As I read the first part of this article I recalled a project that I had to do in what I recall to be seventh or eighth grade. This project was one where I compiled information about myself up until that point in my life and one of the requirements was that I had to get a copy of the front page of a newspaper from the day I was born. Thinking back to all the memories I wrote about I realized that many of the earlier memories were not ones I remembered first hands but ones formed from stories I had been told so many times that they had materialized in my mind as my own memories, not the recollections of others.
As I continued to read about how videos, pictures, and blogs were “alienating” our memories I once again though back to this middle school project of mine. Is recalling events in one’s life through photos, videos, and etc. really that different from recalling them based on stories told to you by others? Then I thought it is different. A picture is worth a thousand words only because a picture cannot speak. A picture cannot explain itself and what is taking place within it. The greatest pictures, blogs, and videos are the ones that document great events in a person’s life. Although every year a person gets to see is a blessing, every birthday is not an exciting memorable one. I believe your mind remembers certain things for certain reasons. Forrest Gump says “I don’t remember the day I was born… but I do remember the day I met Jenny.” You meet so many people in your life, but isn’t it funny how you only remember the day you met the most important people in your life (i.e. your spouse, best friend, mentor etc.)
I believe I agree with the author of this article; these new technological advances make it easy for you to become a packrat vigorously holding on to every snapshot of life. You can’t remember where this picture was taken but it must be important, sure you have ten videos of Bobby’s little league games but this one is special too, yes this blog was just one where you vented but every day’s important even the horrible ones, right? I also agree with the author about these advances being hazardous to our memories, well mine at least. I can never remember where I’m supposed to be and at what time or a friend’s phone number I call every day, but it’s okay I have my PDA phone to remind me of my meetings… Maybe I will put down my camera and live life without worrying if I’ll remember it.
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