For clarity, we have employed the adjective, “Societal” before the dynamic noun,” Evolution” to distinguish our intended theme from the classic Darwinian use of the term. Darwin’s classic, secular explanation of the origin and progress of the earthly species is fundamentally grounded on the development and inheritance of physical traits, advantageously adaptive to survival and procreation in the presenting physical environment. Our chosen theme is distinguishable from that of Charles Darwin since its chosen context is not relevant to the subject of adaptive physical traits (or” mutational” development) enabling survival. It is specifically and narrowly confined to our perception of human transformational behavior and mindset, responsive to modern technology’s exponential “advances,” notably, computerization.
The present writing notes the striking contrast in humankind’s regressive alteration in perception and evolved societal lifestyle (“evolution)” responsive to the rapid and revolutionary changes in technology as compared with the same existing only less than one century ago., It is our considered view that metaphysically and fundamentally, humankind’s resultant changes in perception and lifestyle have far more humanistic, societal import than the facile convenience afforded by such advancements.
For reasons of practicality, and brevity, we have selected modest, but illustrative, samples of such changes. Moreover, our discussions of such observed social changes (social evolution) are relatively brief since many have been amply included within the scope of previous essays.
[Interactive communication] We have consistently maintained that computer (smartphone) communication in its signature transmittal of impersonal and inexpressive digital symbols to a small, lighted screen of another’s like device, and responded to (in the like manner) at a subsequent time, by bright comparison with natural interaction (in person or by telephone) is socially and emotionally inadequate; such inadequacy as reported, often portending feelings of loneliness, insularity, and even depression. The absence of the assurance of a recognizably nuanced voice and the untimely response from the conversant has resulted in a notable unhealthy, impact on society, particularly, the young; the latter, as reported, often characterized by increases in episodes of anxiety and depression. The negative impact of said digitally, impersonal “advance” was exacerbated by the occurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic, which mandated the prophylactic separation of individuals.
[The Family] We are old enough to remember a time and tradition when families routinely spent time together at meals, vacations, and holidays and often in the evenings, listened together to the family radio for news and programs. The latter activity was later upgraded to the mutual watching of a small screen, black and white television, which progressively improved to a large screen color television. The programs, themselves, advanced from primitive offerings (ex. Howdy Doody, Milton Berle) to todays, virtually unlimited access to popular sports, sophisticated programs, and choices of (Roku) films.
The radio, as mass entertainment, is virtually dead as is, lamentedly, the tradition of familial activities and general togetherness. In many cases, the former “family” dynamic has now functionally morphed into an analogous, “Bed and Breakfast” relationship among family members; the nature of the latter, often exemplified by younger family members privately addressing their smartphones, held under the table at family meals for conversational or other use. In our view, the traditional context of “family” was further downgraded by the stated, computerized impersonality of interaction. In addition, the context of the stereotypical family contemporaneously portrayed by the entertainment industry has furthered the morphing of the close, and self-sustaining unit to a mere familiar, functioning, legal entity.
[Letters, Shopping, “Fast Food.”] We are somewhat dubious as to the extent of the functional utility of the U.S. Post Office Department, given the apparent and truly unfortunate extinction of social letter writing. The ubiquitous use of hand-held digital cell phones for facile messaging has, inarguably, replaced said uniquely valuable mode of, thoughtful and deliberative communication. Even the mailing and joyful receipt of greeting cards have been replaced by computer transmissions.
Gone are the days when Alice and Sara would participate in a “shopping date,” viz., getting together for “window shopping” and lunch. General shopping at stores does exist to some degree, but most purchases are made by computer and delivered by carriers such as Amazon or FedEx. Returns are similarly effectuated (by computer and truck). Many retail establishments have not survived this evolutionary, commercial change in behavior.
Supplementing the evolving impersonality concerning the decline in family traditions has been the advent and pedestrian facility of “fast food” franchise outlets. For our active and mobile society, especially for the youth and young adults, street-accessible cheap hamburgers (“burgers”) and French fries, pizza, and tacos, have, in large part, replaced family meals such as roast beef and vegetables or roast chicken with potatoes. In large part, the benefit of social, nourishing, and leisurely enjoyed meals and accompanying social interaction has gone the convenient, and unaesthetic route of facile, convenience, sacrificing the ritual folkway of mealtime ritual and culinary pleasure.
[Sexual mores, dating] We can remember that following a pretty girl’s providential acceptance of a (nervously expressed) request for a Saturday night date, the following episode, (or a slightly varied factual version) would ensue. When the awaited time, perhaps 7:30 P.M. arrived, the young man, after checking his hairdo, would ring the doorbell, encounter the father of the girl, and wait until she was ready to go with him to the movies; the latter event, often preceded by some precautionary instructions from the mother.
The ensuing events, typically, were as follows. After the conclusion of the first of the two features the young male dater, might by hesitant and anxious degrees, bravely place his arm on the top edge of the girl’s seat back, which often stiffly and painfully remained in place, until the (mutually distracted) end of the second feature. Thereafter, the two, customarily, would go to the local diner or luncheonette for an ice cream soda and then, return to the girl’s home. At this perilous juncture, the male suffered from the anxious issue as to the permissible adventure of bravely attempting to kiss the cute female “on the lips.” Traditional conferences by the young man and his intimate friends, the following Sunday morning, would dwell on the valorous (or quixotic failure) of the male success at “kissing on the first date.”
The evolved change in mores can simply and cursorily be described by a brief reference to a viewed televised discussion during which the interviewed young female indicated, among other notable details, that she customarily spends a lot of money on her “dating panties.” The radical evolution of behavioral “folkways” can be attributed to an immodest “sophistication” derived from the portrayal of male-female behavior by popular entertainment sources such as cinema, theater, and public print sources.
We might cite innumerable additional instances of perceived social evolution, however, we presume that they would uniformly evince similar characteristics; the tragic and unhealthy decline in the caliber and value of humanistic relationships in thoughtless and disadvantageous exchange for facile convenience.
-p.
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