An article from a college newspaper for Fresno City College posed an intriguing question. The question was. “Has technology made cheating a social norm?”
The question started me thinking about waystechnology has changed society and impacted relationships. The many specialized apps for smart phones make creating a ‘secret world’ easier.
There are apps for hooking up, for finding like minded persons, for cheating, for photo sharing and more. These days seducing someone with your sexy photos is a new trend.
There’s apps that hide other apps. Apps that create secret files, apps that self-destruct photos and files like something in Mission Impossible. It makes the James Bond lifestyle possible.
There’s something about a secret world that makes cheating more tolerable for many people. The author sees this as a by-product of technology. I view the issue as a ‘human nature’ nature problem.
When you follow human nature, the assumption is made that no one is watching so no one will be any wiser regarding your actions. When your morality is based on who finds out instead of what is right and wrong, then when opportunity appears, cheating happens.
Base human nature lives by the standard where morals only exists when they are on public display. Morals are talked about rather than lived out.
Technology enhances your ability to sneak and hide, which if you have the willingness to cheat, makes affairs possible. That ability to hide gives cheater an opportunity to live out their secret lives.
Technology has made sneaking around more accessible. It has made concealment something you can do without much thought or much guilt.
As part of human nature, potential cheaters only look at short term gains rather than long term effects. I see this as part of a maturity factor. It takes time and discipline to consider long term effects of your choices.
Technology without morality is dangerous. When technology is used within a moral framework, I don’t see it filled with destructive dangers.
Technology makes access to others and to destructive influences much easier.
If you’ve have mishandled technology regarding affairs, there’s hope. In the video “Help for the Cheater, starting the Road to Recovery” you can learn what initial steps are needed in turning your situation around.
Best Regards,
Jeff
