Social Issues – Page 10

The pen is mightier than the sword. Do you agree?

Words have become the balm that has been used to soothe the masses, not violent intervention.

The pen is mightier than the sword is a metonymic adage that has been used for centuries. While many have advocated the power of the sword, it cannot be denied that the pen holds significant power as well. The written word has transformed socioeconomic and political landscapes. Thus, it remains true that the written word is more powerful than the strength of weapons.

Forceful or armed intervention helps a totalitarian or dictatorial government to intimidate the masses into submission. The use of force or intimidation does not require deep reasoning. According to supporters of violence, violence is better because it gives immediate results and destroys opponents. An example of this can be Jamal Khashoggi who was killed in a rogue operation because he criticised the policies of Saudi Crown Prince, Prince Mohammed, through his column in the Washington Post. Similarly, in Northwest China, libraries burnt books that did not align religiously and politically to the communist ideologies of the PRC party. These incidents show how people fear the power of the pen and use the “sword” mercilessly to silence them.

Though it might seem that the “sword” holds significant power, the profound impact of the pen should not be forgotten. For example, in China, Mao Zedong was deeply influenced by the writings of Karl Marx. The impact of Marx’s view led to the communist revolution in China. Similarly, many books and written words have provided us look into deeper ideas like colonialism and post-colonialism. For example, Edward Said’s book Orientalism evaluated and criticised western beliefs about oriental people and formed an important ground for post-colonial studies. Adolf Hitler’s autobiographical book, Mein Kampf, disseminated his ideologies to a large audience. Therefore, the pen has the power to influence human thought and behaviour inefficient ways without violence.

Supporters of violence often argue that words mean nothing if a nation cannot protect itself from external military forces. For example, literature did not help to stop violence against Black Americans. Thinking retrospectively, literature was of little use when the German military invaded Poland or when Malaysia was attacked by the Japanese forces. One could surmise that when military power is strong, words are of little use. Military forces in this instance can destroy societies and culture and also replace the existing literature with something new.

The power of the pen has morphed into the power of social media. Governments have been formed and finished by the swift stroke of the keyboard. In modern times, the pen manifests itself as Twitter feeds, Instagram posts and some even suggest, Tik Tok videos. The power of the pen is seen in hashtags that give further boost to causes and challenges that societies want to surmount. The Arab Sping, Occupy Wall Street, Black Lives Matter and the MeToo movement area all examples of how the pen has been able to show its mettle in the form of words, and actions. The world is less violent now and conflicts mostly regional.

Even today, the pen is mightier than the sword. Many problems of the world find a solution in the written word and do not require the display of might. In the end, might can only oppresses and can only lead to superficial success and sooner or later will find itself challenged by the written word. Words have become the balm that has been used to soothe the masses, not violent intervention.

Why should we be concerned with current affairs when most of them will soon be forgotten?

After all, ignorance is not always bliss. In the words of Dalai Lama, “Where ignorance is our master, there is no possibility of real peace.”

People spend hours watching news and debates on CNN, BBC and Al Jazeera, in an effort to keep abreast of the current socioeconomic issues. Current news provides us with much needed information about the issues people are facing around the world. The news of today can also help us in understanding the incidents which may happen in the future. Thus, it is important that people follow the current affairs because if we do not pay attention about the decisions which are taken around the world it will have a negative impact on countries, economies and common people.

People who hold the view that people should not be concerned about current affairs often suggest that it is a waste of time. These news pieces are short-lived and may not influence the people on a global level. In a world of technology, we are bombarded with news that is transient and short-lived in nature. However, just because, a current event might not have relevance in the future it does not mean that it is not important today. Being aware of current affairs is necessary because some issues can affect us as well and can also pose a threat. For example, the coronavirus (COVID-19) threat is something one needs to be aware of. That is because only awareness can help in prevention of the disease. If people are not aware of the coronavirus news, then they might risk their lives as well as the lives of others. Current news can help us to take precautionary messages and can save hundreds of lives. An example of this can be the news about Ukrainian Airlines plane being accidentally shot down by Iran which prompted other airlines to avoid airspace near Iran and Iraq. Thus, current affairs news can be a life saviour for many and people should keep themselves updated about current affairs.

