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New communication and information technology

The post modern society has allowed new technology and communication methods to prosper in the entire world. Especially in the western world where people carry heavy burdens such as constant time pressure due to busy lifestyles. Naturally the people are not only to blame, despite the fact that mankind has created the sort of society, where work becomes incredibly time consuming. The industrialization marked the beginning of a century characterized by heavy industry, working overtime and a general focus on economy and a wealthy future. This ideology or way of life breed occupation and in the end limited spare time. Some choose this lifestyle of own will, however most are forced to choose the path of education and a well-paid job. This pattern has resulted in a tendency, labeling those who seek and choose other paths as outcasts and anti-social people. It is only natural for new technology and communication methods to be necessary in a world such as the western one. That is to say inventions such as the mobile phone, is a product manufactured to deal with shortage of time.

The lifestyles and patterns of the post modern man and woman are bi-products of present society. The modern human beings are described as ego-centric, reserved and busy individuals, with the diagnoses anthropophobia and social phobia, perhaps better known as stage fright. Especially the fear of confrontation and direct communication with another human being is alarming. It is an example of how modern devices, devices that originally functioned as practical tools, have become double edged swords. The cell phone has provided with the ability to commune at incredible distances, however it has also alienated ordinary verbal communication. While the mobile phone has made traditional ways of communicating outdated and alien, software producers contribute furtherer by inventing products which eliminates the need to commune directly using even cell phones. Apparently it has become necessary for people to avoid uncomfortable situations on the phone, such as calling in sick, scheduling and cancelling appointments, explaining oneself to a dear one or a similar situation. However continuously postponing and/or avoiding a given scene or situation will only make it harder to face in the future. As a result the cowardice of modern man arose. The mobile phone does not remain the only invention which was created during the recent decades of new technology. An enormous network of data communication turned up right behind the practical miniature phone. A network that allowed advanced processing by taking advantage of the computer’s ability to process data at incredible intervals, a network which later bred the nesting ground for a third sector in economy; the tertiary sector or the “service sector”. A network which evolved and became a social-network for users worldwide. Despite the significant potential of such a system of connections, the Internet has proven to be just as double edged a sword as the cell phone. The Internet has shaped a new form of bullying, which abuses the foundation of a social-network. A type of bullying which is divided into lesser branches such as, to give examples, hoaxes, the infamous flaming and black-mailing. The fact that most websites on the Internet provide an anonymous service only ensures an online-predator better opportunities to lurk about, gather vulnerable pieces of information from numerous individuals, who share hurtful, embarrassing and sometimes personal stories. The lack of identity confirmation makes it easier for such predators to pretend they are made-up identities without the victims having any chance of knowing better.

Whether the Internet and thereby e-mail and text-messaging using cell phones are more of an advantage than a disadvantage, is a difficult inquiry, however according to Stuart Jeffries, in his article, “technophobia – the sign of a born leader?”, the minority of people who are yet to acquaint themselves with the Internet, might just be the very people who we should rely the most upon.

“Like the Queen not carrying money, only really powerful people don’t do cyberspace”

Naturally this statement is based upon the ideal that a nation’s leader should be a powerful person. That is to say that a society should allow the most capable, the most appropriate and the most influential and/or powerful people to govern. As Donald Knuth expresses, advance science requires uninterrupted concentration and the Internet, with all its advantages, come with relentless amounts of spam-mail, advertisements and irrelevant pieces of information and as such can be more a nuisance than an aid. Thus Stuart Jeffries manages to appeal to the democrats, who argue that a potential leader should be in touch with the modern world, and inform them of just how the Internet is a double-edged sword as described in the previous paragraphs. The Internet can be a road block which prevents great people from contributing greatly in other words.

The attitude towards the Internet has been pessimistic thus far, with devoted focus on the negative sides. Following western society’s course, the need for self-promotion, recognition and acknowledgement has sky-rocketed. The focus on each individual and their ability to create their own identity in a modern world, which provides with overwhelming amounts of choices, has become more acute. This has in term created a social character, which in the science of psychology is defined as the group-controlled human. This social character not only strives to achieve recognition from others of the same generation, but aims to attain the acknowledgement from idols, who the individual appreciates. Websites especially such as YouTube and sites providing services like blogging serves as mouthpieces for this vast majority of people. By uploading videos and blogging, these people, who have been struck by the ways of the modern world, sate their inner-narcissist resulting in better quality of life. This has got to be the most positive thing a group-controlled human being can achieve from using the Internet.