By Jonathan Franzen

TECHNOLOGY PROVIDES AN ALTERNATIVE TO LOVE

“The world of techno-consumerism is therefore troubled by real love, and that it has no choice but to trouble love in turn.”

THESIS

• Meaning that the world of technology will always be hurt by real love and vice versa.

Franzen is able to support his thesis by giving the example of Facebook and how it allows you to know so much about a person in just a few minutes. He believes that it is a shortcut when getting to know a person and that getting to know a person without the help of Facebook is much better.

Main points:• Technology is like a person you are in a relationship with, but

instead of receiving anything from the relationship, it only gives. • Technology is a great enabler of narcissism.• Trying to be perfectly likable is incompatible with loving

relationships.• Love can be painful, so that is why some people stick to the concept

of “liking” something since it does not have as much value as love.

“The Negative Effects of Technology on Relationships”

Audra Jones, the author of this article, believes that technology is harmful towards relationships. She uses herself as an example of how technology does not help relationships blossom, considering the fact that she is a single girl in her late twenties. Jones believes that texting is insincere compared to a phone call and that taking a call or text during a date is completely rude. She believes that Facebook, although good for social networking, is a way to become insecure with the person you are dating because their friend of the opposite sex happens to post something on your significant other’s wall. She thinks technology can at times be helpful, but when it comes to dating, the old fashioned ways work better. From writing love letters and picking up dates from their houses, Jones believes that these qualities are much better in a significant other than knowing that they have 756 friends on Facebook.

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Technology and Relationships

• Both Franzen and Jones believe that technology does not help relationships.• Both believe that Facebook does

not help relationships blossom because it causes unwanted feelings and brings out insecurities.

• Jones believes that the old fashion way of dating someone is better than using technology to enhance your relationship.• Franzen thinks that technology

allows a person to like things more because it is safer than loving things and becoming too attached.

Similarities Differences

What is technology to us?“To speak more generally, the ultimate goal of technology, the telos of techne, is to replace a natural world that’s indifferent to our wishes – a world of hurricanes and hardships and breakable hearts, a world of resistance – with a world so responsive to our wishes as to be, effectively, a mere extension of the self.”• Do you think agree with Franzen that technology is an extension

of ourselves?

Technology: Good or Bad in Relationships?Jones believes that the old fashioned way of dating benefits

relationships more, but what do you think? Has the growth of technology allowed relationships to grow stronger, or has it taken

away from dating experience?

Bibliography• Franzen, Jonathan. "OP-ED CONTRIBUTOR; Liking Is for Cowards.

Go for What Hurts." The New York Times. The New York Times, 29 May 2011. Web. 13 Oct. 2012. <http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/29/opinion/29franzen.html?pagewanted=all>.

• Jones, Audra. "The Negative Effects of Technology on Relationships." The Negative Effects of Technology on Relationships. Knoji.com, 10 Mar. 2010. Web. 14 Oct. 2012. <http://relationship-psychology.knoji.com/the-negative-effects-of-technology-on-relationships/>.