Current world news not only makes people aware about threats but also about opportunity. In a globalised world, current affairs can also open up avenues for people to understand current market trends. One example of this is companies profiting from selling masks and hand sanitisers at exorbitant prices because of the ongoing, coronavirus threat. Another example can be of Just Inc., a food and beverage company which makes plant-based egg products which received multiple inquiries and from Chinese food companies seeking animal-free protein sources amid the coronavirus outbreak. The impasse between Russia and Saudi Arabia over the price and production of oil or the ongoing spat between India and Malaysia regarding the palm oil create opportunities for forex and commodity traders as well as businessmen. Thus, by keeping in touch with current news, people can profit and succeed in life.

Though most of the current events would be forgotten in the future, it does not mean all news will meet a similar fate. The events that affect people today can also have a lasting impact on people and the world. For example, Indian mission of Chandrayaan-2 of sending an orbiter, lander, and rover to Moon’s southern hemisphere will be remembered by many in the future. Similarly, Joseph Schooling winning Singapore’s first-ever Olympic gold would always be remembered even by the future generations. People who are sceptical of following current may argue that today’s current news does not have much significance. However, if people do not follow current news then they might remain unaware about significant events that occur around the world.

In conclusion, people should be interested and concerned about current affairs because these news pieces inform, alert and raise awareness among millions of people. If people follow current news, then they can also exploit opportunities to gain profits and make informed choices. One has to be aware about the surroundings around the world. After all, ignorance is not always bliss. In the words of Dalai Lama, “Where ignorance is our master, there is no possibility of real peace.”

Higher education is no longer necessary for success. Discuss.

For a majority of people, higher education undoubtedly remains key to achieving success. Not only are degrees badges of acquired skill, they are sometimes even status symbols. In addition, the experience of going through higher education often proves to be greatly important if one seeks a successful career. Higher education still plays a vital role in the pathway to success.

It is easy to see why there has been increasing optimism of attaining success through means other than higher education. First, the rapid growth of online courses offered by Coursera and Phoenix University have led to the argument that the advent of the Internet has made it such that individuals no longer need higher education to obtain the skills they require for their jobs. Second, people often lament that despite obtaining degrees, they are unable to find work, and cannot pay off college debts they have accumulated. Third, mass media platforms have recently painted pictures of how individuals like Steve Jobs, Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg reached the very peak of what it means to be “successful”, without ever needing the support of higher education. This leads to the claim that higher education has lost its ability to deliver some measures of success. These three arguments present the case that higher education is no longer necessary for success.

However, it is overly assertive to claim that the skills that people learn from university education are irrelevant, even with the aid of the Internet. Instead, it is more reasonable to believe that higher education provides greater opportunities for learning. Though it may be possible to obtain the same access to information, it is only at universities that individuals of similar interests are able to gather in a classroom, exchange thoughts and ideas with each other, and learn under the tutelage of professors at the forefronts of their fields. Comparatively, those who do not attend higher education do not have that same opportunity to ask peers or professors for help when they run into problems understanding the content taught. Especially for specialised fields like biotechnology and law, the skills and knowledge necessary for the future remain largely accessible only to those who have undergone higher education. From this, it is clear that university graduates have greater propensity to gain skills and knowledge than non-graduates.

In addition, the university degree itself is a badge of acquired skill, reassuring employers that these employees have learnt the content, and are able to handle the work assigned to them. This means that graduates are more likely to be hired than non-graduates, which often translates into higher salaries. Furthermore, the trust that employers have in graduates’ ability to perform better often translates into greater financial remuneration. Today, bachelor’s degree holders can expect median lifetime earnings of about US$2.3 million, as compared to US$1.3 million for workers with just a high school diploma. Ultimately, higher education does in fact bring about greater financial success for graduates.

It is also fallacious to argue that higher education has stopped being a necessary part to being successful just because there have been exceptions to it. Not only were Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates intellectual geniuses and visionaries who had foreseen and grasped business opportunities, they were born into circumstances which ultimately facilitated their success. Courses offered at universities could not offer advice to these entrepreneurs embarking as pioneers of a new field. On the other hand, an overwhelming proportion of individuals do not enjoy the same kind of privilege, be it financial or intellectual. Hence, for most, the likely route to success is higher education, which sets them apart from other job applicants.

In fact, for most occupations excluding degree-blind jobs such as entrepreneurship and advertising, higher education plays an integral role in assimilating graduates into their future workplaces. Upon entering the workplace, university graduates depend upon the ties they had developed to help them along, and this often stems from their higher education experience. For example, specialists often depend on the referrals of other doctors to obtain a base of patients. In such a situation, getting to know others who are in the field is incredibly important for one’s career advancement prospects. Thus, higher education is not just about the content and skills involved, but also the relationships graduates develop with each other. The social advantage that higher education offers hence allows graduates to get a leg up over non-graduate.

