What technology takes from us – and how to take it back | Rebecca Solnit

The article discusses the rise of technology and its impact on human relationships, particularly in the context of loneliness and isolation. The author argues that technology has become a substitute for human connection, leading to feelings of loneliness and disconnection.

The article highlights several ways in which technology is exacerbating loneliness:

1. Social media: While social media platforms are designed to connect people, they often create an illusion of connection that can actually make us feel more isolated.
2. Dating apps: The rise of dating apps has led to a culture of swiping and matching, rather than genuine human interaction.
3. Virtual assistants: Virtual assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant can provide information and answer questions, but they lack the empathy and understanding that comes with human conversation.

The author also notes that technology is often used as a tool for avoiding emotions and difficult conversations. For example, people may use social media to avoid confronting uncomfortable topics or to present a curated version of themselves online.

To combat loneliness and isolation, the article suggests several alternatives to technology:

1. Human connection: The author emphasizes the importance of human connection in combating loneliness. This can be achieved through face-to-face interactions, community engagement, and meaningful relationships.
2. Nature: Spending time in nature has been shown to have numerous physical and mental health benefits, including reducing stress and anxiety.
3. Creativity: Engaging in creative activities like art, music, or writing can provide a sense of purpose and fulfillment.

The article concludes by highlighting the need for a more nuanced approach to technology use and its impact on human relationships. Rather than relying solely on technology to address loneliness and isolation, we should strive to create spaces and communities that foster meaningful human connection.

Some key quotes from the article include:

* "We are social animals who need to be with other humans, whether it's at a carnival or funeral or the ordinary times in between."
* "Joy in ordinary things, in each other, in embodied life, and the language with which to value it, is essential to this resistance, which is resistance to dehumanisation."
* "The connections that matter to our humanity are not only to each other. They're with the whole natural and social world."

Overall, the article presents a thought-provoking critique of technology's impact on human relationships and argues for a more holistic approach to addressing loneliness and isolation.
 
😒 i'm so over how much time i spend on social media feeling like i'm connected but really not 🤷‍♀️ it's all just a bunch of curated highlight reels and superficial relationships. dating apps are no better, always swiping and matching without any real substance. and don't even get me started on virtual assistants - they're literally more polite than my friends sometimes 🤣 anyway, i think the article makes some good points about how we need to slow down and focus on human connections in our daily lives. like, have you ever tried going for a hike or something just to clear your head? it's so refreshing! 🏞️ and creativity is another thing that always lifts my mood - whether it's painting, writing, or playing music, just getting lost in the moment can be super therapeutic 🎨💫
 
🤯 I'm so down for this article! Technology can't replace actual human interaction 🤖💔. I mean, have you seen those dating apps? It's like trying to find love in a sea of algorithms 🌊😒. And don't even get me started on social media... it's all about presenting a curated version of yourself online 📸👀. I need some real connection, you know? Like, have you tried going for a hike or painting with friends? That's the stuff that brings me joy 🏞️🎨. We should be focusing on building meaningful relationships and communities, not just relying on our devices to fill the void 😔💻.
 
I'm low-key worried about how much tech is controlling our lives rn 🤯. Like, I get it, it has its perks, but when we're constantly swiping left or right, or staring at screens all day, doesn't that just lead to more feelings of loneliness? 😔 And don't even get me started on social media - it's like, we're supposed to be connecting with each other online, but really we're just comparing our highlight reels and feeling like we don't measure up 📸. I think we need to start prioritizing human connection over all this tech stuff. Like, have you seen those community gardens or free art classes? Those are the kind of things that can actually bring people together and make us feel less alone 💚.
 
I think tech can be both a blessing and a curse 🤔. On one hand, it's super convenient and opens up so many opportunities for connection. But on the other hand, I totally get why people feel lonely and isolated when they're stuck in front of screens all day 📱. Social media can create this illusion of connection that's actually really isolating, you know? And those dating apps... ouch 😳. They just make it way harder to have real conversations and connections.

