Living Online: I'll Have to Ask My Friends

Liz Else and Sherry Turkle's questions in "Living Online: I'll Have to Ask My Friends" in itself asks us to reflect on how we feel about the instant gratification we have come to know in the use of electronic communications, cell phones, and other modes of "tethered relationships" that have become commonplace in today's world.

I find that unless I specifically take the time to reflect on the day's events and/or conversations, I can easily fall into the trap of what the authors have described as communication via "quick instant messages, "check-in" cell calls and emoticon graphics" with family members, friends, and colleagues.

However I still manage to take the time to reflect on my own and/or via this blog so that I can sort it all out and (hopefully) make sense of my life. When I blog, diary, or just spend time alone with a cup of coffee and KYOT playing on the stereo I am able to put things into perspective. I do, however, find it tempting to pick up the phone, email, instant message, or text message to "run it up the flagpole and see who salutes."

I don't believe I am alone in these feelings; it's obvious by Else's and Turkle's article that there are a multitude of millions out there who suffer the same malady. There is nothing wrong with asking others for their opinions or the desire for feedback but I believe there is a valid point made in the article that there is a lot less of self-reflection in this "Electronics Age" than in days past.

Hopefully others who read this article will take the time to reflect on their own practices in this area.