New toys, gadgets and technological advances are everywhere. No matter what products we buy or see advertised, there are "new and improved" models waiting in the wings. Where are we headed? What can we possibly invent next?

We utilize so many different technological advances every day that many of us allow them to take the place of interpersonal relationships of value.

Television, a so-called advance in entertainment, has not only taken over the quality time in our lives, but additions like Sega and Nintendo have increased the amountof time spent in front of the screen, rather than sharing time talking with our friends. Maybe it's because we lack the skills necessary to entertain ourselves without the aid of physical stimulation.

Just consider if you will, the time that we are to save by using these advances to our society. We prepare our food in microwaves in a fraction of conventional cooking time, use personal computers to send messages and mail and let our answering machines screen our calls when we are either too busy or lazy to do it ourselves. Computers do our work in a minimum amount of time and make many corrections to human error, but how much time have we saved? Is our leisure time increased? We are finding decreased time for everyday demands as well as time for ourselves. Technology is the ultimate paradox.

We are allowing and even demanding that we achieve a totally desensitized world with the advances in computer and machinery taking the place of people. A simple telephone call to the registration system at our campus is the perfect example of how voice automation takes the place of "live" caring people. Certainly this advance allows more and more of us to register for our classes in a timely fashion, but does it not constitute an impersonal contribution to our everyday lives?

Manufacturers and advertisers are completely aware of the direction we are plummeting to and take full advantage of it. We require all types of fancy lights and sounds to entertain and delight us. Whether it be the digital dashboard of a new car, the equipment in a gym or the speed and graphics of the "newest" computer, we can't seem to get enough.

We have allowed outselves to advance to a completely insensitive generation. What are you looking for? Stimulation and excitement with minimized rejection seems to be the key. The quality of life we choose is surely a personal decision, but is it not possible that we have made certain choices without considering the alternatives?

Far too many people determine their self-worth as well as that of others on things external to the person. Face it, wouldn't it be great if we could make friends and deal with others without the possibility of rejection? Look at the examples of paid telephone conversations or virtual reality sex and dating.

Perhaps we tend to hide behind these methods of low risk relationships because of our feelings of insecurity and lack of self-confidence. Unfortunately, we not only buy ourselves into this way of life, but also ridicule others for not being "with the times."

Personal relationships are a vital part of everyone's needs and desires, but living in a "non-human" world is causing too many people to seek micro-electronic satisfaction.

Our everyday experiences in classes illustrate this very point. Many of our classes are held in large lecture halls filled with students that are apparently unaware there is someone sitting next to them. In all of our worries of time management and hurried schedules we fail to acknowledge our interpersonal needs.

We have got to get back to basics and rebel against the direction we are headed. It is difficult with a statement like this to know where to start, but certainly not why. When you feel sad enough to cry or are bursting with excitement what can your electronic toys do for you?

Answering machines and telephones are primary contributors to the lack of sensitivity we are experiencing. Have you ever tried to reach a friend of family member in a time of need and only received their message service? Certainly we have all experienced a time when we cried over the phone to someone that cared enough to listen, but how much better would it have been to be there with them?

Many of you will not consider this to be a problem area, but I believe that it is because you have been conditioned to receive nonpersonal stimulation as a means of fulfillment. Holding a warm hand or giving a loving hug could never measure up to a mere voice over a phone.

How do you turn this fast paced, electronic, insensitive world into a more emotional, giving and caring society? It's easy -- forget everything you ever learned and realize people need people. We need others to talk to, listen to and share with.