Today the majority of people have the means to contact most anyone in the (developed) world just by reaching in their pocket or purse. We have unlimited international cell phone plans, text messages, Skype, online chat, voice mail, email and dozens of other ways to communicate with one another wherever and whenever we wish. Thanks to services like Facebook, we can share photos and know what family members and old friends are doing or thinking wherever they might be.

But my question is, are these improvements to communications technology really helping? Are we becoming more sociable, neighborly people? Are relationships with friends and family getting stronger or more shallow?

What do you think?

I think it's putting up another barrier between us, only this time it's not as noticeable. We can talk and get to know one another, but we have the freedom to be as unkind or uncaring as we want over this technology, which has done more harm than good, at least for me. After over ten years being holed up on the internet, I've only ever considered one person a true friend. If I had no internet access and had to go out and meet people face to face, that number would be much higher.

I doubt we are becoming more sociable or more neighborly. If anything, the new tech is reversing that. Just because you can chat someone up on steam doesn't mean you'd be any good in a convo in real life.

Thanks to skype there are fewer pathetic people drinking alone at night


That has to be an improvement of sorts..



..until you see a screencap of Evilfish after half a bottle of vodka