enforced influence.

The dynamics of relationships, no matter the nature, are truly astounding at times.  With the age of technology and the continual accessibility we grant, of ourselves, to others we have grown to allow these, often, intrusive methods of communication to control our lives, the way we interpret words and actions, and affect the ever-changing dynamic of the relationships we form with people.  The most alarming realization is that we are forced to question whether or not such dynamics are truly shifting or if it is, merely, our interpretation driving the unbalance we may feel.  We view the unwavering bond most have with their various devices as  nothing unusual, but it seems as though we have begun to value such bonds over those we form with the people in our lives.  We argue that these things are necessary because they grant us this accessibility and the opportunity to keep in contact with a growing number of people from various stages in our lives.  Our devices allow us to expand our theoretical "circle," but as we increase, socially, in quantity do we concurrently decrease in quality?  Knowing that any person is a simple five second text or g-chat message away has become the silver lining on the advancements we've made as a society.  We take for granted the actual time we spend with people, our relationships become increasingly scrutinized and superficial, and we begin to undervalue those around us.  We've slowly come to replace the, what we thought were, life-altering bonds we made with our peers during our youth with poorly constructed, almost foundation-less relationships with people with whom we never truly make the effort to understand and know - without ever acknowledging the difference in true value these opposing forms of relationships may add to our lives.  Because of this we carry the weight of our "friends' " words and actions so heavily that we often allow them to drive the path of our relationships.  We often invent and imagine these shifts in relationship dynamics out of our induced need to be connected to someone, or something, at all times.  While we are constantly striving to build a strong foundation with these people, upon which we hope to create a genuinely meaningful bond, we never truly afford ourselves this opportunity as our relationships remain disconnectedly connected.  Albeit an oxymoron, we are now innately bred to keep ourselves at a safe distance emotionally, no matter the expectations that accompany the various types of relationships we will form, out of our fear of being vulnerable or getting hurt.