I myself enjoy television shows, movies, knowing I can reach someone easier with a cell phone, I like my blogging community, email is a fast and easy way to share things. Paying bills online beats writing out checks or driving from business to business. But there are times, seasons, days when I can get too caught up in some of these. Let something that needs to be done slide for now. Miss an opportunity to do something fun or go somewhere. Thankfully, I have never really succumbed totally to any of these fascinations.
I say all of this to preface that I understand it's usefulness. I understand even the draw of it. Yet, in so many ways it aggravates me no end.
People trying to play with their gadgets while walking or driving. People who can not seem to lay their gadget down and leave it while you are by to visit or they are at your home to visit you! It irritates me no end to see people give over to small children gadgets and then not set strict time limits. And just the general waste of time and opportunity the use of all these gadgets create.
These things upset me, bother me, worry me about the future.
What about you? How tied to your gadgets are you?
Hello,
ReplyDeleteHere from the A-Z, and in complete agreement with your opinions. Any number of people seem to be controlled by their devices - addicted totally. It wastes unimaginable amounts of time.
As you said technology is a tool, useful as all tools are. But dangerous when humans become its servants instead of it serving them.
I am from a generation that grew up without technology and gadgets - we were expected to amuse ourselves without them. And because of that I can still amuse myself or get whatever jobs that need to be done without the gizmos if necessary - though it would be far more inconvenient now that we are used to doing things online. But I do have the skills required. It does worry me that the present generation is growing up minus that knowhow.
Nilanjana.
Madly-in-Verse
Theme : Arabiana
I'm not addicted but John is to the TV. We can't go anywhere at certain times of the day because of it. Just a few days ago there was a bad wreck that killed 13 Senior Citizens because of texting. It makes me sick to see whole families with their face in a cell phone in a restaurant. I never get up and have to check my computer before I do anything else. I like technology as much as the next person but it has gone too far. Good post.
ReplyDeleteI like the internet and I spend a lot of time on it. I am not glued to my phone. Half the time I don't even have it with me when I leave the house. It saddens me to see families out to eat and all are on their phones or other such devices.
ReplyDeleteBetty
Untied. I come to this library to use the Internet. I have a cell that stays at home, accept when I am driving, & off most of the time unless I am waiting for a phone call. I do not own a TV for I'd say, 17+ years. I have eye'd a Kindle, but I love the smell & feel of my books.
ReplyDeleteThe last meal I ate with family members, 2 of them were on their phones through Christmas dinner.
opps except when I am driving, not accept.
DeleteReleaved you clarified that!
DeleteI absolutely agree. And if I could go back in time, now I understand the addictive powers of electronic games, I would never have bought them. I think it's harder for young people as all these gadgets are there at the outset of their lives and they think it's the norm -and consequently they miss out on so much real life activity. I love the internet - made wonderful friends, learnt so much about other cultures and I adore Google and Wikipedia but nothing beats spending time quality time in the real world. I've also had about 4 near head-on collisions with people turning the corners in their cars whilst on the phone (even though its illegal here) and that makes my blood boil. Not only are the obsessed with their phone but too lazy to buy a bluetooth and they risk not only their own life but someone's else's because of a text message or Facebook! I think it's a huge problem for young people and there's a lot of evidence to suggest it is having a negative effect on their lives - particularly young males.
ReplyDeleteI'm way too addicted, but social media is partially what I do for work, so I have to stay dialed in. And sadly, just when I say, "Enough! I'm taking a break!" then something blows up and I have to dive back in.
ReplyDeleteTo me, doing it for work is a whole other matter. 😉
DeleteI love having the convenience of Google and the maps on my phone. I am also addicted to social media but i also enjoy family time in front of the TV with the phone away. Definitely lots of pros and cons.
ReplyDeleteI think that, as with all things, using gadgets is a matter of good manners and common sense. Unlikely, sometimes common sense seems to be on the list of extinguishing animals ;-)
ReplyDelete@JazzFeathers
The Old Shelter - 1940s Film Noir
I hear you! When I was in school they taught us proper telephone etiquette. Surprising how many don't even know that nowdays.
DeleteI agree with you completely, Barbara, and I see some of the addictive properties in both me and my kids, though I have the easier time setting it aside. It does concern me that people are missing out on what's going on around them or are rude to others because they are glued to their screen. Not sure that this is going to change in a global sense, but it can certainly change in the personal.
ReplyDeleteI do love my gadgets but not to the point I can't lay them down. Real people and interaction can never be replaced.
ReplyDeleteWe were leaving the house yesterday and almost ran into a kid on a skateboard who was playing with his phone. Arrrrr....
ReplyDeleteJohn Holton
A to Z Challenge Co-Host
Oh my gosh! :-O
DeleteI see the same thing. I see kiddos who can't put their devices down, and I see kiddos who do. It's like anything else, I suppose. One can use tools for good or ill.
ReplyDeleteI don't get people reading a phone while with friends and family at a restaurant. It's not living your life. I spend too much time on the computer. I consider it my television. It does erode my novel reading though.
ReplyDeleteBarbara, yeah I'm tied. Life would not be the same. I love my Samsung phone and all the apps. Yes, I'm hooked.
ReplyDeleteI'm able to lay mine down and not look at it once all day. But I have kids (in their 40's) and grandkids who feel they will 'die' if not connected. I don't get it either!
ReplyDeleteI love my internet-connecting toys... my cellphone and my tablet, and I would be sad without my internet friends. That being said, it can easily become an addiction and time waster. I get much more done if I shut them off. There is no need to check games or messages every five minutes. I really worry when I see parents in a restaurant totally ignoring their children because they are on their cellphones and the kids are on their tablets or games, or staring off or running around causing a ruckus. Family time is sacred... put the electronics away when people gather!! We are loosing the ability to connect fact to fact.
ReplyDeleteI've seen parents so totally engrossed by their cell phone and not paying attention to their young children (2-5) who are walking either ahead of them or behind them in busy parking lots.
ReplyDelete