I have never seen such a preoccupation with something as I now see with phones in the USA. I'm profoundly afraid that in 10 years people will have forgotten how to look in someone's eyes who is
speaking to them and be able to answer. I exaggerate a little, but, not much.
In my humble opinion TV was the beginning of the demise of the family. Now I think the phone will end any last vestiges of connection. Will anyone read books anymore? Develop a comprehensive vocabulary?
I'm serious. It's distressing.
Maybe because I just arrived "cold turkey" from Mexico and it's an apparent obsession to me. I don't know but it is an amazing sight to see people with a phone in their hand all the time.
I know this post will rankle some people, but, only those that it applies to, I presume.
Glad I still have my $18 little cell phone that only allows me to occasionally make a phone call........
Ok, I got that off my chest, ha.
10 comments:
Correct observation! Each time we return to the land of the North, we see people sitting 3 or 4 together at a restaurant, all texting or looking at their phone while having their meal.
How sad that the one last opportunity to sit down, relax enjoy a meal and hold a conversation is reduced to an inconvenience because someone miles away is more important.
Yep. I had to stop and look at my phone 4 times while reading this posting. I could be posting this from my phone, but am using my ipad instead.
Tom, very funny!
Craig and I comment on it daily. During Christmas, we waited in line at Paradise Bakery behind a mother and 3 daughters. All of them, including the littlest one who appeared to be 6 or 7, were ignoring each other browsing and texting on iphones. When we get together with old friends, some of them are tied to their phones and check and respond to every text or call. If they were working it might be acceptable if they excused themselves, but they're retired. How do people not realize it's rude? What would they think if they went to a dinner party and the hostess sat and talked on the landline the entire meal? I've scored essays on standardized tests in the past few years and lots of kids now write in abbreviated text language. I'm guessing many don't know how to spell the real words.
Today, as my granddaughter and I were going shopping, she started texting on her phone. I told her to put it away or we'd go back home cause I wanted us to have a good time with each other. She did.
Later, a man, on a cellphone almost ran into us, and I doubt he even realized it. We missed our turnoff because of it and spent quite a bit of time getting back to where we needed to be. Scary!
As in most business meetings or lectures ... the order of the day was "please turn off your cel phones".
No meetings here (Mexico) but they are a necessity rather than sickness ... cept for maybe teenagers
Sparks - I've had a mobile phone since the 80's when I paid $2500 to have it installed in my car! I agree they are necessary thing, especially when I'm traveling alone on the roads......but, i guess, i use it as a tool not a device for maintaining contact on a minute by minute basis.....
I have seen reports of studies showing that reduction in interpersonal skills are currently happening because of our electronic gadgetry. Even though I know that, I am still tempted to reach for my telephone each time it brays at me -- like a lovelorn burro.
WOW! I am so very glad you wrote this commentary. I was just overwhelmed this last visit to Texas when I saw how much time friends and family spent on their phones. And the amount of gadgets in one home was just unbelievably wasteful - to person and things. My girlfriend has a laptop, a netbook, an iPad, a desktop computer, 3 flatscreen televisions, a Kindle, a land line and two cell phones. Her house is less than 1,200 sq ft, she has one adult child, a small family of sibs and half a dozen friends. I totally didn't get this need for all these devices that create a barrier between real engagement.
I was going to blog about it, thinking that maybe in the process I would discover that there was something missing in my life or that I was just missing the "why" and would figure it out. Now that you have had the same experience, I'm back to the conclusion that technology is really creating a profound disconnect.
Amen, Amen and AMEN. I can't for the life of me figure out what they talk or text about that is so involving. Recently there was a show on TV where 4 college age girls were asked to give up their phones for 2 weeks. It was like they had a terminal illness. I have 5 grandsons & they don't answer their phones but text. I refuse to learn to text. I like you, Babs have a cheap, buy minutes as I need them type phone and it is sufficient (handy for calling my husband in the mall so we can find each other, lol.
Post a Comment