Conveniance

More of an essay i would say

When I wake up in the morning normally the first thing I do is take a shower. However, being the classic 'Generation X' teen my shower would not be the same if I did not take along my iPod and my portable, waterproof stereo. How convenient it is to have access to almost 50,000 songs anywhere I go! Convenience seems to be the catchphrase of modern America. Anywhere you look you find time saving devices and infomercials advertising some super-deluxe-quantum-vacuum that can do your dishes, wash your dog, and even cut your child's hair all by itself. All for just 3 easy payments! Convenience in modern America has allowed for numerous time-saving devices, but is it worth it? What has modern America sacrificed in exchange for these conveniences?

           This morning after shower karaoke, I return to my room and get dressed. After I am fully clothed I reach for my arsenal of electronic equipment. My cell phone, my iPod and my voice recorder all serve as time saving devices. Cell phones today are much more than just a phone. When I worked for Verizon Wireless my boss would always tell me that one day we would wake up to an alarm on our cell phone, shave with our cell phone, jump on our cell phone and fly to work, and after a few business calls on our phone we would then use it to check our e-mail. Although this may be a bit exaggerated, it is not too far from the truth. Modern cell phones are still capable of numerous time-saving tricks. My own cell phone has Bluetooth capability which allows me to talk through a wireless headset and allows me to talk while I drive. It can also take pictures, send e-mails and text messages, chat on MSN instant messenger, check the news, listen to music, use the built-in GPS to find locations, use the built in universal remote to change the channel, and not to mention make phone calls.

           The internet is another huge convenience. Before the internet you would have go to a library and have access to only a fraction of the information that is available online. There have been many times I have been in an argument over some trivial matter such as the name of the 'peanut brittle grandma' from Candyland. This information was accessed in less than a minute and I was a dollar out of the black. Things like research papers are quite a bit easier to complete because there is more information available and in most cases easier to comprehend. Websites like Wikipedia have information from 'Aardvarks' to 'The History of Spider-Man Villains', both of which have come in handy. Other websites like Facebook and MySpace help old friends stay connected and interacting through communication, pictures, and puzzles. All of these things would have been a major inconvenience over a long distance without the internet. Things like e-mail, online chat, and even voice/video chat allow for face to face communication around the globe.  On top of all of that the internet allows for data transfer. Instead of driving to the video store I can simply pay five dollars and download a movie and watch it right there without moving an inch. Not only that; but if I want to order pizza to eat while I watch my movie I simply go to Dominoes.com and order a pizza online. In all honesty, thanks to the internet one could live their entire life without leaving the house.

But has this convenience gone too far? In moderation these conveniences seem to be a good thing, but when used in excess our convenience items tend to hurt more than they help. Fast food is a great example of an excessively used convenience. Restaurants like Burger King and Taco Bell serve cheap food for the on-the-go person. Things like the drive thru provide a convenience for those of us on our way to work who do not want to get out of our cars. However the food provided at these types of establishments is not exactly what the average person would call healthy. Obesity is quite literally a huge problem within the United States. This is no doubt the result of the convenience-based lifestyle that we as Americans embrace. Even workout gear is bulking up on their convenience methods. Things like the Bowflex Home Gym allow for a quick and convenient workout. Other things like protein shakes help speed up the building of muscle mass, how convenient. All of these facts lead to one final conclusion: Americans are getting lazier by the day.

           Another downfall to the 'Convenience Age' is also its greatest perk. The internet has made as many steps backward as it has forward, making the internet's advance in convenience for the human race look something like the cha-cha. For example, online pornography is one of the fastest growing industries in the world and what is worse is that there is almost no moderation beyond a warning that says 'No one less than 18 years of age allowed'. With convenient access by anyone old enough to click a mouse our children are being conveniently exposed to so much more than any other generation before us. Other websites likeproanna.com is a website advocating anorexia nervosa and lists the benefits to not eating in order to lose weight. Howtodie.com lists several ways and techniques on how to kill oneself more effectively.

The Human Race is a funny one. In the way we eat and move we sacrifice quality for speed. Every attempt at progress carries with it a double standard. On one end it helps and the other it hinders, making the idea of convenience a bit contradictory. Convenience can either help or hurt us. Its effects depend completely on the consumer. I would encourage you to examine yourself and your life habits and determine if you're helping or hurting yourself with your technology. Convenience is a gift that, if used correctly, can help us become more productive than ever before.