Technological Hypocrisy and Temptation

The Internet seems to have the unsettling ability to bring out each and everyone’s inner hypocrite. We condemn the time spent on it, but ups, there go three hours of not sure what. We think Facebook stalking is creepy and sad. Why would you do it? Yes why, why can’t we help ourselves and do it anyway? And then there is the whole copyright thing. Yes sure, it’s not very nice and people should get the benefit of their hard work and all that. But somehow it’s just so convenient to put together a CD for a friend with the exact music that fits the occasion. It’s tempting to watch the latest episode of some series, just because it’s there. And because you can.

 

It’s a bit like this marshmallow experiment. The kids are told if they don’t eat the marshmallow in front of them they’ll get a second one later. Well, same message for the rest of us: if we don’t download illegally we’ll get even more cool stuff later... But look at those kids it’s so hard! Maybe they didn’t know they really wanted that marshmallow but now it’s there and they have to look at it and hold back. Unless someone takes it away they will be tempted. The Internet is our marshmallow, there is so much on there we didn’t even know we wanted. The top 10 top 10 lists, a person from way back who but put such delightfully embarrassing picture on Facebook. And of course the music and films and series and the rest of it. It’s pure temptation and we can’t help ourselves. I suspect that as longs as it’s there all the promises that if only we behave things could be even better and we’ll get another marshmallow won’t do much good. Most of us will condemn eating the marshmallow and then do it anyway. Maybe because, unlike these poor kids desperate for a sugar high, our marshmallow supply hasn’t stopped yet.