Respond To Sullivan's Ipod World: The End Of Society
Respond to Sullivan’s essay. Do you agree or disagree with his characterization of how at least that one particular technology is affecting at least some of us? Should we be concerned as a society that we might lose our contract with the here and now, or lose something as humans- social contact, contact with nature, etc. If so, how do we prevent some unwanted effects (short of unplugging from these electronics)? Is it possible to have a balance? I chose to respond to Sullivan’s essay, iPod world: The end of Society, because I can most easily relate to this because I myself own an iPod. I agree that the iPod has affected most of us. This is because every single day, there are a handful of people that upgrade to the new iPhone; any other phone,
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or mp3 device looks outdated in front of the iTouch, and iphone. Most owners of the iPhone use it for everything, such as checking email, morning alarm, favorite music, etc. Therefore, it’s almost impossible for most people to keep their hands off of it when needed. In other words, if you get a new email in the middle of English class, it will be tempting to find out who it was, so some may pull out and check it. Most likely, after that, they will be tempted to reply, making them further and further detached from the class discussion, and therefore, learning less material. It just becomes a habit for most people. As Sullivan states, there are now 22 million iPod owners in the United States.” In fact, my own father, originally born in India, was asking me about the new iPhone and even he is considering upgrading to that from his Blackberry. Since many people are now living vicariously through their iPhone, they are clueless to what is happening in society.
However, although many people may already be doing this, there is a solution to stopping the society from changing due to the iPhone.
Since it’s very difficult to leave your phone at home and go somewhere, I believe it would be beneficial for people to just keep a very basic phone with them everywhere they go, instead of the iPhone. If you have a basic phone, there is absolutely no need for an iPhone because an iTouch can do everything an iPhone can, except make calls. This way, you can put the iPod down for a while, since you don’t have to worry about missing out on an important phone call. In other words, keep the iPod in your room, or in your car so it’s not always with you, and that way you’re not tempted to keep looking at it. Also, if you do this, there will be a balance because you won’t have your iPod with you at all times. This way, you can still use your iPod when needed, but at the same time, you are aware of what’s going on around you and in society. Therefore, the best solution is to keep the iPod in your room if you only use it for alarm, checking weather, etc. If you use it for music, then keep it in your car. In general, there’s no reason to have it at work, or in school since you have the option of keeping a basic phone with you at all times. In conclusion, it’s best to keep the iPod/ at one
spot.
Overall, the people getting influenced the most with new technology (iPod) are the people that can’t set it down even for a second; they need it for every little part of their lives. Therefore, the iPod is not directly negatively affecting all of us, but rather only the people that can’t have enough of it. Some people know when to set it down and turn it off, and those people are most likely well aware of what’s going on around them, and if they don’t, it’s not because of the iPod. The main reason the iPod has such a drastic change in some people is because all your answers can be solved, right in the palm of your hands, making it unnecessary to ask the people around you. People don’t need to ask each other for directions, turn to their huge desktop computers, or even call their relatives because everything can be done nonverbally with the iPhone. That is the main reason why it’s affected the people that are too absorbed into their iPod.
or mp3 device looks outdated in front of the iTouch, and iphone. Most owners of the iPhone use it for everything, such as checking email, morning alarm, favorite music, etc. Therefore, it’s almost impossible for most people to keep their hands off of it when needed. In other words, if you get a new email in the middle of English class, it will be tempting to find out who it was, so some may pull out and check it. Most likely, after that, they will be tempted to reply, making them further and further detached from the class discussion, and therefore, learning less material. It just becomes a habit for most people. As Sullivan states, there are now 22 million iPod owners in the United States.” In fact, my own father, originally born in India, was asking me about the new iPhone and even he is considering upgrading to that from his Blackberry. Since many people are now living vicariously through their iPhone, they are clueless to what is happening in society.
However, although many people may already be doing this, there is a solution to stopping the society from changing due to the iPhone.
Since it’s very difficult to leave your phone at home and go somewhere, I believe it would be beneficial for people to just keep a very basic phone with them everywhere they go, instead of the iPhone. If you have a basic phone, there is absolutely no need for an iPhone because an iTouch can do everything an iPhone can, except make calls. This way, you can put the iPod down for a while, since you don’t have to worry about missing out on an important phone call. In other words, keep the iPod in your room, or in your car so it’s not always with you, and that way you’re not tempted to keep looking at it. Also, if you do this, there will be a balance because you won’t have your iPod with you at all times. This way, you can still use your iPod when needed, but at the same time, you are aware of what’s going on around you and in society. Therefore, the best solution is to keep the iPod in your room if you only use it for alarm, checking weather, etc. If you use it for music, then keep it in your car. In general, there’s no reason to have it at work, or in school since you have the option of keeping a basic phone with you at all times. In conclusion, it’s best to keep the iPod/ at one
spot.
Overall, the people getting influenced the most with new technology (iPod) are the people that can’t set it down even for a second; they need it for every little part of their lives. Therefore, the iPod is not directly negatively affecting all of us, but rather only the people that can’t have enough of it. Some people know when to set it down and turn it off, and those people are most likely well aware of what’s going on around them, and if they don’t, it’s not because of the iPod. The main reason the iPod has such a drastic change in some people is because all your answers can be solved, right in the palm of your hands, making it unnecessary to ask the people around you. People don’t need to ask each other for directions, turn to their huge desktop computers, or even call their relatives because everything can be done nonverbally with the iPhone. That is the main reason why it’s affected the people that are too absorbed into their iPod.