In The Flight from Conversation from The New York Times Magazine, Sherry Turkle focuses on the shift towards a technologically connected society. She believes that the trend reflects “a process in which we shortchange ourselves.” Turkle thinks that the current generation is unable to distinguish between conversation and connection. The article outlines how people have disregarded the importance of maintaining relationships. Turkle believes that internet communication cannot substitute face-to-face conversation because the former does not support the process of understanding and knowing each other. Therefore, she posits that staying connected through the Internet alone cannot provide enough to comfort to the parties involved.
Firstly, I agree with Turkle that proximity to the Internet messaging systems hinders people from starting conversations that could enable them to form working relationships. She provides examples of day-to-day experiences including that of a businessman who thought everyone around him was too busy for him to interrupt only to realize he was in the bubble of the technology world. It is true that people cannot get enough of one another as long as they are within the distance of technological control. I also support the assertion that online connections, which provide people with a sense of being “in touch” have no real fulfillment add no value to the process of forming a relationship.
Moreover, I agree with Turkle’s assertions that social media adversely affects people’s ability to acquire social skills and emotional stability by increasing dependency fabricated fulfillments through the internet. Such technological influence inhibits the development of rich human interactions. In today’s world, anyone can easily communicate with whoever they want. More importantly, people have the power of editing and deleting their previous messages social platforms. Users can revise their emails, texts, or posts to have control over their communication. Face-to-face conversation, on the other hand, do not allow editing or deletion, which implies that the parties must about think what they want to say to avoid embarrassments and regrets in the future. As a result, people learn to control their emotions and to engage their minds on the possible outcomes of communication before speaking, which improves the quality of conversation. However, with the world shifting towards more use of technology, it will be increasingly difficult to enhance the quality of human interactions.
In conclusion, Turkle’s idea that people are shortchanging themselves reflects the real experience in society today. Most of the times, social media evokes negative feelings by damaging the people’s ability to conduct face-to-face communication. Modern technology makes people’s relationships less personal and unprofitable. The growth of internet communication limits the capability of the current generation to create and maintain complex human relationships. People start to believe that these “sips” on online connection add up to a big gulp of real conversation. The tiny technology devices not only changed what we do but also who we are.
Works Cited
Turkle, Sherry. “The Flight From Conversation.” The New York Times, 21 Apr. 2012, www.nytimes.com/2012/04/22/opinion/sunday/the-flight-from-conversation.html.
