Remember when cellular devices were unable to fit into our back pockets. What about when an automated washing machine wasn't even a thought. How about the good ole days when humans actually enunciated the word "good-bye" instead of a mere "ttyl?"'
This day-to-day use of technology has affected
our society in more ways than one. It's become so engrafted into our culture
that it is almost impossible to accomplish mundane activities without these
devices. They have made life simpler, more comfortable and - in their innocence
- they are all a blessing.
Yet, time has shown that nothing too good lasts too long. Technology, though made with good intentions, is easily corrupted. It has become marked by the unmistakable stench of human nature's handy work.
Sin #1- Lust... From Xbox to 'Sexbox'
Thrixxx, a video game manufacturer that produces 3D adult videogames, created a virtual sex game for Microsoft's Kinect (the first controller-free mechanism for the video game console Xbox 360) last year. The new game allows gamers 18 and older to experience virtual fondling with various female avatars.Kinect, which was created for the sole purpose of family fun, has now been manipulated for the sexual gratification of frisky gamers with odd fetishes.
Brad Abram, ThriXXX's vice president of business development, calls it "novel, sexy, social, age-spanning, crazy, and a rush to have virtual control at this level."
Kyle Machulis, an expert from
the porn industry, told C-NET News, "Kinect is
obviously a natural technology for this kind of usage since the 'hands-free'
approach means that the user's hands are available for other actions, be it
manipulating the game, or themselves -- or, in this case, possibly both at the
same time."
This is a far cry from the family dance-off on Saturday night, which was one of the apparatus' original purposes.
Though Microsoft plans to fight back, the minds of many excited, young gamers have already been tainted and are in great anticipation of the release of this new game.
Microsoft spokesperson David Dennis said, "This isn't the first example of a technology being used in ways not intended by its manufacturer, and it won't be the last."
Sin#2- Rage... "Gang fight uploaded to YouTube"
YouTube was founded in February 2005 by three men named Steve Chen, Chad Hurley and Jawed Karim in a garage in Melno Park, California. Because of its great success, Google bought the internet video broadcast company for 1.65 billion dollars. According to YouTube's fact sheet, the website is used "as a destination to watch and share original videos worldwide through the Web."
Some say "it was established in order to give people a chance to share their creativity for all to see." Others have used it for comedic relief by uploading hilarious homemade videos or clips from their favorite TV show episode. However, in today's voyeuristic society, one should think twice about the ethics involved in uploading anything on YouTube.
A
frequent user and student at Florida International University, Loukeisha Pierre, said, "At first people
didn't realize that putting information out on the internet, especially a
popular website such as YouTube, would backfire on them."
Pierre's
statement was proved accurate by a brutal beating of a 16-year-old which was
caught on video (by a cell phone bystander) and uploaded to YouTube. According
to witnesses, Derrion Albert was deemed an innocent bystander in a fight that
occurred in Roseland, Chicago in 2009. In an attempt to help a friend, Derrion got
tangled into the dispute and lost his life in the process. Silvanus
Shannon, 19, Eugene Riley, 18, and Eric Carson, 16, were all caught on video
throwing fists and swinging long pieces of wood at the victim. All were charged
as adultswith murder in the first degree.
Albert was said to be an honor roll student and was not known to be affiliated with any gangs. "Someone said he (Derrion) was in the wrong place at the wrong time," stated Annette Holt, mother of Blair Holt (who is a friend of Derrion) "No, he wasn't. He was in the right place. He was coming from school."
The saddest part of this
tragedy was that a young person would rather video tape a beating instead of
defending the high school student or dialing for help. To put fuel to fire,
many teenagers watched this video after the crime was committed for their own
entertainment and made comical remarks about it.
Sin#3- Envy... "My ex-girlfriend/boyfriend is stalking me"
According to Facebook Press Room
statistics, there are more active users on Facebook than there are people in
the U.S. 70 percent of user reside outside of the States. Mark Zuckerburg, creator
of Facebook, designed the social network strictly for college students in Feburary
2004. Facebook has since evolved and its network is now accessible to all
people. Yet, one may call this a bittersweet victory.
Zuckerburg's invention seems to have given stalkers a form of mainstream leverage. With all the personal information that users post on their pages such as pictures, email addresses, and phone numbers, discovering information about your crush, your fall fling or your ex is uber-easy. Not to mention, status updates such as "at cheerleading practice" or "taking a shower" give stalkers a real play-by-play of your life.
Casual
stalking on Facebook has become so popular that it is technologically accepted
and almost encouraged. The practice is so common that there are even new
Facebook groups titled, "My ex-girlfriend/boyfriend is stalking me" or the more
recent "I stalk my ex girlfriend and do
everything she does on Facebook."
There's even a definition for Facebook stalking in the Urban Dictionary: "a covert method of investigation usingfacebook.com, good for discovering a wealth of information about people you don't actually know."
According to avid Facebook user 'Regg-e Rock-it,' "the evolution of Facebook has not only encouraged, but forced Facebook users to stalk their friend's profiles."
He claims that each time the layout of Facebook changes (which occurs
very frequently), creators encourage its user to divulge more information. For
instance, a fairly new feature is when an individual is tagged in a photo, one
is able to discover who was tagged, who did the tagging, and at what time.
Maybe this was not Zuckerburg's intention, but stalkers are definitely
reaping the benefits.
Sin#4- Greed... "I sold my virginity"
Virginity for Sale Project was one of the most bizarre yet successful
auctions in history. Natalie Dylan, who achieved a Bachelor's Degree in women
studies, held an auction for her virginity to pay her way through graduate
school in late 2008. Dylan made an attempt to start her bid on Ebay, but the internet
auction company refused on ethical grounds.
"We live in a capitalist society," said the 22-year-old. "Why shouldn't I be able to capitalize on my virginity?"
Unlike Ebay, ranch owner Dennis Hof thought otherwise. "I think it's a
tremendous idea," said Hof, who owns the Moonlight Bunny Ranch in Las Vegas,
Nevada. "Why lose it to some guy in the backseat
of a Toyota when you can pay for your education?"
According to sources, over 10,000 men
bid on the college grad. This exceeded her expectations, as it reached an
unbelievable 2.5 million dollars.
I understand some people may condemn me, but this is empowering," Dylan
said. "I'm using what I have to better myself."
However, it was a challenge for many to accept the taboo practice of
selling one's body as a legitimate auction.
"She had many other options," explained Rev. St. Hope, a Christian radio personality in Miami, Florida. "If she needed $100,000 to pay for grad school, why didn't she stop at $100,000? The end just does not justify the means."
In the end, her virginity was not
taken by her bidder. His decision was influenced by a guilty conscience and the
urge to be faithful to his wife of many years. Thankfully, Dylan was still
awarded the money.
As an infant, no one was taught how to lie, steal, or cheat. It was instilled
within us from birth. We have taken the phrase "we are only human" to a level
that makes our fleshly indulgences justifiable.
It is unfortunate that things that were once novel and ground-breaking could
be transformed into something that we never anticipated. It is no surprise that
we are the ones to blame.
Therefore, it is only logical that we look not to ourselves to find both the problem's root and the solvent, but we look to someone greater to fix our dysfunctions.