Making A Connection

I always love when topics you are covering in one class can be linked with another. It just makes me feel like the world makes sense and that what my professors are teaching me they aren’t just making up on the spot. The other day, while reading my book for COMM 240, I came across some gems of information. For example; did you know that according to Ronald B. Adler, author of Looking Out, Looking In, “a lack of social relationships jeopardizes coronary health to a degree that rivals cigarette smoking, high blood pressure, blood lipids, obesity, and lack of physical activity.” He also goes on to say that socially isolated people are more susceptible to the common cold and death…no big deal. So humans need to be connected with each other, we need to socialize, this basic fact is proven true by the sheer volume of means by which we have created to be contacted. As I was reading along I got to thinking- ‘good job modern society, fighting off all the side-effects of loneliness with facebook, twitter, cellphones, skype, texting, facetime, chat, etc.’ As I read on though I start to wonder… how much is too much? Can one be too connected? If I am trying to write a blog for my wonderful COMM 322 class, and don’t want to be disturbed, so I ignore your phone call, you can leave me a voicemail. Then text me. Then tweet at me asking if I received the text message. Blackberry users sometimes choose BBM because its faster- oh and you can tell if your recipient opened the message but ignored you anyway. Then facebook or skype chat me. Or write on my wall, or inbox me. Or email me at one of my 3 accounts. The list goes on and on. While being connected with others is healthy, and as we talked about in class can boost some interpersonal relationships, doesn’t the constant connection make your head kind of hurt? Because sometimes it makes my head want to explode.