Always On

Our generation and the younger generations are always on. Meaning they are always on the internet; connecting in some way. We carry around cell phones and laptop cases because they are available to us. On the same note, the internet is available to us (in the United States) almost anywhere. Our coffee shops turn into hot spots, hospitals have community wifi, even some McDonald's are "always on" (connected).

Because of being on all the time, everyday public spaces become places for solitude. People want to be on their phones or laptops instead of interacting with other people face to face. Sherry Turkle writes, "a train station (like an airport, a cafe, or a park) is no longer a communal space but a place of social collection: people come together but do not speak to each other" (AT 155). We are glued to the instant access of knowledge and the interconnectivity of social networks, so much that we sometimes isolate ourselves in public, communal spaces.

This is not a new phenomenon, just a rapidly increasing one. At the beginning of the internet era, people began to see how a new identity could be created on the internet. Now, there are games like The Sims and Second Life, where people can create an alternate identity.

Turkle writes about the identities some people create in online communities: "Online, the plain represented themselves as glamorous, the old as young, the young as older. Those of modest means wore elaborate virtual jewelry. In virtual space, the crippled walked without crutches, and the shy improved their chances as seducers" (AT 158). Some people enjoy being on these types of games more-so than their actual lives.

Because of the increase in technology, people have become more efficient multitaskers. Turkle makes the point that grade school youth today are juggling a monstrous amount of technology compared to the children that grew up in the 80's (AT 162). Most of us, growing up in the 80's or 90's can relate to her comparison. Gameboy and homework or homework and music almost always went hand in hand growing up, but today kids have, as Turkle points out as well, calls, videos, texts, facebook, twitter, blogger, and many other distractions to juggle while working.

A lot of us are guilty of always being on, I know I am. I looked up 2 youtube videos, sent 2 text messages and one email, and checked my Twitter all while writing this blog in a room with two other people. Although accompanied by actual human beings, I chose to "be on" over striking up a conversation. Just keeping up with the times, I suppose.