Both Ends of the Spectrum of a Technologically Driven Western Society

Some may feel that technology is everything to them. They chat, send eMOTIONAL greeting cards, search for long-lost relatives, even engage in intimacy. The web and current technology are their means for gratification both intrinsically and extrinsically. Everything you need can be obtained through viewing a liquid crystal display in the privacy of your own abode. What more can man desire? Technology rules the world.

Conversely, some in our communities, not necessarily in our society, have a negative view of technology. They feel that it is unwarranted and can even foster evil and dissolution and ultimately, impurity. They are the Amish.

While on a sales route though Indiana, Pennsylvania last week, I drove past an Amish man sitting on a bench in front of a run-down Shop-n-Save. He seemed content. In the last few weeks I have come across many Amish and Mennonite people and have been wondering about their idealogy, as it seems in opposition to western culture in America. I called a friend and asked if it seemed appropriate to approach this man and ask some general questions. My friend recommended it. So I did. Here is what happened.

"Hi, my name's Jeremy and I was wondering if I could ask you some questions?" Mr. Williams replied, "Yes, that would be fine." I told Mr. Williams that I have been wondering about his culture and asked him, "Why do you reject our culture and our lifestyle?" He responded, "I don't think I am any better than you." I quickly apologized for the misunderstanding and explained to him that I envy him and his freedom from our ailments in this society. I told him that I wasn't trying to offend him. He understood and we moved on. I stated that I was curious about the Amish's rejection of technology and had been told on a number of occasions that the reason for the rejection of technology and a the selection of a non-maximal approach was due to an old-school-of-thought notion that technology brings impurity and dissolution. He said, "That is an old school of thought, but it is basically true".

We continued to discuss the impact of WalMart and Sheetz on this society and I told him that I was troubled by there marketing and gimmicks. He agreed and said, "There are problems facing our people too, such as cell-phones and the Internet". We talked about the challenges for both of our societies and we UNDERSTOOD each other.

The conversation lasted about 30 minutes, and as I walked away from him I felt mortified by the fact that he seemed to have everything I wanted. Nothing.

In semiotics, semoiticians study a principle called binary opposition. In a general sense, some scholars feel that words derive their weight and meaning by their opposition to other words. Think GOOD vs EVIL or LIGHT vs DARK. While there is much below the surface of this concept, it is clear that Mr. Williams and his Amish compadres(i.e., Horrible choice of usage there, LOL) are in direct opposition to our use of technology, and while semiotics seems to be reservved for analyzing symbols, signs, and language, it seemed appropriate to adapt the framework to make this point.

So now that the spectrum is recognized, how does that translate into Blogging in the professional world? Well, it just shows us that we are not alone, and that we may need to rely on the opposition for us to define the good works we conduct via technology. What are we comparing our success to when we incorporate an abundance of technology into the professional world or classroom? What do we have to measure it against. What is the opposition? Some may sarcastically answer, "A pad and pen" well, this isn't hip-hop and things aren't that simple(i.e., Can you see the humor there about hip-hop?, Sorry Run DMC). Some may cite Clark(1985) and use the common discourse that the contect design is waht matters, not the medium. Ir all seems like a slippery slope to cynicals such as I(i.e., Man this usage and Emglish is terrible, isn't it?).

My point is: Before we praise a medium for its wonderful contributions to our society, let us design assessments and meaaure the validity of these hypotheses before we all just dive into the pool that isn't yet filled.

Peace