Homework 1.4. The Rush of Time.

"The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it." -Henry David Thoreau

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In the first chapter of Douglas Rushkoff's book Program or Be Programmed: Ten Commandments for a Digital Age, he discusses the concept of time ("Time: Do Not Always Be On), and how the inundation of digital technologies into our daily lives has effectively transformed it, and not necessarily for the better. Rushkoff discusses the disparity between the dawning of the digital age, when Internet users would purposefully log onto the web at certain points during the day, slowly crafting responses and investing in specific threads of discussion and information, and today, when we are effectively constantly plugged into a ceaseless stream of information and communication. 

As Rushkoff points out, there are certainly negative outcomes to this unbound access to the digital world. We are under constant pressure to answer to our many social circles; we are asked to know more, to be more aware, and to have and share opinions on a vast array of issues, from social to economic to environmental. The resultant anxiety that comes from these constant pressures is only becoming more prevalent, especially amongst young people. As Rushkoff states, in today's society, "there is no later," and because of that, the pressure to perform, to impress, and to excel in the "now" is greater than ever. 

However, it is also my opinion that there might be positive outcomes to this increasingly digital age in which we now find ourselves. We no longer have the habit of leaving and returning to online debates of a matter of days, but we are now able to engage in discussions that might be happening across multiple time zones, in various countries, at any time of day. With the increased awareness that our technologies afford us, we are offered the opportunity to be more in touch with those around us, and to gain a better understanding of the perspectives of those who differ greatly from ourselves, and to become better citizens of our own societies, and of the world. 

Yes, there is an increased pressure that comes from the beeps and buzzes that exist constantly at our fingertips. However, I feel that with a purposeful awareness of how we are using our time both on and offline, we can take advantage of the benefits that are now accessible to us, at quite literally any moment. 

Image from https://www.flickr.com/photos/rachelpasch/4260002378