A stance on the i called to say i love you by james frazen essay examples

After reading the article by James Frazen ‘ I called to say I love you’ I chose to base my stance on the article that relates most to James Frazen views on technology: a Research Note on Privacy, data protection and emerging sciences and technologies.
Most of the articles that James Frazen writes attract a lot of attention as they are normally controversial. This one was no different. It is even more controversial as it admonishes the overuse of our beloved social networks and our favorite gadgets, such as our mobile phones, that have become such a large part of our daily lives that the thought of living without them is troublesome.
He does not deny the advantages of the existing technology. In fact he goes on to say that he is an avid user of the blackberry and its accompanying gadgets.( Frazen 1) New technology has greatly improved communication and has generally made life easier. Social networks have aided in the reunion of old friends, global communication and generation of new friendships. (Friedewald 61)But with the growth of more ingenious technologies, the concept of privacy has been thrown out the window.
In order to create a profile for face book and any other social network available, one has to provide a host of personal highly sensitive information such as one’s name, residence, place of work to ambiguous information such as one’s likes, interests and hobbies. After a profile has been created, like minded individuals send friend requests and the socialization begins. Fun right? The predicament occurs when any one with half a mind to get their hands on a computer are privy to such information to use in whichever way they wish to. It is as easy as typing the name of the subject that tickles their fancy and hitting the search button on any of the vast search engines available on the internet today.
In order to protect and market the use of their products, many conglomerates have been defining and redefining the definition of privacy (Friedewald 61)as social network users started becoming increasingly aware of the consequences that the sharing of such copious amounts of private information poses to them.
Privacy is a constitutionally given right that every human is entitled to, if they so wish to claim it. Though there have been many definitions’, the basic principles of this phenomena remain the same. All and sundry has the right to protect their personal data from the public eye. Each person can lead their own life without exterior interference and they have the right to be in private at any one time. Balanced against other social values, the phenomena seems to reduce in importance thus prompting a quick response to sensitize the society on the folly of their ways, as James Frazen is clearly trying to accomplish. (Friedewald 61)
One of the most advantageous and the most detrimental of effects of the internet is the ability to store information for time on end. (Friedewald 62) All the digital information that we unknowingly supply for anyone to see is stored almost permanently in multiple databases. This allows unlimited access to private information for unlawful use, though cases of cyber criminals are still very law in number (Friedewald 61). James tries to highlight this, in his own way of course, but it is gratifying to see that our beloved face book is now taking measures to limit the number of people who can access the personal information of another party. Though it is not fool proof, it is a step forward in protecting the users of such networks.
The other controversial aspect of James’s article is his rant on the various disadvantages of mobile phones (Frazen 2). The use of mobile phones has taken the world of communication by storm. As James points out, one day they were nonexistent, the next they were a luxury for the rich and suddenly the world could not survive without them (Frazen 1). The advantages of the new gadget were tremendous. From turning the world into ‘ a global village’ to speeding up the growth of global companies due to effective communication, to providing endless job opportunities for a millions of people, the advantages of this technological marvel cannot be ignored.
The detrimental effects, however, are as horrifying as the advantages are awe inspiring. Most of the article goes on to explain the disadvantages of the mobile phone, which is at one point appears satirical mainly because of his interesting choice of title and his introductory paragraph where he brags about his blackberry. He seems as affected as the rest of us that is until he starts to denote his own views.
The most adverse of effects of the mobile phones is the way it has negatively affected normal social interaction. People do not undertake in normal conversations as they used to. Antisocial behaviors such as texting in the presence of others have taken root. Members of the same household don’t even talk as much anymore.
Accidents have been caused due to the addiction to these gadgets. We are concentrating more on what is on the screens of our phones rather than what is on the road in before us. This endangers ourselves and others, all for something that we can do after we have safely reached our destination. He greatly critics the level of addiction that we have immersed ourselves into, so much so that our own safety means so little.
The wide spread use mobile phones by criminals is also a negative byproduct of this device. Devious acts are planned and some are even executed over the mobile phones as they are highly flexible and are nowadays almost impossible to track due to the measures being undertaken to promote privacy.
The moral erosion of our cultural value is another issue that James zeros in on. The fabrication of lies via the mobile has become almost normal in daily life (Frazen 2). People lie about where they are whom they are with and what they are doing and the poor receivers who are being lied to cannot verify the truth of these statements. It is quite unfortunate really.
The health hazards that prolonged use of mobile phones cause have also been uncovered in recent research projects that have been undertaken. The most affected part is the ear as continued blasting of voices cause complications that can lead to deafness. Some cancers and brain diseases have also been contracted from overuse of the cell phone. Eyesight problems and finger deformities have been known to occur in crazed users though rare. However, all this can be prevented by proper use of the devices.
James points out that he missed the easier times where today’s lengthy emails could be said in a handful of words (Frazen 2). He praises the invention of the television for personalizing the movie-watching experience and the invention of earphones which helps in blocking out undesirable noises from the surrounding environment (Frazen 2) These, I think, are the words of a man who much prefers his company rather than that of others.
He defines privacy as the ability to deny the masses the choice to dig in to the private lives of others and discredits technology in that it bombards people with information that they would much rather not deal with (Frazen 2). He critics the television for showing boring programming that he still watches enough to critic in detail and the ‘ slow’ pace at which technology advances doesn’t escape his attention (Frazen 2). He much prefers the previous version of created technology and he thinks development is not beneficial.
He however acknowledges that these are the views of an old man, which the young would not understand. This is true. He seems not to understand how to use new technology and this annoys him very much so (Frazen 3) His are the views of a loner who has lived for so long in his solitary bubble that interaction perpetuated by new technology he views as bothersome (Frazen 3).
Reading his essay does bring to our attention how much we have given up for technology. It shows us the disadvantages that we may close our eyes to as the advantages appear so great in comparison. The adverse effects we view as necessary evils we must endure. He has done what so many other authors are doing, to enlighten us so as to nip the negative effects of technology that we do not care to admit in the bud.
His essay is very interesting to read. He put down his views in unique ways. This essay is a good read. If for nothing else, it is thoroughly entertaining.