I received an email today, one that has been around the Internet for at least a couple of years. In that email it quotes Albert Einstein as saying, “I fear the day that technology will surpass our human interaction. The world will have a generation of idiots.” Along with this quote are pictures of young people, the majority of whom are engaged with their cellphones and not the people they are with. The photos are below.

It is doubtful that Albert Einstein ever made such a quote, although some believe that he may have made something resembling this and as is the case in today’s Internet circus, someone(s) have taken it upon themselves to edit quotes, or simply make them up in order to stir the emotions of people.

Regardless of if or what Albert Einstein might have said, I’ll steal the quote, change it a bit and present it as an observed fact and my own perception of things, rather than some bit of social prophecy. The day is now hear that technology has surpassed our human interaction. The world has a generation of non thinking, technology-absorbed zombies whose entire lives are controlled by a small piece of electronic gadgetry. It has become the god of choice.

For those that know me well, know that I despise cellphones and basically all mobile devices. Not for what they can do in positive ways, which is very little, but how it has destroyed us as a society. Where once valued, the ability to successfully interact with other humans, to understand their personalities and characters, is a lost and seemingly unimportant and unnecessary part of existence. I pity the person who believes this technology is an equal or better replacement for natural human interaction and interpersonal communication.

A Day at the Beach

Cheering on Your Team

Dinner Out with Friends

An Intimate Date

Having Conversation with Best Friend

A Visit to the Museum

Enjoying the Sights