OPINION
Coming Wednesday, October 31...
McNaughton: Millions of people live with psoriasis.
bridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances
Muselmann: Halloween is a day to let loose and have fun.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WWW.KANSAN.COM
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2007
PAGE 7A
Technology connects globally, distances locally
TUESDAY MORNING
a hint
forku.org
COM
Bryce Graham
UJ
MENT
市 of Kansas
The convenience of the electronic communication age cuts down on time actually spent talking with others
We live in a global world. I can e-mail relatives in New
dy on Facebook
facebook.
supports the Jena 61 /
or sleepover in the
relatives in New Zealand, find out the news in China and shop in Tahiti, all through my trusty laptop. With communication, distance is no longer a problem. Yet, while we busy ourselves, making distances irrelevant, we can in fact distance ourselves from the people nearest to us.
According to a survey conducted in January by SuperSoft Incorporated, 64 percent of Americans say they spend more time with their computer than with their significant other. While this survey doesn't consider that a majority of that computer time may be spent at
those with friends and family as well. As a freshman in high school, the first major "technological" device I owned (besides a TV)
work, the survey does demonstrate the effect technology can bring to our relationships.
Technology can affect not just 'significant' relationships, but
was a computer. For weeks after I first received it, I holed up in my room for days, like a 30-year
old drop-out living in his parents' basement playing "World of Warcraft." My game of choice however, was "The Sims," a computer game that allows you to create people and basically
Technology not only brings
run their lives.
I spent hours
hunched over
my computer
creating pretend
families
and friends
while completely ignoring
my real ones.
fast entertainment, but also convenience. Supposedly technology can enhance our relationships, since contacting others through cell phones, e-mail and IM'ing all make the most important factor of relationships, communication, incredibly convenient.
It has become so convenient that I have friends who talk to me through nothing but text messages, making even phone calls obsolete. With college students, it seems as if text messages are becoming the standard form of communication. They are fabulous, if you want to tell a friend about the guy next to you falling asleep and nearly drooling on your shoulder during lecture. But when it's your sole form of communication, it's time to rethink your relationships.
When it comes to true conversation, convenience isn't always completely satisfying. Somehow a smiley face sent via text just doesn't convey the same meaning as a genuine smile.
Technology also distances us from spending time with other people. Periodic e-mails, weekly conversations and steady text messages make us feel like we actually have spent time with others. We can become so caught up in our busy lives that we hardly notice we haven't actually interacted with anyone. Sometimes I feel as if I'm checking people off a mental list. Yes, called mom. Need to call grandma. Fast communication makes us forget that being together is
As with any good, there's always a bad. Technology overcomes distances, but also creates them. With close relationships, technological communication should not replace the real kind. At times a relationship with your computer can seem almost human-like. After all, the same emotions are there: fondness, annoyance when it doesn't work out and anger, but wouldn't it be more enjoyable (and less weird) to experience these emotions with someone that doesn't come with a carrying case?
not the same. It distances us.
DRAWING BOARD
Hudson is a Wichita sophomore in journalism and business.
MAX RINKE
Free for All callers have 20 seconds to speak about any topic they wish. Kansan editors reserve the right to omit comments. Slanderous and obscene statements will not be printed. Phone numbers of all incoming calls are recorded.
FREE FOR ALL: 864-0500 OR KANSAN.COM/FACEBOOK
If you found a black and white kitten over the weekend, about twelve weeks old, please take her to the Humane Society, so I can get her hark. Thanks
get her back. Thanks.
Free for All, spawn more overlords.
My roommate and I are having a bet on how many times Uggs and sorority girls are going to be brought up in the Free for All this winter. You want to get in on this?
There is a God
If Steven Colbert wins the 2008 Presidential Election, Americans
Why can't guys win Halloween costume contests?
are a bunch of jackasses. I'm going to Canada.
I demand more mild weather days before it gets this cold.
