Have you noticed that its almost impossible to have a conversation, with some people, without them checking there smartphones during the conversation. No? Maybe I just bore the hell out of people?
Read:
...but...while reading the article I, myself, did the following:
- emailed myself three ideas for blog posts (including this one)
- Googled (using Bing) the word Luddite and read two articles about them, I like them
- Tried to summarize the American Revolution in 140 characters (again, future blog post idea)
- Sent email to Mrs Bannon with link to article so she could enjoy what I was enoying (before I was done enjoying it)
- Checked my phone twice (it doesn't make a sound when I recieve emails, and I'm too lazy to figure out why, but apparently I thought I might receive an important email while reading this interesting article. Further, I was reading the article on the computer which my email also comes to. ?)
I don't have a smartphone, and I have fought my immediate family getting one. I have an iPad, and I think it is great, but it is also very dangerous. I have thought about doing the "electronic-free day" or weekend, but I just don't think it would be that hard. I have been without electronics out in the forest - but that is easy. Its being in town and around them that makes it hard.
I may read one of these books, if I can just sit down and focus:
(I may get iDisorder for my sisters - but it will have to be the electronic version...)
...actually, I read ALOT of books. But, I do have to admit, that I have about 15 bookmarked books on my coffee table - and no room for coffee.
3 comments:
My oldest daughter proclaimed on Facebook that every Wednesday would be her "networking free" day. She did this on Wednesday morning. By about 5 pm she was "networking". I asked her about it. She said, "I went as long as I could".
You can resist having a smart phone until you get one. Then, it's very difficult to give them up -- and that's why they call them "Crackberries". (Actually I use an iPhone, not a Blackberry, but the point is made)
Don't feel bad. One of my doctors that teaches at a local college answers his stupid phone when one of his students texts him a question. His college decided that Professors must instantly answer students questions. I'm thinking I remember the days when students kissed Profs butts and now days, Profs kisses Students butts.
It is the information age. Unfortunately, that gives computer gurus and governments access to all our information.
In the old days we needed to bring a book or magazine if we anticipated being stuck waiting in a doctor's office or line.
Now we have our phones and can monitor tweets from our favorite people. We can check and publish blog comments. We can check Facebook and see what our kids have been doing and watch vids of their new cat. We can check ebay to see what people have bid on our "garage sale" items. We can check email to see what people want us to do now. The list is endless.
I'm not saying now is better. I agree that we need to get a handle on how much time we make ourselves available electronically. There is a risk of allowing ourselves to be too subjected to the barrage of information, possibly creating attention deficit symptoms and sometimes anxiety.
Putting the phone away (or on airplane mode) and going hiking in the woods is a great idea. I like to take the kids swimming in the summer. We play catch with real balls and put on goggles and communicate underwater. Then come home hungry and eat dinner. Summer activity that can't be beat, even for young boys.
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