I had a phone call from Penfold yesterday. He was at Stanstead, awaiting his flight to Corsica, where he will Hike for 15 days on a walking holiday. Frankly, I would rather sacrifice my Pink heels and Pink handbag to my neighbours slavering dog! The weird thing about this phone call was that he called me on his mobile from the airport. Why is this weird, I hear you say? Because Penfold refuses to use a mobile - that's why! He hates mobiles and has the most unbelievably uncool mobile I have ever seen in my life. Not that it bothers me - each to their own etc... I listen to Van Morrison - tough - doesn't make me a social pariah.
I suppose what shocked me was his acceptance (at last) of Mobile technology. He is not a technophobe, far from it. He probably knows more about computers than you and I have forgotten. He is an IT Consultant and teaches a lot of people to be patient and understanding of Computers. I have grown up with the 'Pute, have driven most of them but have a large distrust of the 'inanimate object' that has become the daily focus of our lives.
I am superstitious about the damn thing. I clean it, talk to it and shout very bad words at it. The last thing I did this to was the large Office Photocopier that was the bane of my life when I was trying to get a massively important report out for my Boss. Yes - I did have a past life as an American Corporate PA - about the most back stabbing environment you could wish to be in. So this toughie still manages to treat a machine as though it was a human being.
I saw a news report this week about a Robot, engineered by a small Cornish company called Engineered Arts, based in Penryn. The Robot is called a Robothespian and will welcome visitors to The Kennedy Space Centre this Autumn. The Robothespian is 5ft 9. Imagine arguing with that, she says being at least 5ft 4!
I suppose that we all have out moments with 'things technical' but our lives are changing, the goal posts are moving and we are accepting it at a fast moving pace. I was reading through some of my early Donut Child posts tonight. Just a trawl through memory lane, when Donut Child was just a quiet thing, only being read by about 6 people a day. Donut Child has become quite the monster and every post I write puts me under more pressure. I am grateful but bewildered by its following. The point I am trying (badly) to make is how the Internet has crept upon us all. Silently, stealthily and we embrace it like a long lost friend.
Are we all so lonely that we are unable to communicate with each other? I think the Internet is secondary to the Mobile Phone. The Mobile gave us such a sense of freedom that we now eagerly accept technology and do not question it. I have a read a few articles about Facebook this week. Most of them, talking about privacy. HELLO, if you post your details on Facebook or other Social Networking sites then you do so, voluntarily. There is no 'Great God' Internet that impels you to do this.
The other article I read was a bit more honest. The 'She Bitch' AKA Amanda Platell (Daily Mail columnist) was at least up front about Social Networking sites. I never thought in a million years I would be quoting her but at least she tackled the subject head on. If you want to play with Facebook/Twitter/ My Space, then on your head be it. If you want to post your most intimate information/bank details/personal measurements then YOU are responsible. Social Networking sites are not!
I have travelled a bit this summer and what struck me was that whilst we were all in the same situation...IE, stuck on a hot, slow train/coach/boat.. no-one spoke to each other. We were all too busy texting, catching up with FB and talking on our Mobiles. This does not happen in Europe. In Spain., everyone says Hola to each other. Doesn't matter if you are getting out of a lift or walking along the beach. There is a different attitude. Old customs persist.
Perhaps Penfold is not such a stick in the mud. Maybe he understands a lot more than we do. Think about it....
Namaste
Muse x
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