There was a time when we didn’t have electronic communication devices in our hands and the ability to be casually chatting with anyone who was out of ear shot.
And of c
ourse, the only thing we had to read was what we might have with us already in written form. We weren’t able to nonchalantly trade quips, one-liners or other such things of “importance” by letting our fingers dance over a keyboard with keys no larger than the bumps on Lego pieces I used to play with.How many of us – if we sit down to read a book, or relax on our back porch, or go for a short walk in the spring-like weather – will turn off our phones? Or, do we resist the urge to jump on our notebook (assuming we can’t access the web with our phone) because we just gotta check our email?
In addition to how we won’t take the time for ourselves, how many of us subject our friends to our interruptions? It’s amazing to me to see how this aspect of our world has changed and it’s almost become socially acceptable to take a call or receive and/or send a text in almost any situation. I’ve been at dinner in a restaurant and seen four people in a booth all on their phones at the same time talking to other people.
I’ve been in a movie theater and have seen people texting on and off throughout the whole show. Or – people walking along with each other, but talking to other people on the phone! – I guess they could be talking to each other… but I don’t think that’s happening…So - maybe we should all consider taking a trip back in time and going a whole day without using our cell phones, or at least turning them off when we’re with other people. It might do us all some good to remember the art of face to face conversation.
6 comments:
I'm going to admit that my husband and I are addicted to our phones. We lay in bed playing with them, ignoring each other and the TV. I bought him the new DROID for Verizon as a V'day gift and he fell asleep holding the phone instead of me :( I am just as bad, so I'm not complaining. It's just that my friends and are I utterly a slave to them. The horror if we forget them at home. The horror if we forgot to charge them.
What is peace and quiet? I forget.
Tales Of A Fourth Grade Nothing
Ally, Ally Ally...
I probably forget my phone 2 or 3 days a month as I head out the door to work, and it's great! I turn it ALL THE WAY down (not to vibrate) for church on Sunday mornings and often forget to turn it back up until late that night or even Monday morning...
You gotta try it...
Just one day without your phone...
- or maybe you and all your friends - who it sounds are part of the problem - can all agree to go a day together without using your phones...
- or, maybe there's a 12-step program you could get into... :)
...if you listen hard enough, you can hear the peace & quiet calling out to you...
This reminds me about a story I was reading about digital cameras...
People take so many pictures now using this technology (phone camera included :) ) that they actual live their trips through the camera lens and don't actually see the beautiful locations "live" and miss out on so many life experiences in the process.
Since I read that I've taken a lot less pictures (of course I make each picture count) and use my "minds eye" camera instead (surprised no camera company has thought of that slogan yet). You can remember those pictures just as vividly too.
As for cell phones... I got my first one in 1990 or so; huge with an even bigger battery. At the time it was cutting edge. To this day that's all I want to use. Don't want texting, and even IMing bugs me. If you want to reach me either call me or talk to me face to face. ESPECIALLY if you're in the cubicle RIGHT NEXT TO ME.
Anyway... Thanks Darryll for the reminder to take a step back and enjoy nature.
I try and resist all forms of modern technology. Except for my laptop, I lead a pretty 19th-century lifestyle. No cellphone, no tv, no dvds, no ipods, etc.
Being without a cellphone has become a weird feeling to most. I mean... we've become accustomed to being connected ALL OF THE TIME. I got along just fine for close to thirty years without one (Although it would've been nice a couple times when I broke down on the interstate) but life went on and no permanent damage was done.
Sometimes when I forget my cell at home, it's almost a relief not to have the electronic ball and chain on my hip.
I miss SO many of my calls because I never leave the ringer on. My other friends have their phones in hand almost all of the time. Don't get me started about my iphone and blackberry friends!! It's like they have to be typing away, or fidgeting with the things during ANY down time. To me a cell phone is a tool, not a necessity. Guess I'm old school like that.
Darrin - all well said! "a tool, not a necessity" - Excellent! and I would add - and not an entertainment device - Can't people just take their eyes/fingers away from their phone long enough to look me in the eye and carry on a conversation?
...ahhhh - *drifts off to an imaginary quiet lake in the mountains where the only sounds are lapping water, lazy breezes, etc* ...
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