Gre analytical Writing issue essay Topic 101

GRE Analytical Writing ISSUE Essay Topic - 161 
"Technologies not only influence but actually determine social customs and ethics." 
GRE AWA Analytical Writing ISSUE Essay Sample 
Solution - 161 
It is an undeniable fact that the face of human society has been drastically changed over the years 
by the advent of technological advances. Man's thinking and lifestyle have always been 
influenced by the technologies of his era. Technology has even succeeded in modifying the 
social customs and norms that are followed by humans. Nevertheless, the fact remains that 
customs and traditions still retain their age-old roots as technologies will never be able to 
completely control the social customs and ethics of society. 
It would be an exaggeration to state that social customs can be determined by technologies. Since 
time immemorial, Man has been living in a society by following certain norms and these customs 
and traditions have been passed down from generation to generation. The advent of technology 
may have modified the norms and customs of society to suit Man's needs. For instance, it is a 
custom in most Hindu societies that the brother travels to the sister's home on a festival called 
'Rakshabandhan', to enable his sister to tie a 'Raakhi' on his wrist. However, modern technologies 
have made it possible for sisters to send the 'Raakhi' to their brothers through the Internet or 
courier services. This is quite convenient in view of the traveling distances involved and the 
exigencies of one's career. Therefore, technology has succeeded in modifying this custom to the 
extent that people now find it convenient not to travel but still celebrate the festival in some or 
the other way. However, technology can never be influential to the extent that brothers and 
sisters stop celebrating this festival altogether. They would have been following this ritual 
annually ever since they were children and the emotional attachment to this ritual will prevent 
them from letting technology determine a new future for this custom. 
Technology has affected our entire lifestyles including our eating and clothing habits. 
Nevertheless, no matter how busy people are, they will always try their best to celebrate 
'Thanksgiving' in the traditional way. Modern technologies may assist them in getting frozen pre-
cooked turkey, but the same technologies will have no bearing on their faith and customs. The 
Christian bride dresses in white for the wedding ceremony. Technology may have altered the 
location of the altar because of the ease in traveling and arranging for commodities in almost any 
corner of the world. There are news of brides and bridegrooms who have exchanged vows in the 
weirdest of locations like in mid-air or in gardens and historical monuments. Technology may 
have improved the quality of the dress materials, but still in almost every case you will still see 
the bride dressed in white. The bride and bridegroom will still exchange the same vows that were 
exchanged by their ancestors, centuries ago. The custom of marriage may have been modified by 
technology, but technologies have no control over the religious ritual of marriage. 

---

Technological tools like the internet, print media and television have succeeded in bringing the 
people together. The customs and traditions of other societies have started to have an effect on 
everyone across the world. At the same time, intermingling of people from different societies has 
now become possible because of people traversing across the globe in search of jobs. 
Technology has succeeded in bridging the gap between people from different societies, but still 
the people have been able to retain their customs and traditions despite the influence of 
technology. Technology had succeeded in placing Man on the moon decades ago, but technology 
has not been able to uproot the entrenched custom of certain communities that do not let their 
women step out of their homes without veiling their faces. Therefore, it is true to an extent that 
technologies may influence our social customs, but it cannot be agreed upon that these social 
customs are actually determined by technologies because ethics and culture are an integral part 
of any society and they cannot individually be determined by technology. 

---