Letter to the Editor
The latest Apple of our 'i'
In the biblical story of Adam and Eve, they fell victim to temptation and ate from the apple (the tree of the knowledge of good and evil). It led to shame (their naked bodies), isolation (hiding from the Lord), deceit (the first lie), and divisiveness (between the couple). It ended with their banishment from the Garden of Eden and a life of “painful toil.” The rest, as they say, is history.
The modern world also has an Apple that catches our eye. It is the iPhone, the iPad and the Apple PC. And these devices also often lead to isolation, deceit, divisiveness, even shame. Not by their nature, but because of ours.
On their own, these devices are valuable tools to help us connect, stay informed and conduct research. We can call, message and text our family and friends. It allows us to follow people and current events on platforms like FB and Twitter. And we never lack knowledge because we can always Google it! These are all good things.
But there are bad things also. Too much of a good thing can be a bad thing. A lot of us are on our smartphones for hours at a time. We immerse ourselves in our own virtual reality. We disconnect from the natural world and our interactions become less personal.
Our view of the world can become distorted. We favor information sources that reinforce our biases. It exposes us to disinformation, deceit, and distraction. Bonds are formed with others who have similar views, sometimes at the expense of longtime friends and family who think differently.
Our view of ourselves can become diminished. We form unrealistic views of other people's lives and suffer from FOMO (Fear of Missing Out). This causes envy, depression and anxiety. These are all bad things.
Maybe less is more. Ash Wednesday was the start of Lent — a 40-day Christian tradition of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving honoring the time Jesus spent in the wilderness. It would seem like a perfect time for a digital disconnect. A return to “the garden,” at least for a little while.
Randall Rousselo
Roscommon
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Letter to the Editor: The latest Apple of our 'i'
