Want to more about how technology affects our lives and the way we live? Listen to Nora Young‘s show. She’s the host of CBC Radio‘s Spark, co-produced with Elizabeth Bowie and Dan Misener. If you’ve been on my blog or my personal site before, you already know I write and speak about relationships. Hugh thank you to Nora and the gang for having me a guest on their show to talk about technological compatibility. You might ask: What the hell is that?
“In time for Valentine’s Day,” CBC teases you, “Spark looks into what happens when one half of a couple is a tech nerd and the other half is not.” Technological compatibility is about how we negotiate differences in usage and meanings attached to online activity. Here’s a scenario: Relationship troubles boil over in a 5-year marriage, and one partner stops wearing their wedding ring. That physical “change” (i.e. no ring) could be a source of concern for the other partner and a socially acceptable topic of discussion; however, what if the “change” occurs online? (In fact, I know exactly three recently-divorced couples who experienced the awkwardness of removing their “married” status from Facebook.) Reigniting a connection with an old flame via Facebook, googling exes, mentally unplugging from a partner by doping up on online video games and increased internet porn addictions are all various means in which technology affects our love lives.
As a society, we’re still in the n00b stage of talking about tech gaps in relationships — and, more widely, about how technology affects our lives. So, yeah, if you’re interested in this stuff, tune in. Listen to me and the others on CBC Radio One today at 11:30 a.m. (12:00 NT) or Saturday at 4:00 p.m. (4:30 NT). The segment also airs on Sirius XM Radio 137 today at 4:32 PM EST and Saturday at 2:00 PM EST. Or, of course, you can listen to the podcast right now.
—————–
Related: Last year, Fast Company magazine published my article “Is Facebook Helping or Hurting Your Love Life?” as their Valentine’s web exclusive.
Photo credit: Image by Laura Nubuck
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Technological compatibility? Plttht. The Great and Powerful Baba Doodlius is a huge, flaming nerd, and Mrs. Doodlius, when using a spreadsheet, takes out a pocket calculator to add a column of numbers.
I think technological compatibility is overrated.
so….. where do I press the on button
lamesabassman…. and will I like it…..