The Death of Doing

and the birth of the Observation Age

Welcome back to The Workbox. If you are new to The Workbox, I recommend a visit to the Archives. The Archives house all the past articles in one place. They even have convenient tags which you can search through to find the ideal starting point. In this article, we will cover a topic that many of us have personally experienced. In The Death of Doing, I want to explore the effects of social media and the advancement of technology. I also want to discuss some potential outcomes of the ever-increasing technological age we find ourselves in. 

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Photo by Gilles Lambert on Unsplash

Technology and The Observation Age

We live in what is called The Information Age, though I have heard that we now live in The Post-Information Age. This is due to the mass amounts of information readily available to everyone. As technology increases and becomes more accessible, people become inundated with information, social media, and entertainment. Gone are the days of walking to the library. The Google-It age has arrived in force.

The sheer amount of information flying through invisible internet networks is astounding. The volume of social media platforms is growing, and more people are either jumping off one to join another or too busy watching funny videos. I think this is where the problem creeps in. Though social media strives to create a fun and interactive communal space, it subtly drives us apart. It turns us inward, compels us to press buttons on touch screens, and we forget how to interact with each other. There are some who are advocating for change and using technology responsibly. However, we, as individuals, must make the change. We must use wisdom and discernment (knowledge wisely applied) and find the pathway that honors God the most. 

The overuse and abundance of technology, specifically social media and entertainment, created an observation age. I mean that people have moved from active forces in the world to mere watchers. Unless they comment on our feeds, we avoid our neighbors. The Internet can create global communities, but we seldom know our next-door neighbor's name. We are to be doers of the Word and not hearers only. God made us to be active participants in his creation, not merely watching it on the Internet. 

A Fine Line

There is a fine line when it comes to the use of technology. We should not discard all of it, retreat to quiet communes, and live out our iPhone-free days (though it sounds tempting). But I think the other end of the pendulum is dangerous, too. We created social media and other technologies to use and connect. They designed them to keep us using them even after we think we no longer want to. (hence the term doom scrolling). We find ourselves wondering, "Why am I even on here?" 

There is a balance to discover. First, we cannot let our guard down. These things are tools. We are the users. We can use tools for the benefit of others and the glory of God. However, people tend to forget that phones are tools. They are certainly not advertised that way anymore. We inextricably tie ourselves to these technologies and become dependent on them. How else will I remember all of my passwords?

To move from a watcher to someone who participates in the physical world requires a lot of effort. But, there is a profound benefit in doing so. Getting your hands dirty is a real sensation, a real experience. Feel the dirt under your nails and see the color change on your mud-stained palms. You can look at pictures of gardens or grow one. You can search for montages of mountains or go climb one. There are obvious exceptions, but overall, doing is better. Living is healthier. Be a doer, not a watcher. 

It is important to have a like-minded community, and establishing these relationships is essential in carrying out actions in the physical world. Social media proposes to create a like-minded community, and in a way, it does. However, there is little to no obligation to work through differences to maintain the unity of the community. It offers the opportunity to sit back and watch online. Physical community creates a togetherness that encourages people to unite and work through problems together. 

Watcher or Doer?

Are you a watcher or a doer? The Internet is an amazing invention, but with it comes the incredible responsibility to use it wisely. Apps and websites desire to be used and to drive as much traffic to themselves as possible. One must be alert and use self-control to avoid becoming sucked into the passive process of using. We can watch and observe online chats, or we can invite actual people to our homes and engage in physical conversation. There is something physically satisfying in talking to friends in the living room. There is something exciting in meeting a stranger and watching his face light up when you both reach common ground. 

We are called to doers of the Word and not hearers only. Christians should be front and center in engaging the world around them. Our words should create connection points that lead people to look beyond us. They should see that we are threads tied to the Creator. The Internet is one tool to drive this engagement. We cannot let ourselves fall asleep at the wheel. If we do, we find ourselves in a field away from meaning but lots of "cool" things to look at.  

I encourage you to become a doer. To reach out and engage the physical world around you. Consider writing a letter to a friend, or find that scenic overlook nearby and watch the sunset. Invite friends to your house and make them dinner. Play board games that you are not good at. The goal is to create a lasting community that forges a bond deeper than the internets latest bandwidth. Become a doer.

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