In essence, higher education remains necessary for success. This is not to say that all graduates are necessarily more successful than all non-graduates, because of the multitude of factors involved. However, university graduates do indeed benefit greatly from higher education, a crucial factor contributing to being successful.

Do you agree that good parenting is increasingly challenging in your society today?

People always try to do what is best for their children. Good children are a result of good parenting, is what people often say. However, people have always struggled to raise children and have also tried hard to understand what makes a good parent. In Singapore, it is true that raising children has become increasingly difficult because of technology and also because more parents are working longer hours.

People who believe that raising children today is easier, often argue that parents today have a lot of assistance. It is especially true in Singapore, where the government has come up with various policies that help people in their journey of parenthood. Earlier, parents were supposed to take care of their children’s need by working extra hours or working on weekends. They did not get assistance for raising good children. However today, government policies assist parents the moment a child is born. These policies include cash bonuses¸ medical benefits in case the child or the mother gets sick and even benefits on library and basic transportation benefits. The Singapore Government offers all these grants and policies to ensure that parents raise good and healthy children. Being assisted financially for children’s education or healthcare has helped parents significantly. Based on this factor, one can agree that parenting today is easier than earlier times, at least in terms of needs like education and healthcare.

With the advent of technology parents, today get enough guidance through various websites, blogs and columns on multiple aspects of parenting. Parents today can discuss whatever bothers them with other parents on parental forums and Facebook pages. Parents often follow these websites to seek answers about their children’s well-being. In Singapore, these websites do not disappoint, either. For example, websites like smartparents.sg guides parents on aspects like the health of the child, their education, suggestions about schools and activities, and also on aspects like their diet and nutrition. Similarly, the Kiasu Parents website is like a social media platform for parents. On this website, parents can interact with other parents and get parental advice on educational and enrichment programmes. These websites include tips from experts in the field of child psychology and early childhood care. Parents can follow advice on these websites, blogs and forums to become a good enough parent for their child. Thus, technologically, people are more equipped to become a good parent than in the past, where parents relied on advice from their parents or friends.

Despite all these advantages, parents today increasingly face difficulties in raising their children. With economic development and growth, Singaporeans are working more than 45 hours a week. Working long hours in Singapore has been a time-honoured tradition and the work obligation does not allow parents to spend enough time with their children. Even on weekends, parents are occupied with household chores and office work. So, while they may be physically present, they are mentally absent and technology can be blamed for this disconnect between parents and children. Parents also have a tendency to reply to work emails and go through work-related documents while at the dinner table. It is thus evident that the availability of smartphones and tablets have disrupted the work-life balance and have made life harder for parents and children. Thus, good parenting in Singapore is more challenging today than ever before parents are struggling with work and home.

Mass media is another reason, why parents are struggling to raise good children. The media today has penetrated every corner of our lives. Media today comes in forms of mobiles, laptops, television or newspapers. Parents today are using media to parent their children; this is evident from the fact that children from a very young age are given phones. By giving children access to phones and tablets at a very young age parents make an attempt to distract them and keep them busy. However, unbeknownst to them it has a severe impact on the parent-child relationship. Parents who allow children to use video streaming channels like Youtube, do not realise that the autoplay function may play related or unrelated videos which may have a negative effect on the children. For older kids, inappropriate content, violence and substance abuse are promoted repetitively in the mass media. Though these ideas might not be what the parents believe in they come at blame for allowing children to use these technologies. Therefore, good parenting today is more difficult due to media which threatens the well-being of children and exposes them to wrong ideas.

With changing times, the definition of good parents has changed significantly. While parents in the past had the liberty to take a more relaxed approach towards parenting. Parents today do not have that liberty. Today being a good parent means not only to be involved in academics but also take care of the activities they take up at school, hobbies they pursue and also their playtime. While parents today have access to various websites and blogs, which have assisted them. These same websites and blogs have also led to severe confusion in parents who get different views on various websites. In Singapore, this has led parents to become more competitive and has led them to enrol their children in various enrichment classes. Thus, with the bar set so high, parents are expected to wear multiple hats and raise their kids. Hence, it is evident that raising children is very difficult today in present times.

In conclusion, the concept of good parenting has completely been redefined in present times. With access to Mass media in various forms and Long working hours, parents today have lesser time to spend with their children. Though the government has assisted parents by providing them grants and bonuses for raising children. It cannot be denied that good parenting is still very difficult in Singapore.

