Technology – Mark Wayne – Author and Warrior

“Social Distancing” – The Oxymoron of 2020?

July 18, 2020July 16, 2020 Mark Wayne

Social distancing, seems to be all the rage now days. For the health and safety for ourselves and others. But really what is social distancing? Let’s start with the definition of oxymoron from the Merriam Webster Dictionary online.

Oxymoron – a combination of contradictory or incongruous words (such as cruel kindness); broadly: something (such as a concept) that is made up of contradictory or incongruous elements (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oxymoron).

Okay, that makes some sense, simply put words that don’t often go together to explain something else. Examples include:

jumbo shrimp
deafening silence
small crowd
sweet sorrow
walking dead

There are many more but I will leave that to you to search them out on your own. On to the definitions of social and distancing, again from the online Merriam Webster Dictionary.

Social

marked by or passed in pleasant companionship with friends or associates // an active social life
of or relating to human society, the interaction of the individual and the group, or the welfare of human beings as members of society // social institutions
tending to form cooperative and interdependent relationships with others

Distancing

the quality or state of being distant:
such as a: spatial remoteness // quite a distance between the two hospitals b: personal and especially emotional separation // feels a distance from her brother that wasn’t there before

“Social Distancing” – Social appears to be all about connection and distancing is all about separation. Call me a fool, but I just don’t get it.
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Studies have shown that the use of technology does have negative effects including mental health issues. The article “Negative Effects of Technology: What to Know” published by Medical News Today in February 2020 cites studies that show the following are but just a few of the impacts on individuals overusing or creating a dependence on technology.

Isolation
Depression and Anxiety
Sleep Problems
Reduced Physical Activity

Negative effects of technology and social media. — Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Now ‘they’ are telling us to social distance from others, including family and close friends. Use technology and social media we are told to try and stay connected while we remain distant. I wonder what the actual end game here is? As we trod forward trusting the ‘experts’ who tell us ‘they’ only have the well being of each individual and society (there’s that word a derivative of social) as a whole.

What’s your take on all of this?

And what do you do with it?

Life, Photograph

Google Auto Enhancement – Intrusion or Compliment?

September 17, 2014September 17, 2014 Mark Wayne

These are photos I taken by me over the past few months using my Samsung Galaxy S4 phone and then auto enhanced by Google. Now, I am the first to admit that the images are often unique and striking, some even better than the originals. Others leave me wondering what the heck and why that one?

Auto Enhanced by Google – 2014

However, I am not sure how I feel about some large corporation that has access to my personal photos to edit, manipulate and change how they desire and see fit.

Especially those of family and friends. Why are certain photos chosen and not others? Not to mention the videos composed of several photos put together, which I did not share any of those. Does anyone know the why of this or is it some secret algorithms like Facebook uses? Makes me think that this may be too much of a good thing? Is big brother watching? Are we being manipulated?

Our every keystroke, every WordPress like and comment, every Google+ comment and plus, every Facebook like and comment, every Twitter tweet, all being captured, stored and categorized. The technology is a wonderful tool and can truly be used for positive and noble pursuits. I have met some wonderful people online that I otherwise would never have known. There is a power in being able to connect with people all over the world, but that power in the wrong hands…

Where are we headed? What do you think?

Photograph, Writing

Technology is a good thing, right?

January 18, 2013January 18, 2013 Mark Wayne

"Nature" Photo Maleko © 2013 — **“Nature”** Photo – Maleko © 2013

The other day at lunch an elderly couple came in after us and were seated in a booth a few feet away from my table. I watched as after sitting both pulled out their smart phones very rarely looking at each other. They continued until their meal arrived and upon finishing she picked up her phone and began again. It saddened me to watch this couple that I assumed had been together for many years seemed to have nothing to talk about. There was very little conversation, eye contact or any kind of human interaction during the meal.