The Effect Of Technology On The Contemporary Man

558 Words3 Pages
Individuals relate to each other through common interests. William Deresiewicz argues that each generation experiences the world differently and that the contemporary man faces the challenge of solitude. According to him, the spirit of the contemporary man pursues recognition and interpersonal connections. As the mainstream moves toward a culture of hyper connectivity, the line between loneliness and solitude becomes thinner. Deresiewicz states that no real excellence can arrive without solitude; therefore the threat of recent technological changes are on the progress of the contemporary man. Deresiewicz defines culture by demonstrating what motivates people through the course of time. In the contemporary age, people live in a culture of validation. Social-networking websites exist because individuals are interested in people they know. People log on to develop their online identities for others to view, comment and “Like.” It forces society into a culture of conformity and outward expression. People want to be acknowledged by others and share the fear of anonymity. Humility is sometimes lost in the midst of the online experience. Creating a social-networking profile is like creating an alternative identity. It is a refined and manipulated framework of oneself made for others to see. In the blogging world where people are opening their ideas to the public, people cannot express themselves in the same way as they would in a personal journal. While the capacity to communicate with others may be expanded online, it also limits an individual’s ability to communicate with himself. According to Deresiewicz, solitude is the instrument of personal reflection and creativity. In solitude the individual is able to develop and explore. However the current generation was conditioned by society to always be connected and to associate the state of solitude with the feeling

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