Step Away From The Phone
[Moozik: Ascii.Disko - Nitrate]
Mobile phones have become one of those irreplaceable items to the point where we wonder how we ever lived without them. We did, obviously, but how much more convenient is it to call a person instead of a place? How much more convenient is it to be able to make a call wherever you are instead of having to find a bloody pay phone?
But it's not only that. Text, tweet, stream music, take photos, take video, upload files, find restaurants, surf the web, and play games. The world is your mobile oyster. And it's all very cool. I love it. But at what point is it too much? At what point have we become too plugged-in?
At the pub on Friday night, the amount of people sitting at the bar glued to their phones surprised me. I think I never really noticed before. Even couples on dates were doing it too. As soon as one of them went to the bathroom, out came the phone and the tweeting or texting or web surfing commenced. Like clockwork.
At the cinema on Saturday night, same thing. Phones out everywhere not only while the trailers are playing but during the actual movie itself. Everyone doing some mission critical task that can't possibly wait until the movie ends. You're not that important. You've paid to watch a movie right? Perhaps you should, I dunno, watch it?
Sunday night proved entertaining as well. We were at a concert and still people were texting and tweeting and talking on their phones. In the middle of a concert. Have you not paid to come and see this person live onstage? What could possibly be that important that you can't wait until the concert ends?
Now, I love gadgets & those internets as much as the next geek. But it's ok to sometimes leave your phone in your pocket. Really. The world will still continue, everything will be ok.
Kids today I tell you. Attention spans of goldfish. Now, get off my lawn.
During the relay, two of our team mates were on the phone non-stop. It made me crazy.
It's almost as if we need to make it a point to talk to the person in front of us...
After your get off my lawn comment, I thought I'd share this blog that my cousin found.
http://crabbyoldfart.wordpress.com/
nat... well said. You know, I would have tripped your team mates. Accidents happen you know ;-)
tony... ha, that's good ;-) Are those pesky kids off my lawn yet though?
Of course all of the texts you see those people making probably ended up here:
http://textsfromlastnight.com/
I seem to have gone the other way. I have surrendered my high tech phone and replaced it with one that is nothing more than a phone. No camera, no qwerty kepboard, no MP3 player. I haven't used my laptop in a year, preferring instead a desktop in the study. I haven't used my MP3 player in longer than I can remember. What's up with me? Am I becoming a luddite?
I agree with your point though about phones etc everywhere. Even in my office, people are working, texting and twittering at the same time. I can't keep up!
we all went to see Ice Age 3 yesterday (excellent by the way) and another parent actually took a call in the cinema, as though kids films don't count. I wasn't going to start an argument infornt of my daughter in the middle of a cinema so just grinned and bared it (very British I know). I think there should be a national no mobile phone day just to remind us what it was like only 15 years ago. Life is getting to fast and mobile phones are a big part of the everything has to be done now culture. Having said that sat on a potentially very boring train journey listening to the new Doves album, while playing Tiger Woods Golf, checking my facebook updates and getting a call from my wife suggesting a BBQ that night, all at the same time which is simply brilliant. If you had told me, when I was 18, that I could do all that on a phone that is smaller than a packet of 10 cigarettes I would have said jog on nutcase.
tony... he he.
dave... no I don't think you're being a luddite. Just have your priorities in order.
simon... I bloody love the convenience of gadgetry and what not. Your tale of your train ride is *exactly* what makes those phones so cool. But you're spot on, there's a time and place for it, and the cinema is *not* one of those times nor places ;-)
At the cinema, the phone goes on vibrate and remains in my pocket during the entire movie, regardless how bad it sucks. During the commercials, I'll send my final text or tweet before putting it away.
Out to eat, I do bring my phone out here and there, but it's not constant. Same with the bar. Tweet an update and then put it down for a while.
I am amazed at how much I rely on having my phone, with internet, text, twitter and so much more on it. But it's not the end all to leave it alone for a while.
Yeah, whatever happened to sitting in silence?
You're just old. Admit it. (ducks)
marty... oh I rely on my phone too. Couldn't be without it. But talking in cinemas and at concerts just clubs my kneecaps mate.
spd... ssshhh.
jake... oh I admit it alright. Not only that, but I'm a grumpy git as well. You should see me shake my cane at the kids as they walk by my house.