Are we Overly and Unnecessary connected?

I called my x-colleague in the US over the weekend. She still works for the same telco/wireless manufacturer. I left 3 years ago.

During our conversations, we both admitted we turned off our mobile phones most of the time and only use it when necessary. The last time I sent a text message was months ago, but she is worse, she has never send a text message and she dosen't want to know! We don't want to know about podcasting, Skype and many other multimedia tools because we actually DON'T want to be connected all the time. Furthermore we both prefer to have hardcopies for serious reading so that we can scribber notes and highlight pages as our brains race along.

How advance are we (me and my friend) in the sense of making use of communications/multimedia technology? Are we backward because we are not tuned to all these modern gadgets? OR are we sensible users? Is the world over-connected? How absolutely necessary most of the 'connections' are? For example my friend is complaining the IM feature at her office intranet meant she is constantly distracted by messages coming from her boss (her boss, a non-techi would send messages requesting tech info during her meetings), and others, effectively making many of her days (my friend) unproductive.

One of my MANY managers (they kept changing their jobs for better promotions!) used to cliam proudly she has 'open door' policy. But she was never there. So, would the same effect will one day be the relationship between my friend and her office IM (for example)? She would just refuse to answer the IM messages (thus open-door but never there!). Then what good would be to have the IM feature to start with? Could we wonder alound IF she is the only person in her organization feels that way?

I think people have to make conscious effort to make effective use of the technological tools we are overly shower with (I am easily distracted by messages and things therefore is a SELF-confessed NON-effective person, but see the problems). AND people have to 'think' what their actions can work on other person. A virtual-society is no different than a physical-society. What works and not-works in the physical world should not be any different than the virual environment. Take the case of my friend and her boss, it would be wise from her boss to make appointment with her before hand regarding the meetings. Set out expectations, brief her about the meetings, the kind of inputs expected from her, the time duration of the meeting, who will be at the meeting, ASK if she can assit her with tech info etc. IF the boss is doing that, not only they can pre-discuss the do-and-don't about the meeting, the discussions would clear up many points that might be crucial (therefore effectively the boss would protrate a better picture of herself), my friend would be able to schedule/organize her agenda more effectively, and her mood would be in better shape etc. We must also understand emotion has snowball effect. If my friend is not happy (or happy), her vibes would send out the messages, her mood would affect those around her, her performance would depend on her mood ...

It is good to 'feel' connected. It is good to be able to reach someone when you need them. BUT perhaps we should value the SOS receipents, we should care a bit more. We should also want to make our casual-connections such as calling a friend to say HI, a happy occassion. Having the ease to connect does not mean we should call a long-distance friend at 3 in the morning!

A car is a tool. If we use it correctly it will take us to places. The consequences of misusing it with speed can kill.

Cartoons

The recent cartoons incident with the Moslim allows me the leisure to examine human natures, human power hunger, cultures differences ...

Now I am just wondering if the Moslim would start asking for compensation? Especially in the poorer countries? So far the wrackage happend in their countries. Granted the gutting of the embassies mean lost of what are inside the buildings ...

I am also wondering if 'those power behind' the riots actually did a proper calculations of the LOSSES these riots would bring to them and moslims? I am not talking about material lost. I am more interested in how much the riots and behaviour of the rioters damaged the good name of Islam? I shake my head looking at the huge gaps reveal. Any wonder/understanding why we have so much problems with some of them that reside in the west? The fundamentalists do not belong in the west. It is a wrong environment for them. If they so wish to stay in the west to benefit from the freedom that we enjoy, they THEMSELVES have to CHANGE. Nobody in their sane mind in the free countries would want to turn back the clock like Khomenia did in the 70s in Iran.

Goudstikker collections: Moral? Ethics? Whoes Moral? What ethics?

On Monday 6 Feb, 2006 the Dutch goverment returned 202 of the 267 painting from the Goudstikker collections to the heir of Goudstikker. Based on the principles of 'moral'.

Now here comes the interesting twist: the Dutch goverment and her citizens now has very HIGH MORAL. If I am the heir of GOudstikker I should think more about if I should take the paintings and run. Don't they now have to face the MORAL and ETHIC issues?

Here is the meaning of MORAL according to one dictionary: Of or concerned with the judgment of the goodness or badness of human action and character: moral scrutiny; a moral quandary.

So, fellow Dutch citizens, be happy! We are now a nation with very high moral Standards. Why should we care if we lost our heritage that are rightfully belong to us?

A similar case happened to the Austrian nation in January. Another claimed by Jewish family of some paintings. In this case the family offered the Austrian government 250 millions to purchase the 'returned goods' .. The Austrian governement turned down citing 'TOO EXPENSIVE'. Personally I think is bad taste from the family.

I just wonder, IF the 267 paintings are 267 strayed cats and dogs, or orphanes, would the heires of Goudstikekrs be interested to CLAIM back from the Dutch nation? I know I am mean. But I am also tired of people using such 'heart wrenching' words to make us want to weep for them. I wonder too if the lawyers receive any bonus from winning the case?

When I have time I will update with links and more details.