When I was a student long ago at USC, I wrote a paper analyzing the impact of technology on our community and how technology could one day empower relationships and personal development; ultimately, make our community stronger and healthier.
Unfortunately, since then technology has been mis-used resulting in exactly the opposite. This phenomenon was predicted by Ferdinand Tonnies in his social theory (Gemeinschaft vs Gesellschaft), which I was analyzing in the paper I wrote. In summary:
Gemeinschaft (communal society) - relationships built on simple and direct face-to-face relations resulting in natural and spontaneously arising emotions. Old school rural societies where communities came together.
Gesellschaft (associational society) - society based on economic, political, and self-serving interests that weaken bonds of family, kinship and religion. Modern cosmopolitan societies where human relations are more impersonal and indirect.
I truly believe the pendulum is finally swinging back from Gesellschaft to Gemeinschaft - we long for personal connection, growth and healthy relationships. It's how we use technology that will determine if we are able to accomplish this goal.
This is a big challenge though.
I believe we can do this through social enhancement. A community that comes together in-person and online to connect in a more meaningful manner i.e. discussing their challenges and helping each other overcome them. Sometimes with professional help because I believe therapists, coaches and mentors can unleash our full human potential.
This is my challenge. It's a big one. I hope you'll join me and all of us at OOTify.
Thank you for this post, Ravi. It clarifies what many of us understood intuitively. Technology has the capacity to connect us, and to divide us. It's up to us to use it in ways, as you point out, that enhance our integration-like this Fabric--and create community, not competition.