【英语时差8,16】技术恐慌症

 Technophobia – What?

Technophobe: Someone who does not like, trust, or want to use technology, especially computers. (Macmillan English Dictionary)Technophobia is not a new term and technophobes have existed since the Industrial Revolution and probably for a lot longer in some shape or form. Today we are living in the Age of Technology. Things that were once deemed¹ Science Fiction are becoming a reality. We either accept these changes and move with the times or we resist and become technophobes.

Technophobia - Why?

The reality is much simpler than saying that technophobes fear technological² advance. Technophobes are anxious because the environment in which they live and work is changing. Most phobias are expressed by a strong physical reaction. People who are claustrophobic suffer palpitations and anxiety attacks when they are enclosed in a small area. An agarophobic suffers in a similar way if they are exposed to the great outdoors. Technophobes, on the other hand, experience milder symptoms. They suffer feelings of self doubt and anxiety. They often feel insecure and obsolete³. Some worry that they will lose their job because they cannot keep up with the times. In more extreme cases, technophobes convince themselves that technology will take over the world or that humans will be controlled by computers and robots. At other times they are afraid that if they press the wrong button on their keyboard, the computer will explode.

Technophobia - Who?

In most cases technophobes belong to older generations who were not brought up playing with computer games and mobile phones. They have never sent a text message or heard of an i-pod. Not only do they not possess a DVD, they still have not worked out how to use their VHS. These examples seem to validate⁴ the old saying; “You can’t teach a dog old tricks”. It is understandable that technophobia exists. Experts in the field of technology are becoming younger and younger. Being taught by somebody who is young enough to be your grandson goes against the laws of nature. Traditionally information and knowledge has been passed down from older generations to younger generations. Young people were taught to respect their elders in part because of the knowledge they possess. If this system is turned upside down, then what happens to the respect for our elders?

Technophobia - The answerIf ignorance⁵ is, in most cases, the cause of technophobia, then it follows that knowledge and learning is the way to rectify⁶ the situation. What technophobes need is information. Simple computer classes often prove highly successful, especially where the student groups are made up of peer⁷ groups; like-minded people of a similar age who are willing to learn but who have no desire to be patronised by fellow students who are twenty years younger and possibly quicker on the up-take. It is equally important that groups of technophobes who have decided⁸ “to give it a go” have an appropriate teacher; somebody as similar as possible as themselves in age. Somebody who will send out a message that says “If I can do it, then so can you”.

1 deemed   

v.认为，相信( deem的过去式和过去分词 )；想

参考例句：

• The evening was deemed a great success. 大家认为这次晚会非常成功。
• They deemed the young clergyman a miracle of holiness. 他们一心认为这年轻的牧师是神圣的奇迹。 来自英汉文学 - 红字

2 technological   

adj.技术的；工艺的

参考例句：

• A successful company must keep up with the pace of technological change.一家成功的公司必须得跟上技术变革的步伐。
• Today,the pace of life is increasing with technological advancements.当今， 随着科技进步，生活节奏不断增快。

3 obsolete   

adj.已废弃的，过时的

参考例句：

• These goods are obsolete and will not fetch much on the market.这些货品过时了，在市场上卖不了高价。
• They tried to hammer obsolete ideas into the young people's heads.他们竭力把陈旧思想灌输给青年。

4 validate   

vt.（法律）使有效，使生效

参考例句：

• You need an official signature to validate the order.你要有正式的签字，这张汇票才能生效。
• In order to validate the agreement,both parties sign it.为使协议有效，双方在上面签了字。

5 ignorance   

n.无知，愚昧，不了解，（of，about）不知道

参考例句：

• The relation of disease to poverty and ignorance is easy to see.疾病与贫穷、无知之间的关系是显而易见的。
• Maybe it is all due to my own ignorance.也许是我少见多怪。

6 rectify   

v.订正，矫正，改正

参考例句：

• The matter will rectify itself in a few days.那件事过几天就会变好。
• You can rectify this fault if you insert a slash.插人一条斜线便可以纠正此错误。

7 peer   

n.同辈，同等地位的人，伙伴，贵族；vi.仔细看，费力地看

参考例句：

• Children are easily influenced by their peer.孩子很容易受同辈影响。
• He is a peer.他是一个贵族。

8 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。