Flourishing

This is part 2 of our series based on The Economist’s special report on the ways wireless technology is altering society. In the last post I wrote about how these technologies are allowing us to be physically mobile in a way that hasn’t been possible before (through advancements in laptops, smartphones, etc). In this post I want to explore how sociologists are mapping the ways that relationships and society is changing.

I’ll be interacting with “Family Ties,” on page 11 of The Economist’s section by the title, “Nomads at Last.”

Basically, it seems that the techno-bedouinism we’re talking about is transforming our social cohesion. Here it is in summary form: we’re getting closer and closer to those we already know. That closeness, however, is almost precluding social interactions with people we don’t know.

The article gives a surprising example that may ring true to many of you. Norwegian sociologist Richard Ling was standing on his front porch saying goodbye to some friends who had been visiting his home. Up walks the plumber he had called to come and fix a broken pipe. It just so happens that the plumber was talking with his wife (on his phone). With not so much as a “by your leave,” the plumber walked directly into Ling’s home pausing only to remove his shoes.

What was happening here evoked a response from Ling (as a sociologist) that might be lost on me until after the fact. He was excited. On display before him was one of the fundamental tensions of life in a nomadic society. In one moment, the plumbers interaction with his wife (mediated by a phone) was in competition with his (unmediated) communicating with Ling. For an even more bizarre example, remember Rudy Giuliani answering his mobile phone and talking to his wife, while addressing the National Rifle Association. It was one of those, how shall we say, campaign-ending moments despite the awkward applause following his painfully protracted farewell.

In Linger’s situation and Giuliani’s we see mediated conversation (with a close relative) trumping unmediated conversation with a total stranger. The same happens every time you’re behind that dude in Whole Foods who simply cannot get off his phone while he coordinates the next two hours of his life with all the precision of a team of Recon Marine’s calling in a air strike. The goal? Getting the kids here, here, and here while picking up this, this, and this for dinner.

What is more, the data substantiate Mr. Ling’s experience. Using data from Norway he established that 50% of mobile-phone calls and text messages go to the same three or four people, all of whom are typically within 6 miles of the caller. Further validation comes from a study at Middlebury College (in Vermont) that found that undergraduates were calling home, on average, ten times per week. Growing up is hard to do.

A say byproduct of the new, high levels of cohesion and connectedness between friends and relatives is that it is increasingly difficult to meet strangers. In the parlance of sociology, strong ties (such as relations and close friends) are reinforced and weak ties (such as strangers and acquaintances) are further weakened. You know how awkward the church meet and greet is. We may all be member of the church community, but where that community is large enough to have total strangers sitting near one another all the weight of societal trends is pulling against our ability to form relationships.

Not only is this sad, but it is a challenge that ought to be addressed by the Christian community. Many mocked when last year the Vatican released its ten commandments for motorists, or some such thing. While to many Protestants it seemed, on its face, ridiculous a reading of the document shows that Catholicism is seeking theological engagement with the technology that is shaping our society. This is, of course, the church’s role. By way of criticism it might be apropos to suggest that the Vatican is a wee bit late in addressing the motorcar, but in principle it is a fantastic and important corrective word.