Really Annoyed with Technology

So, I'm starting a temporary job tomorrow, and the company wants me to fill out forms on their online database.

I have to fill out tax forms, personal information, etc. online. I remember the days when I had to filled out paper forms; I really miss those days. I'm so annoyed and getting anxious as this company's database is confusing to navigate. (I sent an email to HR about it).

Ugh...why does everything have to be online now. Don't get me wrong, technology have many positive attributes (such as forums like this and spreading information), but it has many negatives as well.

IMO technology is 'dumbing-down' people so much that we can't think or analyze things for ourselves. Also, I don't understand why people are so glued to their cellphones. When I'm commuting to or from work, the first thing that I see are people on their cellphones, either watching movies, texting, etc. I didn't have a cellphone when I was growing up, and guess what, I survived.

Then there is social media, such as Facebook or Twitter. I don't understand why people like to post everything about their lives on social media. Maybe I'm just cranky, but I don't understand the appeal of certain things.

Sorry for the rant, but I'm just so annoyed, and I feel my anxiety rising!

Cost savings, time savings, efficiency, ease of tracking, ease of communication, the list can go on and on why online vs. paper is indefinitely better.

I'd look at the positives of technology rather than try to focus on the negatives, because it's not going away. If anything it'll expand.

My favorite are the people who type on their phones while urinating in the men's room, even despite me using the urinal right next to them. Then there are those using their phones in the stalls, playing videos or even talking to someone while sitting on the crapper. "Disgusting" tends to pop into my head in cases like these...

I'm one of those who take their phone with them into the stalls and/or talk on the phone while pooping

Reason is I have UC and sometimes I can't wait so I go even if I'm already on the phone. I'm disgusting. So what.

I also take pictures of my food but not to post it on Facebook but for my food journal. Easier than to type everything I eat

Also I noticed for US immigration you can now fill out some important forms online and submit them right away which I find immensely helpful. From what I've seen those applications get processed faster than paper. Nothing has to be taken apart and scanned in. I like it.

Well, well the times we live in.
Just have to accept it that some people will just behave differently then others etc.

I get frustrated with computers, too. I just wrote a reply to another post that got lost and now I have to rewrite it.

When I was in Italy last October we were in a museum with many masterpieces. A group of high schoolers were on a field trip. about 8 of the sat down on a bench and pulled out their phones. I wanted to get a picture of them looking at their phones while surrounded by 500 year old paintings but it was hard to be discrete about it. Other people spent a lot of effort taking pictures of the pictures. A different way to see art, I guess.

Yes that's only the case with me I'm sure other people do it just because.

Lynnwood said...
Is it the technology you're annoyed with or people's behavior?

After all, without that same technology we wouldn't be chatting here.

As I stated in my first post, there are good, such as this forum, and bad aspects of technology.

As to your question, I do get annoyed with both at times.

Mentor5959,

I know companies find it "...easier, faster and efficient" to have their employees fill out forms, i.e. tax forms, personal information, etc., online, but I don't, especially when the software used is hard to navigate. I am also very concern about fraud and identity theft, when filling out these forms online, due to database breaches.

And yes, fraud and identity theft have always existed, but it seems to be more on the rise due to the expanding use of technology.

You say that " We are freed from rudimentary toil to concentrate our efforts on other things. Think of the sciences for example."

Hmmm...exactly what 'rudimentary toil' has technology freed us from?

You also say "people are glued to their cell phones because people generally like to have their mind active. 30 years ago you could not even see fellow commuters faces because everyone had a newspaper in front of their faces."

I can see how it could keep a person's mind active, but I can also see how it could turn a person's mind into mush. However, there are bigger concerns, namely safety. When I commute in and out of work, I see people so glued to their cellphones that they bump into other people, which has caused some fights, or worse, they don't even look away from it when crossing the street.

As to humans being social animals, I agree. However, I still don't understand (maybe it's just me) the need to post every single detail (good or bad) about your life on Facebook or other social media (assuming it's not done anonymously), especially since it can come back to haunt you. Think future employers, partners, etc. who often go on these sites to find out more information about you.

Gotta always have hard copy books!