smartphones

Technology – double edge sword

Technology is usually seen as a cool thing that makes us smarter, faster, richer. In many cases, we actually accomplish things in a faster, smarter way with the help of technology and we become therefore materially richer. Modern societies, from politicians and dictators, to economic players such as companies, to social actors like NGOs, social media, mass media hail the role of technology and always want more of it: more tech, more innovation, more cool stuff.

On the downside, the use of technology often makes us lazier mentally and physically, more superficial, more arrogant and less connected to the truths and realities of this world.

Is this what we really need? You very rarely hear about the downsides of technology. And, when you do hear about it, it’s almost always in the form of a fatalistic lamentation like this: “That’s life, nothing you can do about it”. Well, that’s not actually true, there are things you can do about it.

The first thing you need to know is that technology is a double edge sword. It’s up to you to use the good side and not to use the bad side. If you don’t have this knowledge of what’s good and bad for you, if you don’t have control over the tools, you are better off without. Or you you need to learn.

Porn – a spiritual atomic bomb

One of the significant achievements of modern technological advancements is the widespread access to content that, from any traditional or classical perspective, would be considered obscene, pornographic, or spiritually harmful. In the past, there was a socially-approved conduct that individuals had to follow to be part of society, which largely prevented the spread of obscenities and pornography among the masses. While it is true that the enforcement of this behavior sometimes went to extremes, modernity has shattered these norms and swung to the opposite extreme, turning obscenity and pornography into a perceived human right.

Obscene and pornographic content can now be accessed by anyone, including children, on any device, at any time. Pornography is perhaps the most accessed type of content on the internet and has become a major cultural trait of our times. Many view it as a legitimate business and a normal form of leisure. What are some of the effects of this on psychological, spiritual, and social levels?

  • Porn is addictive, and addictions are always detrimental in the long run.
  • Porn gradually changes the way you think, often without you realizing it, and affects how you view yourself, others, and the world around you.
  • Porn often impacts you in very tangible ways: you may become fickle, unstable, nervous, impatient, unreliable, moody, weak, and unable to function both mentally and physically.
  • Consumption of porn leads to other sexual deviations and prevents you from living a normal family life.
  • Porn has negative consequences on your social life and how you interact with family, friends, coworkers, and, in the long term, is a major contributor to failure and disappointment.
  • Porn, along with the string of other sexually deviant behaviors it generates, leads to a decline in birth rates and demographic trends, which can be viewed as a form of collective social suicide. If you can fulfill your sexual desires and fantasies independently, without any real connection or relationship, and without any higher goal attached to it, why would you go through the hassle of starting and maintaining a family and perpetuating the species?

An atomic bomb is known for its destructive power in the physical realm, as it destroys everything within its blast range, and the surroundings remain contaminated for many years to come. Porn has similar effects at the spiritual level and leads to the same kind of destruction at the social level in the long term.

Introduction au techalcoolisme

À l’exception de quelques tribus isolées et populations marginales, nous sommes tous plus ou moins dépendants de la technologie. Notre essence en tant que personnes modernes, notre appartenance au monde moderne, est définie par l’utilisation à grande échelle de la technologie, qui nous permet de réaliser des choses qui n’étaient pas possibles auparavant ou l’étaient dans une bien moindre mesure. Cependant, c’est précisément ce caractère essentiel que la technologie a pour la personne moderne, ce sentiment d’être indispensable, qui fait que certains d’entre nous ignorent les risques et dangers qu’un usage imprudent de la technologie entraîne. C’est ainsi que naissent les addictions à la technologie avec tous leurs effets négatifs, c’est ainsi que certains d’entre nous deviennent des techalcoolique.

Natural vs artificial in techalcoholism

Technology creates and brings an artificial layer in our lives. This artificial layer acts as a protective wall between us and the brute forces of nature, but at the same time prevents us from experiencing nature and reality the way they really are. And growth mostly comes from directly experiencing reality. If you’ve lived all your life warming your place through electrical, gas or other means of modern heating technology, you’ve probably never experienced real cold and don’t understand its impact.

Even more so with techalcoholism. A techalcoholic embraces this protective feeling of technology so much that he can no longer do without it. He sees everything through this lens, he does everything through this artificial appendix. We all know people who are completely lost without their phone, or Internet, or their TV set, or favorite slippers, or whatever.

Most people don’t need to give up on technology altogether. Or wouldn’t be able to even if they wanted. A techalcoholic unhappy with his situation can reverse the trend by starting to do more activities which are toward the natural end of the spectrum. If you are socializing only via phone apps, go out and talk to people on the street or in a bar. If you’re addicted to e-games, go and find an engaging physical activity like gardening or do sports. If you spend the whole day inside in front of a computer screen, try to take as many possible breaks to be outside and spend the end of the day being outside or doing some sort of physical activity.

Ditch the smartphone

Smartphones have meant a revolution for communication and how we exchange and share information. We use them in all aspects of our lives:

-to keep in touch with family and friends;

-to stay up to date with local and world news;

-to search for stuff that interests us;

-to use social media;

-to quickly check in on what’s going on at work;

-to plan weekends, visits, trips;

-etc.

Practically there are very few things that the modern person will do without help from the smartphone. This small piece of technology has become essential for the modern way of living. This means however that the tool has become the master and we are all its servants. We can all feel the persistent urge to scroll through the different apps and look at the notifications as soon as they come in. Wanting to achieve all things easily through the phone, we realize that we start disconnecting with the real life, with the real people and activities around us, and we miss out. The phone becomes an intermediary that holds power over us and prevents us from living in the real world.

What is there to be done? You cannot just ditch the smartphone as you risk exclusion from society. Well, in some cases, you can completely ditch the smartphone from your life, better to take some risks than to waste your life altogether. But, in most cases, just blocking daily time when you forbid yourself to touch the phone will be enough.

As an incentive to start making changes, watch this short video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QugooaNRnsk