Segway into Laziness

Are we getting more and more lazy?

Among us there are technological enthusiasts and technological detesters.  Yesterday, sometime around 4:20 pm I saw something that turned me from a technological enthusiast into a detester. That something is known as "THE SEGWAY".  Just like the able-bodied youngsters in the photo above, I saw a man with fully function-able legs cruising around on his new wheels.  An argument known as "the de-skilling of humanity " is commonly used by detesters of technology.  The de-skilling of humanity involves a technological takeover of our skills.  No longer do we have to know math if we know how to push buttons on a calculator.  No longer do we have to use our hands for product assembly if we know how to operate a machine.  No longer do we have to talk to a real person over the phone if an automated voice can tell us everything we need to know.  And apparently we no longer have to walk... even short distances.  

I am not actually a technological detester but seeing things such as "The Segway" reminds me that those detesters among us have legitimate concerns.  When technology turns from making life a little easier to making laziness a perfectly acceptable alternative, we have a problem.  When technology zaps the creativity that only humans can accomplish, we have a problem.  When the automated customer service rep cannot help you because your problem wasn't included in the, "push 1 for more options" list... we have a problem.  

Let's draw the line somewhere... new things are going to keep hitting the market.  It is up to the individual to draw their own line as to how far they are going to let technology consume their life.  Walking or riding my bike short distances is just one realm I am not willing to technologize with the newest Segway.