Their affairs have spawned a new word in pop culture, 'chexting'.
In today's digital age, mobile phones have proven to be the best form of fast and effective communication. Our phones have become miniature mobile computers where we are able to serve the net and communicate with just about anyone, anywhere.
Cell phones come equipped with their own typing keyboards separate from the number pads, texting has become more popular than e-mailing for some, and sending a text from a small phone can be done almost anywhere. It is instant gratification and contact, but for those who have a hard time staying faithful, such forms of Computer mediated communication tools have become a become medium to facilitate their cheating.
One cannot deny the fact that CMC has invaded almost every facet of human activities. How we gather information, who we socialize with and even even turn to them for entertainment. It affects not only how we communicate but what we communicate as well.
More and more divorce cases involving spouses being unfaithful through technology - including Internet chat rooms, instant messages and texts have arisen.
However, Is it all bad? There are always two sides of the argument.
Our 3G phones and technological advancements made to our computers have definitely enabled better and faster communication. Social networking websites such as Facebook, Twitter and even Blogs have all hopped into the bandwagon in enabling people to stay communicated with each other. For those of us Facebook fanatics, wouldn't you agree that it has definitely enabled us to communicate with our past and present friends and even provided some form of entertainment to our lives? I even check my Facebook account first before my Hotmail account, and I believe that many people echo my view.
Use it to bind relationships and not to break them.
hmm the advancement of technology sure brings benefits to alot aspect of our lifes, but its the same thing as threats will appear and people will make use of it to do things secretly. So are we to fear the technology or are we to embrace it? i guess these question is up for debate, cause we cant deny the benefits and neither can we say there is no cons to it.
ReplyDeleteThis is an example of CMC being TOO effective. In the old days, you can't escape the watchful eyes of the wife because phone calls are way too obvious and letters are easy evidence to watch out for. But with CMC, there are more ways to cover your tracks and contact people you don't want your spouse to know about. Texts & Emails? You can simply delete them. MSN Chat history? Clear them before you're found out. This gives the cheating spouses a certain degree of anonymity, which can be dangerous since they believe they can get away with it. CMC may have helped them communicate better, but it is possibly at the cost of healthy relationships.
ReplyDeleteRelevant point. As mentioned by your friend above, this is how forms of computers are too effective (in developing 'other' relationships). With the world of communication available in the palm of our hands.... we are definitely seeing more of such incidents between couples. Very sad....
ReplyDeleteHey melly,
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you that in today's digital age, mobile phones have proven to be the best form of fast and effective communication.
We are able to serve the net and communicate with just about anyone, anywhere.
I think it may be very very useful to us especially in this information age. But i guess for other purposes like those you mentioned... it can be very detrimental for people seeking to maintain their relationships.
So that being said, how we use our communication tools cannot be dictated by anyone else but us. we need to be sure of that.
Though CMC is used more and more frequently as we progress, but as you said it facilitates cheating, well, I don't quite see the link. Perhaps it is during extramarital affairs when there is a need to be discreet, careful and less awkward when these messages are delivered via this manner than the traditional face to face. I guess it would be awkward for Tiger Woods to tell his mistress 'to stop leaving her name'. People now have more options to hide behind something to avoid something awkward.If you are trying to avoid something, can you actually communicate effectively and truthfully?
ReplyDeleteWith technology to cheat, there is bound to be technology to catch spouses who cheat. Take for example a website that i saw, shockingly, on the back on a taxi in Singapore: www.catchcheatingspouse.com.
ReplyDeleteThe website address speaks for itself.
As for your point on technology affecting even WHAT we communicate, I agree wholeheartedly. Communication through technological devices used to be simple. Now, there are chatlines for when one is bored, relationships could be made and broken through a technological medium, and the current trend, cheating on spouses through text messages. The spark of humanity is slowly disappearing from interactions today.
INTERESTING TOPIC! :) With the advancement of technology, mobile phones have become more of a portable computer than a telecommunication device. In fact, your spouse or partner would also be able to locate you just with a message. That is how simple things have become. Therefore, cheating husbands and wives should remember that nowadays its not very easy to get away from their partners with the such a high-level of technology available in our country.
ReplyDeleteYes! I'm one of those who check Facebook before my Hotmail account!!! We are ALL guilty of it.
ReplyDeleteI agree about the usefulness of Skype as well. Being in China for 6 weeks is no joke and I miss my family too much. At least I am able to chat with them at no cost through this form of communication.
So when are we chatting next?
As you've pointed out, technology has indeed provided a more effective way to "cheat" your spouse. No doubt the presence of technology is not the sole factor in this matter but technology provides us the with the medium to cheat.
ReplyDeleteI guess everything boils down to trust. Whether we trust our partner to not cheat us and whether we trust the relationship enough to not cheat on our partners.
Interesting read!
Thanks for the comment Sue.
ReplyDeleteIt's like saying, "Media cant live with it, can't live without out". There's always a good and bad to all things.
I think the development of technology is needed and it helps in the advancement of society, However when people begin to take advanatge of it and misuse it , thats where things just go wrong. Like you said we cant live with it neither can we live without it
ReplyDeletei totally agree with what your friends have said. media technology is evolving at a rapid rate. things are all at our finger tips. we are able to keep tabs on people and chat with all of our family members or friends though they are miles and miles away.
ReplyDeleteFor me... I need to check Facebook everyday. We organize our events and chats with long lost friends too. Lately I discovered that my father and his brothers are on Facebook too! Showing how it can be for everyone.
ReplyDeleteI am also able to contact my cousins in Adelaide whom I've not seen in a million years. I guess thank God for Facebook :)
Thanks for your comments guys!
I couldn't agree more with you Mel.
ReplyDeleteAs Bill Gates mentioned once.. If GM had kept up with technology like the computer industry has, we would all be driving $25 cars that got 1000 MPG!
We are changing the world with technology. We are dependant on technology. Well I am, especially when I travel so often.
Keep up with the posts mel. Nice ones! :)
I should say that technological products has become a very big part of everyone life today. There is a lot of use for it, i guess cheating is one of the many uses of it. I mean things can work in both direction you see, its either it benefit us or it will help us in ways of harming others . What can i say we want better stuff yet we are afraid the conseqeunces that it might bring/
ReplyDeleteDad having Facebook is a good thing and a bad. I guess it is pretty ice to see all the brothers communicating from Singapore and Australia. Grandma's 20th death Anniversary this year only showed how such forms of communicating that be so useful.
ReplyDeleteBut he being on Facebook is bad too. You know what I mean. Hahah
Hey! I know what you mean.
ReplyDeleteWell, then be more cautious on what you put up. For me, I will always see it as an advantage man!
I get a low down on the life of all my classmates back in sec school. it's good for keeping/ maintaining the friendship!
Nice one Mel Akka!
You're right... I'm pretty sure most of us wouldn't be able to live without Facebook :P And Twitter. And Gmail. And Google. And Wikipedia. Imagine doing a project without CMC!
ReplyDeleteHAHAHA...I agree that this is one of the many misuse of technology. Chexting is like the successor of phone sex. Don't you think so? However, I think it is easy to catch people cheating if they use CMC. Tracking is easy for those experts.
ReplyDelete