how the computer rose to prominence and took over every bit of our lives

When anthropologists of the future dig through our rubbish to find something that defines this time, I imagine they will be wading through mountains of computer bits and various other e-waste.

If they have the ability to get into our hard drives, they will know all our dirty secrets — when we were late for bills, who we dated and our various personal histories.

Because let’s face it, if one thing were to define this time in history, it would have to be how the computer rose to prominence and took over every bit of our lives.

OK, I know, saying that computers have taken over our lives sounds like an over the top plot of a Will Smith movie. But, it’s not so far from the truth.

Due to some fiscal irresponsibility, I recently got to test drive a day in the life without the internet. I sat down in my room, and thought it would be a great time to read a book, write on paper and embrace my inner renaissance woman.

I started writing and one of the words on the page didn’t look quite right. I spelled it perfectly, but was concerned that I didn’t have the meaning bang-on. (It’s a terrible pet peeve of mine to hear words used incorrectly due to an unfortunate year-long episode where one friend repeatedly referred to psychopaths as sycophants ... but I digress.)

So, I went to look up the word, and I realized that I no longer own a dictionary. It was one of the casualties of moving and six months ago when I was loading up boxes I decided to abandon the life-sized Oxford I have had since childhood — back then I thought, it’s all online now, so what’s the point?

Without a way to confirm my choice of vocabulary, I abandoned my pen and paper pursuits and called one of my friends. She lives fairly far away so most of our communications happen on MSN. And, I’ll be honest, sometimes I can barely remember the sound of her voice.

We talked awkwardly for a bit and then she decided it was time to grill me on my personal life. She told me that it was high time that I meet someone to spend the rest of my life with, and I should hit the internet. Horrified by the whole concept I ended our conversation, and then called more people to complain about what she had said.

Little did I know that everyone was onto this thing. One person I know has met her future husband online, another is embarking on a weird courtship with someone whose website profile intrigued her.

I was flabbergasted. On one level I don’t understand what would drive someone to advertise themselves. But, more importantly, I don’t understand how someone could embark on a dating adventure with someone they don’t know. However, it was explained to me as a more efficient way of sifting through the mire of the dating world.

Say you meet someone you like and then you get all caught up with hormones and infatuation only to realize that they hate puppies, and you love them. The deal is off, and heartbreak ensues.

With online dating you get to know these things before all the human stuff interferes.

It may not be working for me yet, but I am a fan of the human stuff.

There are people I know who don’t remember life before the Internet. But, I do. That’s not to say that I am not firmly entrenched in the computer age, but I have nostalgia for the days when my friends abroad would send me postcards not e-cards. And the fact that the sounds of my friends and family’s voices are starting to become less familiar scares the hell out of me.

On the flip side, I probably “talk” to them a lot more than I would if I were fully reliant on the phone or travel. And, although I like to receive letters, I was never much of a fan of writing them. So, there are balances.

However, the one month of financial stupidity that led me to the one day of technological withdrawal taught me a lot about who I am and who I want to be. Too much of the world I live in is Internet based and it’s time for some live interactions.

Keeping it human in a virtual world

By Kathy Michaels is a reporter with the Penticton Western New
Mar 11 2007