I just saw a video pointing out how our lives are all going down the toilet because of our addiction to the smart phone. I have seen a couple of videos like this , off late. At the outset let me admit. Yes. I am addicted to mine. A third arm if you will. In the last scene, the video grandly recommends that you leave the phone at home and enjoy life by stepping out into the world without it.
But I am quite puzzled by the strange romance attached to these videos that talk about simpler times when we didn't have these smart phones that connect us to a thousand people and a million experiences. If you are sitting bored at a bus stop, the video says, don't whip out your phone to connect to the social media.. instead stare at the person next to you.. you never know about the interesting possibilities out there... REALLY ?? Are they referring to the times that you got totally lost and spent a lot of time wandering around in frustration because you didn't have maps on your phone.. or are they referring to the wasted minutes staring at last year's useless magazines at the dentist's office while you waited for your turn.. or are they referring to all those times when your infant was up in the middle of the night and you are frustrated that you are all alone in the world.. when now you can chat with a friend across the time zone and you don't feel lonely any more...or are they talking about times when you are simply all alone and everybody in your immediate geography is busy with their lives or are simply people with whom you don't vibe with so much.... Which simpler times are they referring to ? Those golden times when everything was just perfect because we didn't have smarter phones...
I have connected to more friends , stayed in touch despite geographically insurmountable distances, pulled in a group of people for a cause, motivated a bunch of people to accomplish a goal together, connected with like minded people whom I never have the opportunity to meet face to face because of our varied schedules, activities and vocations... traded jokes and shared a laugh with a group when particularly in a depressed mood, connected with people who were no more than acquaintances when I actually saw them regularly in college, but have become buddies through this device where we can talk freely at any time....My life has expanded through this device.
Yes.. like everything else, the smart phone is a double edged sword. You can make it work for you or against you, but this is definitely not the Frankenstein monster it is made out to be. I feel more sociable, more connected, more able to do a lot of more in life with a lot more people because of this brilliant device which makes it all possible. It is a shovel... you can dig a hole and plant a sapling, or dig your grave. Your choice. But don't be silly and diss the shovel.
I have connected to more friends , stayed in touch despite geographically insurmountable distances, pulled in a group of people for a cause, motivated a bunch of people to accomplish a goal together, connected with like minded people whom I never have the opportunity to meet face to face because of our varied schedules, activities and vocations... traded jokes and shared a laugh with a group when particularly in a depressed mood, connected with people who were no more than acquaintances when I actually saw them regularly in college, but have become buddies through this device where we can talk freely at any time....My life has expanded through this device.
Yes.. like everything else, the smart phone is a double edged sword. You can make it work for you or against you, but this is definitely not the Frankenstein monster it is made out to be. I feel more sociable, more connected, more able to do a lot of more in life with a lot more people because of this brilliant device which makes it all possible. It is a shovel... you can dig a hole and plant a sapling, or dig your grave. Your choice. But don't be silly and diss the shovel.