Consider the view that formal education has done little to prepare students for today’s challenges.

Traditional forms of formal education do little in preparing students for today’s challenges.

Education has been considered as an important step towards success. However, with advancements in technology, the job market today has changed dramatically. Moreover, new job roles and designations are created every year. Considering the changing work scenario, it is important that there is a paradigm shift in which education is provided. In present-day society, formal education is still the same as many years ago where students’ intelligence is tested by the same standardised tests. The significance of formal education has declined in recent times. However, formal education has been instrumental in preparing students for today’s challenges as education systems are getting diversified.

Opponents of formal education often argue that it is theoretical in nature and fails to prepare students for contributing to the global economy. Most schools and colleges today teach students subjects and topics that are quite outdated and theoretical in nature. The lack of proper practical training in subjects leads students to lack real-life skills. This is especially true in the case of India where many aspiring engineers are left unemployed because of the course-work that is outdated and not job-centric. In fact, the lack of employability skills leaves many students to take up jobs in fields not related to engineering. Similarly, in Singapore, young graduates face higher unemployment levels compared to older peers. Education, therefore, has not equipped students with practical knowledge and the qualities they achieve through education are not indicative of students’ ability to reason and creative thinking. Thus, formal education has failed to prepare people to face the challenges of the global economy.

However, education has diversified its ways to impart knowledge to students. Formal education is adapting to keep up with the changes of today. Northern European countries like Norway, Finland and Denmark lead the way in providing formal education along with vocational training which ensures that the students remain employable. Similarly, in countries like Germany and Singapore, there are a myriad of vocational courses that people can undertake. Moreover, in Singapore people can enrol themselves in polytechnics instead of universities to get a more hands-on experience within a dynamic environment. In developing countries like India, vocational education and training are steadily gaining momentum. Indians today are not only getting educated in conventional fields like medicine and engineering. Today, they are also gaining education to become trained electricians, plumbers and fashion designers. When students are trained vocationally, they can be beneficial to the economy as they can earn higher wages and contribute to economic growth. This is the reason why many countries have recognised the importance of skill-based learning and are investing in vocational training. Therefore, formal education helps students become ready for today’s economic challenges, as education systems are diversifying and adapting to global changes.

Formal education is also instrumental in minimising the divide between different races and religions. Many countries today are facing challenges in forms of racial and religious divides. Formal education systems are important in diminishing these divides as most educational systems emphasise on the holistic development of students. This is evident through the various activities and programmes that are available to students at school and university level. An example of this can be seen in the US where students are enrolled in the Child Development Project (CDP) in multiple states. The programme helps to foster children’s ethical, social and intellectual development. Furthermore, in-school educational systems enrolling in extra-curricular activities like dance, drama, music, art and debate helps children to collaborate with a diverse range of peers. This helps in building skills like teamwork and resilience which are very much necessary in today’s volatile job market. Extracurricular activities also help in promoting lasting friendships among students from diverse backgrounds and fosters social integration which helps the children to become a responsible citizen in the future. Thus, formal education plays an important role in the overall development of the children in the form of extracurricular activities and prepares people to face the challenges of today.

In conclusion, traditional forms of formal education do little in preparing students for today’s challenges. However, education systems across the world are adapting to the changes in present times. Formal education today is emphasising on development of children not only to prepare them for the job world but also to face social challenges. Therefore, formal education cannot be easily dismissed as irrelevant to students today.

Women will never enjoy the same rights as men. Do you agree?

The issue of women’s rights is a contentious one. While there are people who believe that women will attain equal rights. There are others who believe that women enjoying the same rights as men is not possible. Agreeing with the latter view, it can be said, that women really cannot enjoy the same rights as men because of stereotypes, inequality at various levels and the role of religion.

It is believed that men and women enjoy equal rights at least in progressive societies. In these societies, it is generally perceived that everyone should be treated with fairness. In fact, inequality is considered as an injustice. Today, gender roles are increasingly being switched where men are taking up the house responsibilities and women are the breadwinners. This is especially the case in developed countries like the United Kingdom, the United States, France and Germany. Despite these achievements, feminists believe that women are far away from enjoying the same rights as men. They believe that the reason for this is society’s deeply rooted biases.

