First Time Seen Topic : Written under proper time limits

[silent_siren]

TOPIC

"Both the development of technological tools and the uses to which humanity has put them have created modern civilizations in which loneliness is ever increasing."

Response :

There are two points of contention that the speaker makes here,first,that the development of technological tools has created a community in which individual's levels of loneliness have increased. Second,the use to which we as members of the society have put these tools to has aggravated the situation. Although a few counter arguments come to mind ,I mostly agree with the speaker's contention.

Admittedly, techological advances which lead to the emergence of Internet have given rise to various fascinating services such as the Internet Relay Chat (IRC)and social networking websites. Via these services people from diverse backgrounds can interact with each other without ever actually meeting in person.Consequently,it abates the feeling of loneliness to a certain extent.

But, there are many other factors which outweigh the advantage outlined above. For example, consider the technological developments which lead to the invention of CD players followed by DVD and DVD players.Now we no longer have to go to a nearby theatre to watch a movie as we can simply pick up the phone (another techological tool) and order a DVD or worse we can even order movies online from our television. Hence we no longer have the need to socialise to watch a movie and instead of using our telephone to interact with people we are using it to order food and movies to be delivered right at our home.

As the speaker mentions in the second point of his contention, it's not only the tools alone that are responsible for aggravating our loneliness, we also need to consider the uses to which we have put these otherwise amazing inventions.Continuing with our example of Internet, a new concept of E-learning has emerged recently through which one can study and learn online without ever having to go to school or attending lectures at the university. Although, a very useful development which can surely help those who have busy schedules or a poor financial state, it nevertheless tends to increase our loneliness.

Finally, the modernization caused directly as a result of the advances in technology has created various new sources of employment and ameliorated the economy of nations. This has resulted
in higher paying jobs and consequently an ability to afford one's own place. Occurence of Joint families is abating day by day, and nuclear families are predominant in today's world. All this has contributed to increasing the levels of loneliness of an individual.

To sum it up then, no doubt services like chatting and social networking websites have provided an excellent platform for people to interact with others when they are feeling lonely. But,this cannot allay the inherent need of humans to socialise in person.Physical presence is psychologically superior to online chatting when it comes to assuaging one's loneliness.Hence we should avoid getting too caught up in the web of these advanced tools and gadgets and instead put them to an effective use which doesn't become a hinderance to socialising.

[chip2910]

I liked the vocabulary used here. Good points made.

[silent_siren]

any constructive criticism?