Look outside; Good graphics

I was in my living room doing what the typical young adult does while on a laptop: laughing at an odd culture at japanisweird.com. After about an hour of quietly chuckling to myself at Japanese idiosyncrasies, advertising ploys, etc. I sluggishly glanced out through my window and saw this: "Oh look, it's just a typical backyard." you're most likely thinking. However, after hours upon hours of aimlessly gazing upon a bright white screen, this backyard looked incredibly lively. The emerald hues, white sky; it all seemed so utterly awesome, alive, and high definition.

Has technology desensitized us to the beauty of nature? Has high definition television given us a false sense of what life-like truly is? My naive hypothesis states that: Television, computers, and high resolution pictures, videos, etc. have caused us to alter our perceptions of sight. I don't know. Perhaps I've been inside for far too long and nature's beauty seems almost unattainable

My hypothesis is most likely flawed beyond reason. One could make the argument that high-definition television has caused the American culture to visit other worlds without leaving the comfort of one's own home and that this is a culturally advancing technology. Personally, I LOVE high-def TV. However, I realize I'd much rather visit these places in person and take in and experience the other senses these places have to offer other than sight. The smell, and sound of a far away locale is something that technology cannot duplicate... yet.

I've traveled to many different places and I feel privileged for doing so. Technology has caused the American people to become one with their couches, laptops, televisions, etc. I find myself spending hours of Facebook or youtube. When one of these sites goes down for maintenance, I find myself missing something in my life. Social networking has substituted going out and meeting friends in real life. I'm as guilty of this as anybody I know. I realize it's time for me to go outside more and enjoy the natural state of things. I try to appreciate nature and the natural world as much as possible. I only hope that other young people can do this. America's future is looking bleaker by the hour. If we become too dependent on technology to bring us happiness, relationships, and entertainment, what happens when technology can no longer stimulate us as it has for so long? I'm not sure I'm at liberty to determine the future of our culture, yet. However, I hope this post opens peoples' eyes to how the goodness of the internet and television has a darker side that negatively affects the perception of the basic human experience.

On a lighter note, I intend to set down the laptop for a while now and go out and talk to people the old-fashioned way: with my mouth. Crazy I know, but that's how it used to be "back in the day". (I realize that statement was rather pretentious.) I digress. It's beautiful out. Put down the cell phones, the computers, the remote, and step outside for an hour. Breathe in the air, look at the sky, and be alone for a little while.

- Andrew