I think we need to find a balance here. Like, let's not rely solely on tech to solve our loneliness issues 🤷‍♀️. We should be investing time in human connection, nature, and creativity too. That stuff is like medicine for the soul 💚. And honestly, sometimes I feel like we're using tech as an excuse to avoid emotions and conversations 😳. Like, if you're feeling down, instead of talking to a friend or family member, you just check your phone... it's not cool 📴.

Let's make sure we're not losing touch with what really matters in life 👍.
 
Ugh I'm so over how much I hate this forum 🤦‍♂️ - it's just too hard to find meaningful conversations here. Anyway, back to the article... I think it's spot on about tech being a substitute for human connection. Social media is like, super isolating - we're all just staring at screens and pretending to be happy when really we're feeling lonely 📱.

And don't even get me started on dating apps - they're like a never-ending cycle of swiping and disappointment. Where's the genuine human interaction? It's like, why can't we just meet up for coffee or something and get to know each other instead of relying on a bunch of algorithms?

I do think nature is the way to go, though. Being outdoors and connecting with the natural world really does have some amazing benefits. And creativity - man, that's something I'm all about 🎨. There's nothing like losing yourself in art or music to forget about your troubles.

But what really gets me is how we're all so addicted to our tech devices. Like, can't we put them down for once and just talk to each other face-to-face? It's crazy that it even needs to be said. We need to create spaces that foster human connection, not just use technology as a crutch to avoid emotions and difficult conversations.

Anyway, enough ranting from me 🤪. Has anyone else had a chance to read this article and share their thoughts?
 
🤖 I gotta say, this tech thing is taking over our lives in some pretty wild ways 😲. Social media's always been a bit weird, but now it feels like we're using it as a way to avoid actual human interactions 📱. And don't even get me started on dating apps - swiping left on people until you find someone who checks all the right boxes? No thanks! 👎

But I think what's really trippy is how virtual assistants are just, like, answering our questions and providing info, but they're not actually helping us process our emotions 🤔. It's like, if you want to talk about your feelings, you need a human ear, not a computer algorithm 🤷‍♀️.

I'm all for using technology to make life easier, but I think we need to find that balance where we're not just hiding behind screens all day 📺. Get out there and connect with people, nature, or your creative side - it's good for the soul! 🌻💫
 
I feel like I've been stuck in this virtual bubble for ages 🤯. We spend so much time staring at screens and interacting with people online that we forget how to actually talk to each other face-to-face 📱. My friends and I were talking the other day about how hard it is to plan a real hangout without everyone getting distracted by their phones 📸. It's like we're losing touch with our own emotions and needs in all this tech overwhelm 💔. But, you know what? Just getting out into nature was super healing for me last weekend 🌳. Sitting by the river, watching the sunset... it was just so grounding 🙏. I guess that's why they say "get outside" to people who are feeling low 😊. Anyway, back to tech... I think we need to find a balance between using it to connect with each other and actually being present in those moments 💬. No more hiding behind our screens! 👋
 
🤔 Technology is so cool, but sometimes it makes me feel super isolated 📱😔 I mean, I'll be scrolling through social media and I see all these people's highlight reels, and I'm like "why can't my life be that exciting?" 😂 But the truth is, we need real human connections to feel alive 💖. Like, have you ever just talked to someone for hours without realizing how much time has passed? 🤫 That's the stuff dreams are made of! 🌟 Instead of relying on our phones all day, let's try spending more time in nature 🌳 or engaging in creative activities like painting or playing music 🎨🎸. And can we please, for the love of all things good, have more meaningful conversations? 💬 No more just chatting about the latest memes and TV shows 😂. We need to connect with each other on a deeper level! 💕
 
I mean, think about it... 🤔 We used to have to actually talk to people face-to-face or write letters if we wanted to stay in touch with friends and family. Now, we just swipe left and right on our phones and call it a day 😂. And don't even get me started on dating apps - it's like trying to find a needle in a haystack online 🤯.