I heard Coke from Mexico is sweeter because they use real sugar. Anyone know how to get that imported?
I hate technology.
Now you're thinking with portals.
You're a tall one!
They closed Watson yesterday. How is that possible?
You cannot stop the flow of information. Close every library on campus, cut all internet communication. Your efforts are useless.
Can anyone tell me why they closed the library?
All the costumes I saw over the weekend were horrible. I hope that they improve by Wednesday.
Not the Red Socks. Not again.
For the last time. Free for All, do a barrel roll.
Wow, look at the Hawks' record. I hope we lose soon, or people will never shut up about how great we are.
How do you know when you need to drop a class? The first F? The second? The third? The fourth?
GUEST COLUMN
MATTHEW RISSIEN
Every morning I wake up and read the Daily Kansan. I read what's
going on in Lawrence. The Crossing, sports and anything you would imagine a typical student at the University of Kansas would read. However, I am not a typical KU student. In fact, as of this year, I'm not even considered a KU student. My friends consider me one of the biggest Jayhawk supporters they know, yet I am not seen as a current student because I am spending the year studying in Israel.
Growing up, I attended a Jewish day school in Overland Park. Junior year, I decided I wanted to become a Rabbi. However, I wanted to be a Jayhawk so badly that I decided to go to KU instead of a smaller school. I couldn't have asked for anything better after joining Alpha Epsilon Pi and becoming "the Scooby Doo guy." However, after two years at KU, I decided I wanted to take a year to study in Israel. I thought I would be supported by the University, seeing how strongly they encouraged studying abroad, but I was disturbed when I heard that studying in Israel was not an option.
Last month, I was reading the online Kansan. I saw the front page article about a bunch of students, friends of mine, petitioning for study abroad in Israel. It brought an immediate smile to my face. However, a week later I looked in the editorial section and found a very disheartening article countering, saying that study abroad in Israel should not be institutionalized. While it has taken me longer than I would have liked, I knew I had to write an article sharing my experiences as an American studying in Jerusalem.
I hesitated coming to Israel because of my fear of safety. I watched CNN and saw all the horrors and realities of the terrorist attacks and threats. I saw Jews and Muslims fighting and hating each other. I saw a dangerous and war-torn country where people can't even walk the streets or ride the buses, because it is too dangerous. Now I
recognize the media's exaggeration of the facts.
Immediately after getting off the plane, I felt a sense of comfort and safety. Everyone welcomed me and told me how happy they were that I made the commitment to come for a year, despite the fact that my university wouldn't support me. I got on a public bus, with great hesistance, only to find that it was incredibly safe. In Israel, before going into malls, you must open your bags and go through security. In America, people are kidnapped from malls, or shootings occur in schools. In Israel, that is unfathomable. Women and men walk around alone at night, and don't feel any threats whatsoever. You can't even walk around Lawrence at night without feeling a sense of insecurity. And they call Israel dangerous?
Israel is a country that all religions relate to, and I think it's unfair that the University denies students the right to this experience. I have one last thing for everyone to think about: If travelling to this country is prohibited, I think the University should think about the safety of University-sponsored studies in countries like France or England as well as our daily trips to the Oak Park Mall, New York, even our very own beloved Massachusetts Street. How many years in a row will there be a shooting at Abe and Jakes or the Granada? Before worrying about safety in Israel, start worrying about safety in our own towns. Until that happens, it is hypocritical to say Israel is unsafe. Can't the University see that things aren't always as bad as the media portrays? I highly urge the University to re-instate study abroad in Israel, and commend my peers and fellow students on their efforts with the issue.
Rissien is an Overland Park junior in religious studies and ludaic studies.
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The Editorial Board
Erick R. Schmidt, Eric Jorgensen,
Daria Slipe, Kelsey Heyes, Bryan
Dykman, Brandon T. Minister, Angelique
MnCaughton and Benjamin R. Smith
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