The other day, my daughter sent me a photo of herself about to attend an in-person class at her university. I was stunned.
It made me realize a couple of things. First, it brought home to roost how extremely different (and difficult) life as a student is these days. Secondly, it made me understand that we have really moved into a new age where the screen is really in your face. As if it weren’t bad enough to have to get out of the way of people are walking head down on the screen of their mobile or how often we are stuck in front of the screen, zooming at home or in some makeshift office space. Now, students are being forced to don an additional screen for in-person classes.
And then we also have some extraordinarily long (socially distanced) queues at testing centers for individuals to be screened for the presence of Covid-19 or its antibodies. Yet another screen.
Bottom line: We have veritably entered into a new age of screens. How much of an impact will all these screens have on our future (not to forget on our kids’ education)? What will be the impact on mental health? How will our relationships change?
A part of me believes (and hopes) that the pendulum will have to swing back in favour of a lot more human contact. I hope we’ll be able to take some of the positive habits (e.g. washing hands) and regain some greater form of civility despite all the devices, layers and screens between us.
What does this post make you think and feel? Please drop in your comments and thoughts!
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Our survival instincts are so strong (I’m always reminded of The Pianist for survival instincts) that we do cope very well. It is worrisome when we think of the impact of all this on mental health but I am positive it is not going to be as bad as it is projected. We are not fragile beings.
Yes I hope n pray too that we get back to more in-person existence. However, when we are not given too many life choices even on a regular basis is when we turn resilient, and learn to find beauty in the brokenness. This has been the case with me most of my life. And with many others now.
A most interesting set of comments Ginza. One thing I feel we are missing in our general education is the notion of hardship and challenging rites of passage. Maybe this whole pandemic will serve as such for the younger generations (not to mention ourselves)?