Technostressed out

by Rachel Carlson, Alestle A&E Editor

Rachel Carlson

You know when you’re sitting at your computer minding your own business, just reading Texts From Last Night or finishing up that final paper, and the Internet slows down or your computer freezes? Immediately you freak out, cursing the computer for not working. How dare this machine — holding your pictures, music, papers, countless e-mails, computer programs and, of course, solitaire and “Mines” — crash on you?

Then comes that headache and feeling of absolute dread that you’ve lost everything you’ve been working on. Plus, how are you going to update your Facebook status?

The stress you’re feeling because you feel disconnected or lost actually has a name: Technostress. And it seems to be taking over our generation.

Just think how many times do you check your e-mail a day? Your phone? They seem insignificant in theory, but inevitably waste our time and cause us stress when we can’t seem to work them or they malfunction. Nine times out of 10, it’s probably our fault they’re not working.

Not only are you checking your own updates, but if you get on Facebook you’re most likely “creeping” someone’s page to see what they are  doing or what their status says their weekend plans are. Who wrote on their wall or tagged them in a picture? Don’t forget Twitter either. Ashton Kutcher could be buying  milk at the grocery store and you might miss it. (To read Aleste photographer Sean Roberts blog on Twitter, click here.)

Seems borderline needy.

I’m not being anti-technology right now (Where do you think I typed this?), but it is true that we let it take over our lives. Can you imagine one day without your phone or computer? Seems like it would be hard, but doesn’t part of you wonder how nice it would be to have no interruptions? No loud beep of a text message or ring of the cell phone.

I got to try it this summer when I went on a float trip  and luxuries like a cell phone were unnecessary. To be completely honest, it felt nice to be able to ignore the world for a weekend.

Constant password updates are unnecessary

by Ashley Hinkle, Alestle photo editor

Ashley Hinkle

Yesterday, I had to renew my SIUE Web mail password. This password is used to get into my e-mail account and Blackboard, but I don’t understand why we have to change them so often.

We don’t have to change our passwords to get into our Cougarnet accounts, and that has a lot more personal information in it. I don’t have to change my e-mail passwords for my Charter account, and I also don’t have to with my online banking. What is in my SIUE Webmail that needs to be so protected?

There is a problem with this system, for students and faculty alike. One professor told me maximum security businesses don’t have to change their passwords as often as we do.

I had trouble trying to remember my locker code in at high school. I have trouble remembering peoples’ names. Now, I have to change my password for my e-mail after so many days. I just don’t understand why it’s so necessary.