Men are still considered valuable for the progress of society. This is evident from the fact that equal pay is a distant dream in most countries. The problem of the gender pay gap is not only faced by countries like the United Kingdom and the United States, but extends to other countries like Korea, Estonia, Japan, Latvia, and Chile. According to OECD data, women face a 10-15 per cent wage reduction during motherhood. On the other hand, men are likely to be paid more after becoming a father. This is because employers view children as an added responsibility for the father and not the mother. Furthermore, women who are mothers are less likely to be hired for jobs and less valuable to society. Though there have been many campaigns, protests and laws to remedy the inequality, the gender pay gap exists in the majority of the countries. Women will never enjoy the same rights as men.

However, gender equality remains an attainable goal to a certain extent. Several decades ago, it was unimaginable for women to work in male-dominated professions like finance, engineering and aviation. Women today are increasingly working in these fields. Similarly, decades ago women were not given equal rights by many countries. However, today at least six countries are considered as gender-equal. A recent report by the World Bank showed that six countries today have laws that protect men and women equally: Belgium, Denmark, France, Latvia, Luxembourg and Sweden. This gives hope that many other countries can follow their lead and implement laws that help in creating a close to equal society. Therefore, it can be said that men and women may never enjoy the same rights but women can reach closer to equality.

The role of religion plays an important role in why women and men cannot enjoy the same rights. Many religious texts like the Bible, Quran and Torah have sexist writings which are used to subjugate women. In countries that follow these religious texts as law, the rights for women are bound to suffer. For example, women in Middle-Eastern countries face acute gender inequalities. Religious leaders and theologians in these countries are all male and provide a conservative interpretation of religious texts. These interpretations most of the times cause women utmost distress and puts women in submissive roles in the family, the society, and the state. The denial of equal rights is also evident from the fact that the representation of women in politics lags behind in middle eastern countries. Moreover, organised religions propagate the idea of male superiority and depict women as physically, mentally and emotionally inferior to men. The idea of religion is deeply ingrained in both men and women to the extent that women justify the discrimination they face. Therefore, as religion cannot be separated from mankind and it will continue to paint women as second-class citizens, there is little hope that men and women will ever enjoy the same rights.

In conclusion, though conditions of women have improved significantly in today’s world, there is still a long way to go as men are still favoured over women socially, economically and religiously. This makes it difficult for men and women to enjoy the same rights even in the future as there is a need to fight inequality at multiple levels. It is not likely that women will enjoy the same rights as men in the foreseeable future.

Contemporary music has no artistic value. Comment.

While the wholesome songs of John Denver, Kenny Rogers, or Stevie Wonder do not attract young audiences, they have John Legend, Kanye West and Selena Gomez to keep them entertained and grounded to modern day dilemmas.

Traditionalists hold the view that contemporary music spreads violent messages, citing Watain and other black heavy metal bands besides gangta rappers like Easy-E, Tupac and Ice Cube. Contemporary music, though rambunctious and eclactic, does not lack artistic value because it connects with people in today’s society. It would be superflous to say that it lacks originality and creativity. It is incorrect to accuse contemporary music for not having any artistic value.

Today’s music does not lack creativity. Many musicians create music which has a lot of artistic value. Singers like Adele, Nick Jonas and less known Rachel Yamagata and Angie Mattson are musicians who create music which is original and artistically of high-quality. The music created by them is touching and can connect with people on an emotional level. Today’s music does have artistic value in many ways.

Today’s music also has lyrics which are highly poetic, crafted in a unique style. An example of this can be Nerina Pallot’s Idaho which is beautifully crafted and has a melodious rhyme. The song is often considered as a representation of life. Contemporary musicians have also used their music to touch the souls of many individuals. For example, Taylor Swift’s song ‘You need to calm down’ raised awareness about social media trolling and the LGBTQ community. Therefore, if the artistic value is equated with meaning, then-contemporary songs are equally artistic to folk music.

Even mainstream commercial artists create music that is meaningful and incredible. Contemporary music also provides a unique spiritual and emotional experience. An example of this can be Lady Gaga, who uses the word ugly in multiple ways in her music. Similarly, contemporary K-pop music like the music by Korean boy-band, BTS, have songs with social messages. It is considered that their music emphasises on sound songcraft rather than experimentation for the sake of it. Thus, it proves that contemporary music is meaningful in an artistic way.

