Electronic Enslavement

Monday, June 28, In the year of our Lord 2010
Briercrest College and Seminary, DL Office
Writing a Rant, 5:09 PM
Weather = Warm and Sunny


Yesterday I went out with friends and I saw the strangest thing. A women was willingly subjecting herself to a torturous and merciless electronic force. She had shackled a small silvery thin box to her wrist and had allowed it to put her on a tight leash as well as wire itself into her skull. This insidious device would lay dormant until it saw fit to torment her and would suddenly pull the chain on the leash and send an electric jolt until the woman flipped open the box to see what it wanted. It didn't matter what she had been doing previously, whether it was having fun with friends, eating a family meal, looking after her child, driving on the highway, or even sleeping, the reaction was near instantaneous. The device had trained this woman to obey its every prodding and calling. If she was not quick enough it would begin to berate her with all manner of sounds and alarms, pulling on the leash harder, sending more electric jolt to ensure her compliance. Sometimes it would do this continually for hours, keeping this woman away from her own life as well as those who cared for her.

Perhaps most insidious of all was the wiring which had bored its way into her skull for the device itself could be turned off but, the wiring however, would always remain active. I suspect the wires were made to reprogram her brain for further compliance. The device had gotten into her head and had planted foundational ideas about itself and how necessary it was. I think that it had worked because she enjoyed its inconsiderate domination of her time and became acutely unsettled when the device was turned off for any period of time. I also suspect that these wires may have some indirect control of her motor functions, compelling her to do things and go places that should not be of any high priority.

What sort of twisted and corrupt motivation could this device offer? Why would any person willingly subject themselves to such a burden as the tyranny of the immediate? What sense of fulfillment is bestowed by the continual unquestioned compliance to this inconsiderate, cruel, impatient, unloving, never satisfied master of time and energy?

I had it in my mind to smash this device. I did not though, for if I had then she would have become quite upset with me and would have bought another one to take its place. She would have reattached the shackle to her wrist, the leash to her neck, and the wires to her head. Why would she do all this? Because this is what she has chosen, this is what she wants.



I am talking about Cell Phones and an unhealthy lifestyle that can result. Do you know of people who's lives are dictated by text messages and phone calls from friends, work, or otherwise? Some people respond to their cell phone before they would respond to a fire alarm. Some people consider the unknown text message a higher priority than continuing a one on one conversation, the sanctity of a family meal, or even their own personal safety as well as the safety of others.

Now granted, the younger generation has learned the ability to text and listen and participate in whatever else may be happening all at the same time. This does not make it any less rude, nor does it make the tyranny of the immediate any healthier.

What does anyone gain from a life characterized by the tyranny of the immediate? (except for adverse stress and undesirable heart conditions) What positive effect can result from responding at lightning speed to every text message you ever receive? Sometimes it is necessary, but on average it is not.

Example 1: Hanging out with close friends should not come to sudden halt just because some other person texts you to demand that you do this or that for them. That is a time to just ignore the phone.

Example 2: Family time should not get derailed when someone from work texts you or calls your phone to talk about work stuff. Work should remain at work and not interfere with established family time. If your job takes up all of your time all the time, then I have pity for you and more pity for your neglected family.

Example 3: Driving a vehicle should NEVER become secondary to texting. I don't care how well you think you can drive and text, it is against the law and the equivalent of being drunk at the wheel. (Yes, I'm talking to you, overconfident young kid who thinks you are invincible)

Cell phones should be used as a convenience built to serve humans. They are not intelligent, they do not pose any threat to us, whatever message has been sent will still be there once an appropriate time to read it has presented itself. If the person on the other side of the cell phone does not have the common decency, patience, or understanding that you might be living life at that moment and are unable to / don't want to check your phone right that second, then they are not worth your time and you will never be able to make them happy even if you dedicate all of you time to them all of the time.

You have the choice to throw off the cruel oppressor or be maliciously oppressed.

Rant over
Greg out