Smartphones are amazing devices. Computers used to occupy entire buildings and rooms and we now hold one in the palm of our hands, with extraordinary capabilities. Our phones connect us to an online world of entertainment, vasts amounts of knowledge and information at our fingertips, social media, communication, games, they can take photos, and oh yeah, they can make phone calls too. They can serve a good purpose, but in many cases we have become so dependent and mindlessly addicted.
My wife and I recently went out to dinner. No kids. Just us. Yay. We could now get a word out between the two of us and have an uninterrupted conversation. Yes I’m being facetious…somewhat. I found a place to sit while my wife went to the restroom and I noticed a couple sitting at another table. Young. Hopeful. Dead silent. Rather than having their eyes locked on to one another conversing, both had heads down with eyes glued onto cellphone screens as they waited for their food.
I continued to observe them out of the corner of my eye. They tuned out the world. They blocked out each other. Their food came. Perhaps now they would converse. Nope. Instead they began eating slowly like two zombies, returning their attention once again each to their own phones. It was not until they had finished their food that they eventually looked up at each other.
What did I just witness? Is this a new millennial dating thing? I pointed it out to my wife once she returned. We aren’t perfect at communication but we didn’t go out on a date only to play on our smartphones, either of us can do that at home.
I observe such a situation and wonder at the future of humanity. Yet, I’m not one to judge; even so at that time I wanted to smack the guy and say “Dude! Look at your lady.” Then again I should look at the mote in my own eye. We all have our things.
These digital distractions are often everyone’s gripe, only when we are not huddled over our own phones. They are everywhere, always distracting. How many people can be seen on their devices while waiting for something, while walking, fiddling with their phones while driving a car? We can’t put the dang things down even to drive – around 26% of auto accidents are due to mobile phone distractions.
How many isolate themselves at social events with their face in a smartphone? How many ignore the pleas of a child? Neglect the connection with a significant other, all at the sake of a digital device? Where is our focus? Are we in control utilizing such devices responsibly or are we allowing them to control us?
Might I suggest that the relationship with our devices needs to mature. Yes, we live in a digital age. Yes, it is important that our kids and ourselves know how to interface and use these things. But let us make a more concerted effort to do so responsibly.
We need to mature. We can’t connect and engross ourselves so much and so recklessly in technology and expect that there will not be consequences. For as much as we are connected to our devices, we cannot disconnect with each other. It’s time to grow up in this digital age and be more responsible.
I would challenge the concerned reader to use your smartphone and/or digital device more prudently and responsibly. Put it down and simply drive your car undistracted. Put it down and look at your children. Put it down and reconnect with reality around you – observe, meditate. Put it down and have a real conversation with someone; especially if that someone is your significant other, during a dinner date.
