I heard someone recently talking about how technology is the root cause for all the wrong in the world  and I instantly became defensive. Mostly because I’m naturally condescending, but also because a lot of what I do involves technology. So beyond being condescending in my thought process, I was also being self-serving. I’m a diverse person, you guys.

But still, deep down, I truly don’t think that technology is as violently evil as people say. Is there a tremendous capacity for evil with technology? Sure. But I look at it like Taken. There are good people (Liam Neeson), there are bad people (everyone involved in the sex trade and taking of Neeson’s daughter) and there are people poorly cast as gawky teenage girls (Maggie Grace).

The point is, with every thing, there is a possibility for good or bad. Sure, there are some things with a higher propensity for bad, but I could give my son a banana to eat a nutritious snack or I could try to peg you in the face with it. Our intent with the medium seems  to be what matters and who am I kidding all you can think about right now is me pegging you in the face with a banana. Probably in slow motion.

The people who REALLY get me are the ones that think ALL progress is evil like indoor plumbing or women who wear pants. They are the worst and they’re totally not highly concentrated in the south or elderly populations.

I don’t know. But what I do know is this:

- I have a lot of “friends” I’m going to meet this weekend whom I’ve had the pleasure of meeting solely because of technology.

- I also hope that I can finally stop having to asteriskize the word friends because I’ve never spoken or met these people beyond the internet. I love telling people I’m going to a blogger conference to meet internet friends. They are probably picturing a Renaissance Fair only nerdier.

- Technology has allowed me an outlet for something I love doing. Some may argue that this is part of the evil argument and I would probably agree with that.

- On a personal level, whenever my wife and I get in a verbal tussle, sometimes technology is the most helpful way to ease simmering tensions because resuming a  conversation through text or IM filters out the angry hand gestures (me), condescending tone (me) and eye-rolling (me).

I don’t know. I’m probably naive though.

What’s the best way technology has affected you?