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Has Technology Killed Romance?

Has Technology Killed Romance?

James Surowiecki once very wisely said, “Technology is supposed to make our lives easier, allowing us to do things more quickly and efficiently. But too often it seems to make things harder, leaving us with fifty-button remote controls, digital cameras with hundreds of mysterious features and book-length manuals, and cars with dashboard systems worthy of the space shuttle.”

Very wise words indeed, as Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and many more have taken over our lives; and we are now robots to technology itself. To say that social networking on a whole has taken over our lives is an understatement. Many women also complain that social networking, along with text and email of course, have contributed to the decline in romance, passion and genuine chivalry from possible male suitors.

Now, instead of a phone call, men are now “poking” you, sending you a “tweet”, or just hitting “like” instead, to get your attention. Oh, the lovely, lovely sound of a poke or a ping on Facebook, versus the ring of a telephone. Not only that, but the excessive amount of flirting and unwise cheating that occur on these sites have led to many break-ups.

Of course one cannot, and should not, blame any social networking site, whether it is Twitter, Facebook, Stumble, LinkedIn or any other site, for the demise of relationships these days; as the intention of the user is the key. However, it certainly does not help to have so many options. Many people, myself included, use Facebook particularly to promote business ventures, connect with friends, and network with others.

However, I, like many women and even men, sometimes become aggravated by a ping, or a poke and often times go offline, just to avoid the unwanted advances. I cringe when I receive unwanted notices from men whom I know are in committed relationships. The decline in marital or relationship bliss can certainly be attributed to our excessive use by many social networks, as not only are we ignoring our partners, but many are using these sites as a “potential hook-up spot.”

One particular gentleman, whose Facebook profile picture showed him sitting with his hands around his girlfriend in a very long and loving kiss, had the nerve to ask me, how was it possible to get with him, as not only did he find me sexually attractive, but I stimulated his mind as well. He also went on to ask if I could, “Please find the time to write a love poem for me as I notice that you are a good writer and I would love to hear sweet nothings coming into my ears from you.”

Appalled and disgusted, I then asked: “So, excuse me Donovan, don’t you have a girlfriend? Do you not live together as a couple?” I asked him, trying my best not to call him the cruel names that popped up in my head.

“Yu know how it go man Sandy,” he typed back to me as fast as he could. “It is what it is.”

“No, Donovan,” I typed back to him. “It is not what it is with me,” as I quickly logged off, telling him that I had to go. The nerve of him!

Gone are the good old days when love reigned supreme and men picked up the phone to call or even send you flowers, to ask if “you could be so kind as to go out on a date with them.” Nowadays, a, “Mama, you look hot in that dress,” or a poke or a tweet should surely entice you to flirt with them.

As a single gal however, my status at most times reads, “Do not poke me or ping me please! If you would like to reach me, please email me (if you have my email address that is), or use my number, if you have it, if you wish to talk! I am not your Facebook mistress, girl on the side, or girl who deserves nothing from you but conversations between 9am and 5pm, while you are at work, stealing your employer’s billable hours during the day!”

Hopefully the message is received in real time, with 140 characters or less, is something that receives over 500 likes, and is the most viewed statement of the day; as that might be the only way to get my message across!

Sandy Daley is a columnist, radio and television personality and actress. She is also the author of “Whose Vagina Is It, Really?” She can be contacted at: Website: www.sandydaley.com, Facebook: womanincontrol@facebook.com, Twitter: twitter.com/whosevaginaisit and/or Email:thesinglegirlspot@gmail.com.

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