1984 to Future Shock!

I have saved the insightful memories from the 1970 era in my memory bank. According to my sons, it's the era that is considered to be a semi-prehistoric period when Donny Osmond first roamed the earth. I remember the day that my English teacher introduced George Orwell's book, 1984, which he wrote in 1948 (hmm...interesting) as our next reading assignment. It sounded like a world I could hardly fathom that was light years away. However, I'm not sure why I was so shocked because I, of course, had been well-indoctrinated into the world of George Jetson...and Jane, his wife. (got the song in your head? ok...let's move forward) I sat mesmerized as my teacher gave a brief overview of what Orwell's ominous thoughts about what lay ahead for us. From Orwell's description, he painted an image of the opposite of a utopian existence in 1984. (or maybe he had knowledge about the imminent disco phase that was fast-approaching) He, however, wrote it while suffering from a severe case
of tuberculosis. Perhaps, that was his excuse for his menacing predictions.

Our next reading assignment was Future Shock by Alvin Toffler, a qualified futurologist and sociologist. He had written it in 1970 and it was filled with more scary predictions for our modern world to come. Toffler described it as "too much change in too short a period." He felt that the modern technological changes that lay ahead would be too much for people to accept, leaving them "future shocked" and with "information overload."

Now -- advance forward to 1976: I was a freshman at Meredith College enrolled in a Home Economics class. I'll never forget the day the teacher had the first microwave we'd ever seen on display for our gawking purposes. We all watched in amazement as she popped an actual bag of popcorn out of thin air-- an amazing feat! Was Toffler, perhaps, right and this was "information overload" and we were a bunch of girls who were essentially "future shocked?" No -- cancel that -- it definitely had a utopian feel to it!

Around 1984, (note the date) modern technology had once again worked its magic by making it technologically possible to actually go to a store and rent a movie?? -- rent a movie -- rent a movie!!! -- WOW!...what an incredible concept, we all thought. This is living proof that George Orwell got it wrong when he was thinking that the world would be the antithesis of a utopia. Renting a movie and watching it in the comfort of our homes IS utopia! Toffler, proven wrong again.

Advance Forward to the 1990's: The cell phone infiltrates modern day life en masse, along with its assortment of amenities. I have played along so well with this advancement to the point of actually calling or texting my son on his cell phone while we are both in our home at the same time!?!? I was upstairs one night absorbed in a movie and did not want to budge. My son was in the den with a friend and the dog. I text messaged him to please let Freckles outside to go to the bathroom. (that's our dog, not his friend.) My son may have seen it as "information overload," but to me, it was utopia -- once again!!

I will have to admit, however, that when I was first introduced to the world of text messaging, I was inept in my skills. I awkwardly pecked out my initial messages. It was a form of "information overload" for me for awhile -- before becoming a neat way to communicate. Still in my infancy stage, my oldest son text messaged me to let me know he was home from an out of town trip. I was getting my fingers ready to peck out "Great!" However, I pushed the first letter and then accidentally pressed the send button. In essence, my reply to my son for having arrived home safely was "G." I then had to make a follow up call on the old-fashioned telephone to explain. He answered the phone laughing at my pathetic lack of modern day skill.

Advance forward to my final analysis: Obviously, the world will keep advancing technologically throughout the course of history. (can't wait for the cars that drive themselves.) I can only hope that no matter how modern the world becomes, it does not interfere with the whole point of our existence -- to find value in human contact, as we enjoy laughing, talking, crying, loving and connecting with each other...a never-ending form of utopia! ( best spent while watching a rented movie as popcorn pops in the microwave.) I'll text message "G" to that!!