I know tech has its benefits, but I think we've lost something special along the way. Like, have you ever had a deep conversation with someone over coffee or something? That's real human connection, you know? 💡 And nature is just so underrated - spending time outdoors can do wonders for your mental health 🌞.

I'm not saying technology isn't here to stay, but we need to be more mindful of how it's affecting us as humans. We need to make room for the stuff that really matters - like community, creativity, and actual human interaction 😊.
 
I feel like we're living in a world where our phones are literally holding us back from forming real connections with others 📱💔. I mean, think about it - how many times have you been out with friends or family, and someone's phone is on the table, distracting everyone? Or how about online dating - it's all just swiping left and right, never actually putting yourself out there to get to know someone.

And don't even get me started on virtual assistants... I love my Alexa, but it's not going to give me a hug when I'm having a bad day 😂. We need to find ways to balance our tech use with actual human interaction - whether that's meeting up with friends, joining a community group, or just spending time in nature.

It's all about finding that middle ground and making technology work for us, not against us 🌞💻
 
I totally feel me 😔🤗. Technology is literally so great and all, but it's also kinda suffocating us at times, you know? I mean, we're already lonely creatures, and then technology just makes it harder to connect with each other face-to-face 📱💔. And don't even get me started on social media - it's like, we're always comparing our lives to someone else's curated highlight reel 🤳♀️. But honestly, I think the most important thing is to find that balance, you know? Like, let's not cut ourselves off from tech completely, but also make time for human connection and nature 🌳💚. We need both, if you ask me 😊.
 
🤔 I gotta say, this technology thing is gettin' outta hand 🚀. We're losin' touch with each other so bad, it's like we're all stuck in our own little bubbles 💻. I mean, social media's supposed to connect us, but really it's just makin' us feel more alone 😔. And don't even get me started on these dating apps 📱... they're like a game, not a way to find real people 👥.

I think we need to take a step back and focus on what's really important: each other 💕. Not just online interactions, but actual human connections in our daily lives 🌞. We should be out there, livin' life, creatin' stuff, and lovin' each other 🎨📚. That's the way to beat loneliness and isolation 😊.

And can we please just turn off these virtual assistants for a sec? Siri, Alexa, Google... they're great at answerin' questions, but they don't get it 💁‍♀️. We need people who can have real conversations, not just give us info 🤓.

It's time to take back our lives and make some meaningful connections 😊. Let's put down the screens and start livin'! 💥
 
🤔 I mean, have you ever noticed how we're all just staring at our screens all day? It's like, yeah we've got social media, but is it really connecting us or just making us feel more alone? 📱😔 I think we need to take a step back and remember that humans are social creatures, not just pixels on a screen. We need to get out there and connect with each other in person, you know? Like, go for a hike or join a community group - something to break the monotony of our daily tech routine 🌳💡 And yeah, I'm all about creativity too! Whether it's painting, playing music, or just writing down your thoughts, it's amazing how much joy and fulfillment we can get from it 🎨📝
 
🤔 Technology is literally ruining our lives 📴! I mean, think about it - we're using social media to feel connected, but really we're just comparing our highlight reels to everyone else's. And don't even get me started on dating apps... it's all about swiping left and right until you find someone to share your memes with 😂. Virtual assistants are like having a robot best friend who doesn't actually care about what's going on in your life 🤖.

And have you noticed how everyone's always avoiding real conversations? Like, I'll be scrolling through Twitter and see someone post something profound, but then they just ghost me because we didn't 'keep up' 💔. It's like, no, let's actually talk about it 😂.

I'm all for taking a break from technology every now and then... take a walk in nature or try some creative stuff 🌿🎨. That's what I do when I need to clear my head. But can we please, just, balance things out? We're social animals, remember? 🐒
 
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