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Technology is incredible.

Have you ever stopped to think about how we have an unlimited amount of information at our fingertips? The other day I had extra time to kill so I was driving around between appointments and decided to fill up my tank with gas.  I passed up one gas station because they were obviously overpriced.  Normally, I’d keep driving to the next station hoping for a better deal, but this day I decided to pull over and try another approach.  Pulled over on the side of the road in Tustin, I typed “Cheap gas station” into the Iphone search engine.  I must have been stopped for no more than a minute, then “ding.”  Just like a hot pocket, there was a new application ready to go within seconds… it gave me multiple options for cheaper gas in a mile radius.

Have you ever had this happen to YOU?

• A car cuts you off on the freeway without a blink of an eye much less a wave sorry. 
• A business man rushes through a door you hold open while cutting everyone off and then jets down the hallway without looking back. 
• A person takes your table and seat at Starbucks even though your items were left there while you get up for a minute.  You come back to grab your things and he doesn’t even acknowledge that you exist.

What’s the big deal?  Just a normal day in Southern California right?  Besides… I hear chivalry is dead.

Well, know this: Chivalry is NOT dead.  Especially, if it’s being chivalrous to yourself that is…

Since the invention of sliced time, it seems like everywhere we turn there’s a quicker version to do everything.  You know what I’m talking about:  the drive-through, the microwave, P90x, text messaging, cliff notes, get rich quick schemes, etc …I could go on… and on… and on… but this probably wouldn’t get read so I’ll give you the quick version or  ”Mc”version

If you look around you can probably find a faster version for just about anything.  Convenient? Yes.  More beneficial?  Sometimes.  Facebook and Twitter are great tools, and yes I’m a believer of how they can enhance our lives through online community(especially with our long distance friends), and give our friends a “quick” update of our lives.  However, what about when they substitute our one-on-one time with someone?  Do you think that you can get the same type of relational impact through a computer that you can get in person?  Are they making us lazier?  I wonder if one day we’ll get all of our birthday wishes via text messages and on our facebook pages instead of in person or phone calls.  Hey, I’ve done it too!  Or how about the boss who lets you go or gives bad news via email or text?  How would that make you feel?  I’ve felt it, and it made me feel like the person was just trying to either avoid conflict or perhaps our relationship wasn’t enough for them to talk to me in person. 

Don’t get me wrong, I love things that are convenient and quick.  I’d much rather use the remote control rather than getting up everytime I changed the TV station.  I do however think there’s a line that we should draw when it comes to people though.  Call me old fashioned, but I believe our relationships with others require intentional effort, and it sometimes means facing conflict face to face.  When we substitute them for the quick or “Mc”version, it can sometimes sends the wrong message and feelings can get hurt.

So what about you?  Do you think we are using all of our “Mc”versions wisely?  What are some you use?  

Quick or “Mc” answers only please!