Technology and the Lack of Social Baggage

“People connect with strangers without much of the social baggage that divides and alienates. Without visual cues about gender, age, ethnicity and social status, conversations open up in directions that otherwise might be avoided” (Poster542).
Some may believe that quote represents a good way to communicate because it allows people to have no boundaries and be who they really are, which many people do not do to a full extent when they are talking to someone in public. Without any knowledge about the person with whom you are communicating with except for their personality and views on things, a stronger bond may be able to be formed. However, even though technological communication has become a very popular to communicate with strangers, it has become an even more popular way to communicate with those who we are already acquainted with, and this is where concern comes in.
In today’s society we have new technological devices and upgrades thrown at us every day. Each time this happens we become less adaptable to actual social situations which involve talking to someone rather than texting them. My dad talks about this every time that my brother and I are home and says how terrible he thinks this world is becoming. He finds it pathetic that “a person can’t even call someone anymore and have an actual conversation; it’s all about texting which is about as impersonal as one can get.” In some ways I agree with him. However, sometimes it is easier to let your guard down through text messaging as it is when you are talking with somebody online. There is no worry of a person’s reaction to what you’re saying because they will have time to think about a response instead of being put on the spot if you’re talking with them on the phone. Another reason that text messaging is convenient is if you are in a place that you are unable to talk, but you need to get a message to someone immediately. Despite my father’s views, which I do agree with, I now have him hooked on text messaging. It’s hard not to fall into the norm, especially when it consists of doing something new and convenient.