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Do you think our various forms of technology are helping or hurting our human communication and interaction? For example, is it harmful that we'd rather watch a marathon of the show Friends than actually go out with our real life friends? Is it unhealthy that our emotion in a text or IM has been reduced to two symbols resembling a smile? : ) Or on the other hand, do you think things like tv, the internet and cell phones are simply broadening our horizon of communication?

I own a cell phone, computer, tv, and radio.  Though sometimes I feel like those things are vital tools, other days I feel as though I'm becoming more and more of a hermit, relying almost exclusively on these things for communication. What are your thoughts?