Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Illusions of Granger

Has there been a moment where you couldn't get on the internet or have use to your cell phone without it being caused by a natural disaster? Your stomach may turn or you find yourself in absolute boredom. 
There was a time not to long ago, where saying you were going on a road trip meant that you only knew you were going east or west. Now we have GPS on damn near everything.  There is no secret trail or road you stumbled upon.  Your entire life at this point has already been lived, tweeted, and gpsed before you.  
In essence, you live a moment of someone else's life and then comment about it on a blog somewhere else.

We now are so connected that people we knew in kindergarten somehow remember our name and find us out on the net.  We quote more from songs in a conversation than we actually create in dialog. The list could go on and on from knowing the weather for the week to where to find the first Ipad 2.

What I see is a generation of people who will have less and less moments of surprise.  Places you have never gone to are just as easily seen via flicker than having gone.  If you were to unplug yourself, would you be able to be happy? I realize the question within itself could easily be answered as yes.  However, thats because you answered the question without trying to live that moment in your mind and actually seeing it.  

As LCD Tvs turn to LED that turn into 3D that turn into Lawnmower Man, we lose our sense of reality.  We lose the idea that life and everything in it is precious and frail. We see death as nothing more than the best part of the movie, or the achievement of a high score on a game.  When tragic moments happen and we see it for a moment and then poof its gone just as fast as it came.

The overall idea in this is to say step outside and breath.  Take a deep deep breath. Assuming your not living near a dumpster.  However, just seize that frail moment.  Disconnect from what you see as reality and use your other senses for a moment.  Instead of watching the food network, try cooking it yourself without any instructions and see what you get. 

One day, it happens for all of us. Our time comes to its end.  There is a final chapter in everyones book of life. Just remember that it is better to have the feel of sand between the toes, than to have seen it in 3D.

2 comments:

  1. In a way it's like we're information junkies, addicts, coked out on an overconsumption of tweets, posts, and television. While I don't think the information age is all bad, I would agree that it has spoiled us to some extent, and we greatly misuse the power we've created for ourselves. I suppose you are right, sometimes we are so removed from the source we forget the intrinsic beauty unfurled all around us.

    On a side note, how come the History Channel is littered with reality TV? If I watch the History channel it's to learn something, not watch a bunch of backwoods hicks wrestle gators. Who the hell gives a shit about that?

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  2. J laughes at me because sometimes when I get home. I turn my phone on vibrate. I turn off the televsion, the radio/ipod. I sit on my couch and read a book with a glass of vino or champagne (I sound like a lush). Its my time. All day long I stare at a computer, I get emails and phone calls from my customers. Sometimes I just need an hour to myself.
    But when it comes down to it, I can't live without my cell, my blog and email and my DVR. I am completely addicted to the modern technology that has taken over our lives.

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