But try telling that to the affirmative team.

Comedian and television personality Tahir led the campaign that technology was indeed killing us, presenting a metaphorical argument that television, mobile phones and the internet were eroding human interaction.

He was assisted by former Knights player and administrator Mark Sargent and ABC radio presenter Aaron Kearney.

Steve Abbott - aka the Sandman - teamed up with media personality Carlee Potter and American comedian Eddie Ifft to convince the distinguished audience at the fourth annual debate of the opposite.

MC Maynard had the arduous title as the “man in charge”.

“Gone are the days of families sitting down together,” Tahir lamented. “Technology has killed so much of our society. TV has taken valuable family time away.”

Even a parents’ authority had been affected.

Rather than simply a place to sleep, children’s bedrooms have become a virtual playground fitted out with televisions, DVD players, Gameboys, Xboxes and iPod docks.

So: “What sort of punishment is it when a parent says go to your room?” Tahir said.

“Technology puts pressure on us: so many pin numbers, pass words.

“We’ve got a man named Gates selling Windows, and computers that let you make more mistakes ever in human history - except for hand-guns and Tequila.”

In his opening speech for the negative, Mr Abbott said technology was progress, illustrating his point by explaining that 25 years ago, an iPod was a “self-centred dolphin”.

“Technology is a manifestation of our intelligence,” he said.

“Technology prolongs life, it doesn’t shorten it. Technology is change, change is progress, progress is life.

“Bert Newton actually died 10 years ago, but technology keeps him alive.”