Man Cave

Man Cave

Man Cave

via Cort Freeman on Canva

Technology has made all of our lives significantly easier. Thanks to Social Media, we can communicate with friends (and strangers) across the world. We can travel like never before. We can have our food brought to us, still hot. With technology, the possibilities are truly endless. But, are we all the better for it?

I mean, surely, technology has some downsides to go along with all the positives it provides? I don’t know about you, but I’m confident my mental well-being would be greatly improved if Social Media wasn’t a thing. As great as these advancements are, I think there are some inventions that we may have been better off without.

Here are 5 technology advancements that have gone way too far. You may agree with some of these, or you may be thankful for them. It’s all fun and games until a robot takes your job. Here are the five technological advancements that I can’t stand but have to deal with on a daily basis.

  • QR Code Menus

    I’m a man with many pet peeves. Admittedly, probably too many. I need to work on that. However, one pet peeve I refuse to let go is having your phone out while out to dinner. Especially when you’re out on a date with someone! It’s rule one! Keep your phone away, and engage in conversation. Your phone will still be there after the date and you can do all the Google’ing and social media’ing that your heart desires, but not during the date.

    Now, thanks to QR codes on menus, we are forced to be on our phones during dates. We have no choice, it’s totally out of our hands…the situation, that is…not our phones…those are unfortunately very much in our hands. Give me a real menu. I get that it may be saving a tree, or may be more hygienic, but please don’t make me keep doing this.

  • FaceTime

    FaceTime

    via Cort Freeman on Canva

    Has nobody heard the popular phrase, “just text me?” I feel like it’s probably been in our lexicon since texting was invented. If we have texting, who needs a phone call? Now, we’ve taken it a step further by introducing FaceTime. Look, I don’t want you calling me let alone to see my face. Very rarely am I ever presentable, and when I happen to be, I’m busy and don’t have time to hop on FaceTime with you. What can you say to me over FaceTime that you can’t over text? If you really really need to reach me you can call and make it quick, I guess. But a FaceTime? I can’t think of any situation where a FaceTime is preferred. You have a problem? Text me. You want to congratulate me? Text me. You have a life threatening emergency? Call 911 or you can text me, and I can alert the authorities.

    The only time FaceTime may be acceptable is to see a loved one you don’t get a chance to see anymore. However, they never know how to properly use the app, so it ends up being a waste anyways, thus proving there is never a reason to FaceTime anyone. Why do we need this technology? It’s just a burden.

  • Push Notifications

    Push Notification

    via Cort Freeman on Canva

    Push Notifications are getting a little too push, if you ask me. I’m okay with an Amber Alert getting pushed through on my phone. That’s important and could save a life. However, iPhone alerting me that my Screen Time was up 12% this week isn’t something I need nor want to know. CNN alerting me about a new podcast they did is not something I need urgently on my phone. I even disabled push notifications for texts and on all social media, I’ll look when I’m ready to look. I don’t need the constant bombardment of notifications coming to my phone and distracting me. Beep! Beep! Beep! Vibrate! Vibrate! Vibrate! It’s too much! If you’re going to send out a Push Notification, please make sure it’s important. Like life or death important. Even then, a simple vibrate will do.

  • Personalized Ads

    How does my phone know I need something before I even do? That doesn’t make any sense. At first, it might seem cool that your phone knows you so well that it can tell you what you want. That is…until you start to think about it. How did your phone learn that about it? Well, it listens and is constantly watching. I was having a conversation with M’Lady just the other day about planning a trip to Lake Michigan. Later that day, what do I see on Instagram? Restaurant recommendations along the Lakeshore. It listened to us! I’d be all for personalized ads, if I filled out a form or something telling the advertisers what I’d like to see. However, that’s not what happened. I already have a girlfriend…I don’t need two people going through all my private stuff.

  • Zoom

    Zoom

    via Cort Freeman on Canva

    Wouldn’t working from home during the pandemic, or still today, have been much more enjoyable if Zoom wasn’t a thing? We could have been in our PJs for 2 years straight without any sort of self care. Am I the only one who thinks that would have been awesome? Probably. But, come on! We could have had all communication over email or maybe a conference call, but we could have stayed in bed. We all could have been living life like Grandpa Joe from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. That’s the dream! But nope! Zoom had to become a thing and we all had to start getting dressed up (from the waist up) for work. Oh, what could have been…

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