week 2:

How would your life have been different if you'd grown up 20 years earlier? How would you interact with others? Do you think your relationships then would differ from your present relationships? Which time period would you prefer and why?

I always feel like there is a kind of weight attached when someone, usually a parent, says something to the effect of “we never had technology like this when I was growing up, and we did just fine.” as if it is meant to make us feel guilty for how reliant the world has become on technology, and how easy everyday things have become.  Today, with a smartphone and internet access, you can do almost anything, most of these things you couldn't do twenty years ago. One of the main differences is that your social circle was limited to who you could talk to and be with in person. Now the internet is an open door, on the other side are people waiting, who have the same interests, yet come from other towns or maybe other countries. Today we are definitely more accustomed to diversity, and many friendships are based not on first appearance and whatever disguise a person puts on, as they are in the physical world, but more on a person’s internet identity, which I think is more of an extension of a person’s personality.

Also, I think that today’s generation is more casual about relationships, now that your friends are just a skype message away, and text messaging doesn't demand a response at this very moment; if they're busy, they’ll get back to you when they can. (I make an average of two phone calls a month, usually to my parents or to schedule doctor’s appointments.)

Many could argue that the increased presence of technology in everyone’s lives means that we are less focused on the people right in front of us. They make a valid point. But it is a good thing that people from different places are closer than ever, so maybe part of our standards of etiquette, unspoken societal rules, whatever you want to call it, should include integrating physical and virtual relationships harmoniously. I definitely wouldn't choose any time period over this one.