'd say I spend 90% of my day "on the computer". I've never seen my co-workers but feel I've developed a warm relationship with them. I have other friends I have connected with on facebook whom I haven't heard from in decades^H^H^H^H^H^H^H a long time.
There are people who have moved away who I surely would have lost touch with who I still keep tabs on via the Internet.
Some people can "hide" behind a monitor, I use it to enhance my relationships with friends and family.
I often ask myself the same thing. On the whole, I think the Internet is a great thing. I am able to communicate instantly with people all over the world, at any time of day and night.
And it makes possible projects and communities such as SpanishDict, which simply could not exist before.
On the other hand, local, close relationships do suffer and lose relevance against the strength of global communications.
...and what about all those kids (and some not so kiddy) who spend their waking days gabbling to friends and acquaintances on their mobile phones. The question seems to be whether a relationship is "real" if you don't, at least now and then, physically meet the object of the relationship.
Yes, I too was a programmer once - first real program (not an exercise) in 1958, last about 6 months ago.
Indeed geofc, I agree with you. What about those people in the grocery store and on the phone? Are they lost regarding the kind of pasta they should buy or can't they freaking write a grocery list. I recently read an article reporting that more and more people date online and that is where it stops...online! I don't get it, really. Or do I get it while thinking those people are 100 percent fake and can pretend to be whatever they dream of being and drag others in their fantasies. That sure is a sad case of misuse of technology.
