Went to a friend's birthday party today. Al is 80 years old. It was held in a park; maybe 40 people attended. I noticed something. There was not one iPod, MP3 player, hand held video game. There were a few mobile phones, but no one was cruising the internet on their mobile checking up on the ball game scores. There came a time, after the food, when people got to tell stories about Al and his life. I got up and in the process of telling a story, I happened to mention that I blog. The folks just stared at me with a blank look which said: "Blog? Is that some sort of sewer clog?"
I know, I know! Us older folks are not "with it" as well as the younger generation, but my question is: Are we really better off with all this wonderful technology? Those of you who are young have no comparison to make, but I recall the old days. And to be sure, life has many, many great advantages now over the old days. But if I were to take EVERYTHING into account, I am not certain how I would vote. Really! I remember when computers were first on the horizon...and we all thought: We are going to save so much time with these little machines! WRONG! Maybe it is just me, but computers have not saved me any time. True, I can do more, but the time requirements are larger. We have more now; we are able to stay connect better now. But life now runs at a much faster pace. Pace==stress! Maybe my old AM radio housed in a plastic box which could only get four channels sometimes, was not all that bad. I certainly did not have the stress in my life then that I have now....and probably neither did you.
You tell me: What is your vote? Stuff or Stress?