In a word, no. At least, not yet.
Maybe I should explain more...
The advent of new technology such as the smartphone, tablet, and even laptop has made our lives as human beings much easier. We can order food. We can buy gifts. We can check where our relatives have checked in so that we can avoid them easier. Technology is great! Isn't it?
I agree! Technology makes our lives so much easier! However, it does bring with it some "glitches". An unseen side effect of technology that we don't always consider is lurking in the corner at your holiday gatherings. No need to worry...yet. The side effect in question is the simple fact that technology is distracting. Sometimes, it is distracting to an extent that it takes away from the time you spend with actual people (face-to-face, not facetime-to-facetime).
I am almost certain that you have been to some sort of holiday gathering in which at least 1 person sat and watched TV (or used their phone) for most of the time they were there. Personally, whenever my family has a gathering, quite a few people are sitting in the TV room watching some type of sporting event. What I am considering is if there will ever be a time when everyone just sits around and uses their electronic devices. Will technology lead to the end of the holiday gathering as we know it?
Though it doesn't pose a definite threat to holidays in the immediate future, technology may very well decrease face-to-face interaction. I think that it is very possible that technology will be the end of the traditional holiday gathering. Savor the turkey. Devour the stuffing. While it lasts.
Your points are well made, but I have a tech story that saved Christmas! My daughter decided to stay at a Christmas Eve party and I was ready to go. The hosts are close family friends so I had no problem leaving while she stayed over night with her friends. Yet she really wanted to see me open my Christmas gift that I begged her for on Christmas morning.
ReplyDeleteProblem solved with the Facetime App on my iMac! We got to chat on Christmas morning, I wished our family friends Merry Christmas, and she saw me open my Amish swift (google that and you still won't understand what it is - it's way old tech).
Tech may intrude upon the holidays but it can connect people as well. Guess it's just how you choose to use it.
My own experience with technology on the Holidays is changing, but not necessarily for the worst.
ReplyDeleteWe had our first family skype call on Christmas to my Grandma, Uncle and two of my Aunts (and their dog). We could all talk at once, show them the tree and gifts, etc. and even though the service was glitchy (so many people using skype on Christmas) it was pretty nice!
I usually wait until my family's working on dinner, etc. to play with any new electronics. It was actually my parents who were staring at screens the most, trying to figure out how to work their new Nooks/Kindles/I always mix these up.
I won't lie. A lot of our Christmas 'tradition' revolves around the television.
The Christmas Story marathon, enough said.
Probably should've mentioned the skype call was to family in Scotland, where we obviously never see them during the Holidays. It's also difficult to call, because of the 5 hour time difference, so the Skype call was a bit of a Christmas miracle.
ReplyDeleteWe're considering using it to contact family/friends in Australia - so maybe the next Christmas will be even more tech-y. Bring it on, I say!