Pope warns students about technology isolation

I hope I'm not being ironic by spreading this news ... on my blog:

Students today are in danger of losing this balance [between solitude and communion], the Holy Father explained, due to the increased use of information technologies. “On the one hand, they run the risk of a growing reduction in their capacity for concentration and mental application on an individual level; on the other, that of isolating themselves individually in an increasingly virtual reality.”

In doing so, students close themselves off to “constructive relations with others." (CNA)

Pope Benedict, of course, is very right to point out the danger of going "too much" in either the direction of communion or solitude. So be careful how much you read my blog, or watch my YouTube channel, browse my Flickr page, hang out on my FaceBook page, wait for my Twitter updates, or .... you get the idea.

Seriously, however, the tendency to isolate oneself I think is a problem for some people more than others, but in my experience it's fairly obvious when it's getting to be a serious problem.

Loosing the ability to concentrate for extended periods of time, however, is more insidious and therefore causes me much more concern. I think it's a problem not only caused by time online, but much more by our media culture (including especially TV ads, shows, cable news, etc).

So keep reading books. Honestly - it's the best way to keep your brain in shape. And have long conversations with your friends. That's what humans do. And of course, if you need reading tips or stuff to talk about...

.... there's always AmP. :-)