Skilz

There are few blogtivities (which is a new word that I just made up) in the virtual world more pointless than directing attention to a blog entry by the inestimable Glenn Reynolds, of Instapundit fame. Not a bad thing to do, just unbelievably redundant, because, if Glenn has already linked to it then, ergo, everyone...no, I mean literally everyone... probably already knows about it.

Nevertheless, I have emailed this excellent little article written by Glenn for the Popular Mechanics website to several people today, so I figured I might as well post it here as well.

I am in complete agreement with the observation that, as our lives generally become more technologically advanced, and as the traditional social institutions of marriage and and responsible parenthood pitch and roll queasily on the roiling seas of cultural decline, that people have lost touch with some of the basic, important life skills.

What is more important? Being able to set up a wireless router or being able to change a tire? Knowing how to start a campfire or finding just the right avatar for your Second Life persona? Knowing how to shoot a .22 accurately or figuring out how to post video to your blog?

All of these things can be worthwhile, but we need to remember that implied in the use of the term "virtual", so often used to refer to things related to computers, video gaming, and the whole online lifestyle, is the opposing and complementary term, "actual".

My point is simply, again, that we need to make technology work for us, not against us. It needs to integrate into our lives in a useful, creative, and empowering manner. It needs to serve us and make our lives better, and not suck the energy, time, and motivation out of us.