My first raw experience with computers gave me the impression of more work and longer days. The promise was for increased efficiency and more productivity, but the real draw for companies was the ability to hold people closer and expect quicker response and turn around.
And then they gave out Blackberries, and 24/7 became a standard concept. Remember when once upon a time, if someone got back to you within 24 hours on an email, you were impressed? No, I don't, either.
And most everyone that knows me intimately has heard of my 'going postal' on a printer that was guilty only of requiring to be hand-fed paper one piece at a time. Not really a problem when all you wanted was one copy at a time. But I had to print a report that was 100 pages long. I met my deadline and the printer met my office floor. Several times.
But I am discovering that technology CAN by my friend.
Since social networking, I have regained a world of friends that were lost to me once upon a graduation almost 40 years ago. (That number is positively scary and moderated only by the fact that I feel more alive now than I ever did once upon that time!) We have reconnected, rediscovered the joys of the town where we grew up, and started gathering with just the mention of someone coming in to town. With this 'new' old group of friends I have found people interested in camping and sailing and dancing and making pancakes at 4:00 in the morning and canoeing and walking and just being together.
And then there is Facebook, which opened up the world even more - beyond high school classes - and into the wider world of global contacts. At first my impression of Facebook was random updates going into the ether and wondering why, really, anyone would care?
And then I learned that ministries come in all forms and can even be fitted in to 420 characters at a time.
And now? I discover that I can write and email and post to my blog - which is my attempt to discipline myself into writing which will lead me eventually to me dream of writing a book. How wonderful! And this email is my first experiment with doing just that.
I hope it works.
And then they gave out Blackberries, and 24/7 became a standard concept. Remember when once upon a time, if someone got back to you within 24 hours on an email, you were impressed? No, I don't, either.
And most everyone that knows me intimately has heard of my 'going postal' on a printer that was guilty only of requiring to be hand-fed paper one piece at a time. Not really a problem when all you wanted was one copy at a time. But I had to print a report that was 100 pages long. I met my deadline and the printer met my office floor. Several times.
But I am discovering that technology CAN by my friend.
Since social networking, I have regained a world of friends that were lost to me once upon a graduation almost 40 years ago. (That number is positively scary and moderated only by the fact that I feel more alive now than I ever did once upon that time!) We have reconnected, rediscovered the joys of the town where we grew up, and started gathering with just the mention of someone coming in to town. With this 'new' old group of friends I have found people interested in camping and sailing and dancing and making pancakes at 4:00 in the morning and canoeing and walking and just being together.
And then there is Facebook, which opened up the world even more - beyond high school classes - and into the wider world of global contacts. At first my impression of Facebook was random updates going into the ether and wondering why, really, anyone would care?
And then I learned that ministries come in all forms and can even be fitted in to 420 characters at a time.
And now? I discover that I can write and email and post to my blog - which is my attempt to discipline myself into writing which will lead me eventually to me dream of writing a book. How wonderful! And this email is my first experiment with doing just that.
I hope it works.
This is cool Ruth. Technology is narrowing the earth linking us with friends world wide. I have liked your blog, never had one I am motivated to create one as soon as possible.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Beatrice