Dietmar Dahmen

               

 I've always been hesitant to trust companies and technology, but when Dietmar Dahmen gave a presentation to our class about how much our society has progressed with technology and smart phones, his charisma almost believed it was a good thing.

                One point Dahmen made was that people are obsessed about being first and being current. Events that happened 10 minutes ago aren't interesting. Video games are now selling out before they even exist. The way information is getting to people is becoming faster, and while this helps keep our world connected, it also makes us more dependent on these technologies.

                Dahmen stated how we are a “generation connected” – which is a generation that thrives on using technology for communicating and distributing different types of information. But what I believe is that our generation is “too connected”.

 Dahmen made many points during his lecture, so for this post I'm going to focus on how cell phones impact us. Smart phones may help us navigate through the city and entertain us through boring lecture halls, but the way people are attached to their tech devices is unhealthy. Dahmen made the point that mobile devices are popular because they’re easy. You can check the weather with a click of a button while simultaneously checking what your friends are up to on your favorite social media site. Technology has crossed to line from being convenient, to becoming addicting.

People can’t turn off their phones; these devices are attached to every person out there. Teens are seen texting away or messaging each other on Facebook. There is an addictive quality to these tech items. When waiting in line or walking to class we have this need to cure our boredom or have the sense we’re doing something. So we reach for our smart phones. Although it may not seem like a big deal, this passive distraction helps people avoid the world and their problems. If people don’t have their phone with them, it can lead to anxiety and other issues. This generation is growing up with less and less face to face socializing, which I believe can lead to other issues that a psychologist could help distinguish.
Smart phones do come in handy yes, but sometimes people should give themselves a break from technology.



Below are some hilarious comics depicting my opinion.

My Initial Thoughts on Advertising

Advertising is abundant in the society we have today. People don’t realize they see advertisements and branding on a daily basis. We grew up with brand names and advertisements; this way of life is hardwired into our brains. Although there is a creative aspect to ads, I believe that advertisements in general are not a good thing.

One negative aspect to advertising is that it affects humans emotionally whether we realize it or not. For example, we see the pretty girl on TV with a tan complexion urging you to buy banana boats sunless tanner. This might trigger an emotional response in the viewer, the pretty girl might make your self esteem lower due to your pasty white skin, your un-airbrushed skin, or your itty bitty A-cups. These types of images are not healthy for young girls who are not confident in themselves or their bodies yet. These advertisements give a false sense of what beauty really is and that's exactly how they sell their products. These companies make people want to look perfect. People spend millions on beauty products. I believe these constant advertisements and images set our perception of what beauty should look like.

We all have had these moments of doubt. Am I skinny enough? Should I get that new iPhone so people know how on top of the technology trends I am? Advertisements aim to trigger these emotional responses so you will give in and buy their products. These companies are getting better and better at this manipulation, so good that we don’t even realize our decisions are being affected. Emotional responses are not the only way these big companies subdue you, but also through branding and referencing. 

Like for example, if you see your favorite TV show character drinking a coke all the time. Coke Cola then might become your favorite drink. Or maybe you watch the X-games all the time, and Mountain Dew is always the sponsor. You might think to yourself... "Wow Mountain Dew seems so extreme. That's all I'm going to drink because I'm extreme too." These sponsors and lifestyle molds are not accidental.  Companies want you to buy their products because you associate them with a certain life that you aim to obtain. (This is where branding takes place).

You may believe you overlook advertising but nobody does. It's everywhere and affects your decisions without you even realizing it. Which is why I personally, believe the negatives of advertising outweigh the positives.