In everything we do efficiency is usually sought. We want everything done faster, cheaper and with the least amount of effort possible. While this may at first glance appear good, I had to question what is given up through this mindset. I realize that several people will completely disagree with what I explain, and several others will not care, but perhaps some will find a thread of truth in it. Every thing we call efficient is actually another layer of separation from the natural world in which we reside. Now whether you are a Christian such as myself, practice another religion or atheism; I think we all can consider this is something quite amazing about a world that sustains our life. We really do miss out by saving time. The catch however is that we are not actually saving time. We practice 'time savings' by microwavable meals, genetically modified foods, machinery, computers, cell phones, technology of any kind really. I notice that as we save time in some places it actually robs out time in other places. For example, I can use my cell phone to save time by being able to talk to my wife, friends or family while I am driving or working, basically anywhere I can slap in a bluetooth. That same device, however, will keep me looking at emails, text messages, fiddling with games, and reading the latest news or weather. This is all time that is robbed. Without phones I may have less talk time with my friends or family, but I seriously question the affect of technology on my daily life and schedule.
Now you have to understand that I work in technological area, in fact I could be called a technical writer to some extent. I use technology and time savings constantly to ad me in whatever it is I do or plan to do, but it robs me of something important. I begin to fail in the recognition of nature, family, religion, and people in general for the sake of efficiency.
Food is of particular interest to me. A few years ago I took the time out of my day to exercise, eat right, and do the things I need to do to maintain a healthy lifestyle. This however took a sharp and sudden turn when I decided that time was more important than exercise and more important than fixing healthy meals. So now I am paying the price, and trying to figure out how to reverse such things, but the indoctrination of our society plants these ideals deep and it is quite difficult to change.
The title of this post is Information Capital and you may be wondering why that is the title with what has been posted thus far. My train of though, as I considered what I do to save time, lead me to realize that we have been trained to just go look up what we need to do, and we don't really master anything. Now I am a communications professional, and though I dare not say I have mastered the subject, I do have some mastery of it. The odd fact is that my work is based around collecting large amounts of information and organizing them into something meaningful. I am constantly collecting information. If we need to make a meal do we whip it up from scratch (not talking to you chiefs out there) from our memory, or do we seek a cook book? For most things, I probably don't know exactly how to do them without seeking some form of information. It would appear that we are taught to seek information, because that makes us lifelong learners. The problem with lifelong learns is that there is never mastery, the student never becomes the teacher in a fine skill or trade. We can BS around it all day long, but in most contexts today we have mainly been taught how to move and compile information in the most efficient way. Think on this a little bit, and consider the worth of information to us. Information is worth money, a lot of money; just look at the price of education. Where will we be if we continue to distance ourselves from these basic elements of life and creation (yea I said creation, get off it).
