Don't text and date

           In the old days, if someone wanted to ask a person out they either did it face to face or at least with a note that said something like: “I like you, do you like me check yes or no.” If they said no, then well it hurt, but at least it was to your face. But as technology has become more developed, we’ve sort of been seeing less and less of each other. With Facebook, Twitter, online dating, and last but not least texting not only do we not have to see anyone to know what their up to, but we can have the luxury of a relationship without the physical attachment. More and more we find ourselves relying on technology to interact with the opposite sex.

             According to MSNBC.com what some of us think is such a good thing, may actually be causing depression. In a way, we use social media and texting as a crutch.  We ask each other out, make dates, and even say that we love someone on Facebook and texting. We even go as far as break up with someone with its help. Rarely do we see someone go up to a person and ask them on a date, instead we get their number so we can ask them that way. Frankly that seems like a lot more work then it should be.

                       

        I’m not going to say I have never seen or heard my friends talk about it. Heck, I’ve been on the receiving end of it, I never said yes and frankly no one should. If a person doesn’t have the guts to ask you out to your face, willing to feel the sharp pain that is rejection, then they’re not worth your time. Gena Grish of the Huffington Post points out in her article that: “We enjoy the sense of emotion conveyed through verbal communication, and texts are very emotionless…While texting is an efficient and easy way to communicate, calling requires more commitment, focus and thought.” USATODAY even compared texting and social networking sites to getting a burger form the drive-thru: Good for a minute, but wanting more. So the question here isn’t if technology is ruining romance, it is there’s no doubt. But what are we going to do about it?

            Here’s my suggestion: Ditch the technology. I’m not saying that you chuck all electronics out of your window and onto the street. I’m saying that you should just leave the phone with your stuff while you go and chat up that person who catches your eye. Or you could do what my professor had my class do a few months ago: a media fast.  For one day, leave your phones off, your iPods unplugged, and your laptops unused and see what happens. You might surprise yourself.