The Legacy of Modern Socialization

Technological advances happen on a daily basis, whether it be in the form of incremental steps or a giant leap. With the exception of medicinal and transportational advances, are technological advances sometimes actually hurting us? Such inventions and/or companies as Netflix and Peapod deliver your item(s) right to your door, so you don't need to take a single step off your property to obtain them.

While the idea of obtaining "goods" through the Internet sounds like a great convenience, it also creates a barrier between you, the consumer, and society. An average consumer - one whom doesn't purchase products through the Internet - almost has to converse and mingle with other people, whether it's with another buyer or a store employee. No matter who you're conversing with, it's still social interaction.

Modern socialization as we know it is quickly becoming a thing of the past. Companies and corporations have made it so easy for us to buy their goods that you can now order a pizza online in certain areas. Not only do you not have to pick up your pizza, but you don't even need to converse with someone on the phone!

Blockbuster, the video-rental and sales giant, is also guilty when it comes to retarding the very essence of socialization. But you can't forget about Netflix either, the business that started the "video home delivery" system in the first place. The company that drained many customers from Blockbuster's customer foundation and capitalized on people's laziness. Wouldn't it be much easier to merely drive to the local video store? Lets be realistic - the video store generally isn't out of the way no matter which town you live in. Wouldn't it be better if you can physically touch the cases, read the descriptions on the back of the display box, and actually interact with an employee? You can easily get recommendations from a video store employee as well, a UPS/FedEx worker generally won't do that, sorry.

"Stop & Shop" is a large super market chain that is generally located in the North Eastern portion of the United States. One defining feature that "Stop & Shop" contains is their home delivery service - Peapod. Peapod delivers your groceries right to your door for a small fee of about $6-$8, depending on the size of your initial grocery order. While some people may benefit from this service - the elderly, handicapped, time-restrained - it's obviously being abused. I know someone that personally works in the Peapod warehouse, and they receive, from what I've heard, about 100-200 orders a day. I remind you that this is only from one store in one day. While it may look like a silly task to analyze, grocery shopping over the Internet that is, it's still constricting socialization in abundance. Lets analyze an "average" visit to the grocery store: You go to the deli and speak with the deli clerk, you talk with customer service employees if there's a problem, you talk with the cashier at check-out, you talk to other department representatives (i.e. bakery, seafood, etc). With Peapod, or any other grocery home delivery service, you generally speak with the delivery personnel, and that's it. The only time I can think of when someone might possibly talk to someone from the grocery store, aside from the delivery personnel, is if there is a problem with their order. In that case, you'll have to either A.) Go to the store yourself - which you should have done initially, or B.) Wait for the driver to go back to the store, fix the problem, and return. Also, there's time slots for home delivery service, so you may have to wait even longer than the mere drive between the store and your location.

While these are only some examples, I am sure you, the reader, can obtain the idea that I am trying to project. But maybe my message seems to have no purpose, no backbone if you will. In this instance I bring in the "What If" factor.

What if you went to the video store and met a new life-changing friend?
What if you were to go to the grocery store and obtain the number of someone you feel is attractive?
What if you merely called the pizza place yourself and brightened the worker's day by making them laugh somehow?

These ideas may seem minuscule, but there's always that "What If" factor. You won't find love or friendship within your home, you need to get out into the world and socialize a bit. A small favor, action, or risk that you take may change your life, or someone else's for that matter.