Hello!

In a world where it’s green to be politically correct, why are we still seeing so many problems with addiction to environmentally unfriendly substances? If we are moving toward saving our natural environment, how can we be so addicted to things that are not of it?

If you’ve made it past the above sentence, then you haven’t yet gotten the point. Let me explain further.

Recently, A close friend of mine has made mention that his workplace is moving their traditional paper works to a web-based database system in some other part of the country. The solution was suggested by the , and is, from my understanding, quite pricey.

The company which is moving to this solution is nearing a management change, as the original founders of the company are nearing retirement, and there are two new head-honchos coming in and requesting a change to keep up with the times. Of course, in keeping up with the times, let’s dump the “extra” company money into technology!

Generally, the company does good work, and is adept at keeping customers happy. On top of all of this, they have efficiently run their business for several years in the “old” way.

So what’s the issue? Software is fast, right?

Well, yes. And no. Sometimes. If it’s used correctly. However, that is the downfall: usage. At a time when the company is nearing it’s most critical annual revenue crunch, as well as the largest expenditure of labor for the year, they are working on implementing a new system that none of the employees are familiar with. The employees don’t know how to use the software that they will soon be forced to use to do their job. Efficiency will be reduced to, I approximate, nearly half of previous years, because the new system will b, well, new, and will likely have bugs and kinks to work out.

I’m all for learning and growth. Hell, I’m a Linux Admin for crying out loud! I learn about 14 new things daily, and find out that the same number are obsolete! Learning, growth, and advancement are essential to survival, whether it be personally or in a place of business. This I understand!

The company is a small business in a small town in the middle of Texas. The new gurus are big-city business men straight out of the rat race. I think I see a conflict of interest. To cap it all off, they figured out a way to pay for the whole thing: take it out of the Bonus Pool.

I am writing this blog because I am addicted to technology.

You are reading this blog because you are addicted to technology.

So, if paperless is the way to go, why is it so much worse for our beloved earth than the manufacture of paper? If everyone on earth wrote a letter to the CEO of a major technology firm, would the environmental impact be better or worse than if they were to all send an email?

/cs