Technology, Is It A Good Thing or a Bad Thing?

Barbara, I quite agree. I'd like each and everyone of them caught. Not sure that we have enough prisons for them all. I'm inclined to paint a BIG red letter F for fraud on the forehead that won't come off and allow them to roam free...how about you?

Diane, I guess what's old is new again. Everything in this day and age is at a fast paced whirl...with so many scams and fraud it seems prudent to slow things down a bit especially when dealing with money. I know I value keeping mine and I would assume most others feel the same. So, it only makes sense to take the time to REALLY know who you are doing business with.

Marie, sounds like we are on the same wave length. It would certainly save us all money for prisons and warn others of their presence. I think it's a winning idea.

Michael, it's a hard world we live in now, one with a lot of skepticism and rightful so. Our profession has quite a hurdle to overcome with all the scams and fraud abounding. I think we have to be ever so much more diligent in making sure that we are a cut above the rest and giving good sound advice. Making sure that our business model always includes that personal touch and keeping our clients informed so they are not left to be victimized.

Ann-Marie, I know what you are saying but I just can't imagine that a person's character could change that much. I'm pretty sure that no matter how down and out I could ever get, I wouldn't resort to criminal activity. But, I guess there are those that might and do.

Lane, absolutely. The Internet is great for finding information but at the same time, there is nothing to stop a scarn artist having information on the Internet, too.  There needs to be more than just assuming that if someone is on the Internet they are legit. Plus there are those who steal legitimate people's identities everyday.  

So, at the end of the day...that personal touch, that meeting at someone's office confirming they are who they say they are, are all so very important.

I know that won't stop all of the scams and fraud but at least a Realtor's identity would be a little harder to assume.

Roland, oh believe me I love the Internet and technology, I just hope that we don't as a society and as a profession forget the personal side of eye to eye contact. A balance would be good.

Wayne, my crystal ball broke awhile back but my guess is that the new generation that has been unnamed so far (I call them Z  generation) will be less communicative since according to surveys spend much of their time in front of a computer, TV, cell phones and texting. The days of playing outside with your buddies and learning to get along with one another learning social skills is being lost.

I do hope that we see a reverse trend and grab onto more of the social aspects of society while there are still those of us left that know what it is like.

I have faith in mankind...everything usually old returns again...so I'm hoping for the return of eye-to-eye contact...there's nothing like it. All things in moderation.

Jack, don't worry I'm not suggesting that we go back to that...although I never lived in that era. I love technology, too but there is a happy medium and there are aspects that are being left out so all I am suggesting is that since we have gone way over to the right...how about being towards the middle.

That might help with the obesity problem that we have in society, it might help people learn how to communicate, learn to spell again and cut down a tad on some of the fraud.

Do you agree that nothing in life is good when its in excess? What are your thoughts now that you know I an not advocating getting rid of all technology?

Susan, back to character and since of pride...now it's anything goes as long as I can get away with it.

Russ, yes you are right. The houses I referred to were REO's and definitely NOT rentable.

Missy, she broke in and had the locks keyed.

Robert, ah yes there is nothing worth wearing an orange suit for. And fraud is alive, well and spreading like wildfire. The big word is a resounded, NO! You are a man of character, ethics and pride.

Scott, everything you said is absolutely true and I would add that as time marches on, my hope is that customer service will once again rate right on up to the top. There is an entire generation who really doesn't know what good customer service is and don't know what they are missing but maybe someday they will want someday as old fashioned as customer service along with technology.

We baby boomers remember what it is and appreciate it.