Contemporary music is also driver of social change. In the majority of the cases, the success rate might be very slow but we cannot deny their artistic value in moving masses with their songs and music into action. For example, Beyoncé has one of the largest platforms in the world and frequently uses it to champion the polarising Black Lives Matter movement. Similarly, pop stars like Lil Dicky and Grimes are using their music and their huge followings to gain vital coverage of climate change. Contemporary music is a medium through which people expresses their feelings, aspirations and fears. As music can very broadly be defined as a means to convey an artist’s message to the audience. Under this definition, contemporary music has artistic value.

There is no denying that there is music that is meaningless and distasteful. Some artists are purposeful in their choice of song, so that media can create the buzz for them to stay relevant. For example, various songs by Britney Spears and Miley Cyrus can come under this category. Avril Lavigne’s song “Dark Blonde” is a failed attempt at a girl-power anthem and proof of artistic snobbery. All these issues may result in the belief that there is a lack of artistic merit in contemporary music. However, not all songs can be judged on the basis of a few bad songs. Therefore, though there are songs that lack in artistic value, not all contemporary songs are similar. Modern people also want to be entertained by music. They are not different from the people of the past; they too crave for music that feeds their soul and connects with them on an emotional level based on present world challenges. The good part about contemporary music is that it has songs that cater to varying tastes and moods of people. Contemporary music has artistic value.

Music is about evolution of social issues and dreams of people. While the wholesome songs of John Denver, Kenny Rogers, or Stevie Wonder do not attract young audiences, they have John Legend, Kanye West and Selena Gomez to keep them entertained and grounded to modern day dilemmas. Contemporary music has artistic value.

Technology has had a negative impact on people’s skills? Discuss.

Without a doubt, technology has majorly impacted skills of people in the world. While the progress of technology is important, people should be careful in not being overly-reliant on it.

Human beings have always discovered and invented devices and machines for their convenience. Today, technology has taken an important place in people’s life and has made their lives easier. However, with technology, there are also problems that have risen. Machines which were created for helping humans, have made humans lazy, unskilled and redundant. Today people are overly-reliant on technology. Though many skills have been replaced by technology, there are new skills which have gained prominence today. Hence, technology has a negative impact on people’s skills.

Automation has led people to lack many skills and has caused their role to minimise in many industries. In manufacturing, from making the dough for different cookies, to cutting them in different shapes and packing them, all tasks are now performed by machines and robots. In aviation, pilots use the auto-pilot function and use electronic interface to control the flight. The pilot’s role today is limited and skills required to become a pilot have reduced significantly. With so much being done by machines, it is a logical conclusion technology has a negative impact on people’s skills.

New and advanced technology has attracted people to games that involve virtual reality and advanced graphics. Unlike earlier times, where people, especially children took time to go out and play sports like cricket, badminton or swimming, children today are glued to their Playstation, X-box, computer screens and mobile games. In today’s times it is getting difficult to find young players who are genuinely interested in playing sports as opposed to just playing sports for fame and money. Technology has given rise to new forms of sports as e-sports but these sports are not considered as sports by many because, who play these sports do not have great skills and are of little value in the real world. While playing real sports like football and tennis may build character and give one confidence, electronic sports do not provide any such benefit. Therefore, technology has also had an impact in sports creating a negative impact on people’s skills.

Technology has also impacted people’s soft skills and communication skills. Smartphones have given people a platform to connect with people from across the world however, people have lost their ability to communicate with people with mindfully and articulately. This is evident from the chat language people use in their daily communication. For example, using just “gn” for good night, “tc” for take care and “gbu” for god bless you. Similarly, people’s friendships today are limited to the extent of liking and commenting on a picture. It can thus be said that the art of communication has been lost significantly in present times. Applications like Twitter, have given people a stage to put forth their view but it has also made them intolerant towards other people’s views. People today are quick in jumping to conclusions and make their judgements based on limited facts, which sometimes are even fake. It can be said that technology has made people lose their reasoning skills and degraded human relationships, in turn. Therefore, technology has also had a negative impact on people’s skills and the ability to communicate rationally.

Though supporters of technology often say that people have replaced older skills with newer skills. They argue that people today are more well-versed in technology-based applications. However, these skills are not as intricate and lack in finesse as well. In earlier times people used to create handicrafts and painting with hand but with technology all that has changed. Skills like stitching, embroidering, fact-checking and map reading are being forgotten in our technological driven world.

Without a doubt, technology has majorly impacted skills of people in the world. While the progress of technology is important, people should be careful in not being overly-reliant on it. Over-reliance on technology will only lead to deterioration of people’s skills be it in the field of labour, communication or social interaction. Technology has had a negative impact on the skills of people.