On the looming smartphone crisis
How many of us have been waiting in line in the supermarket only to witness the customer ahead of us not paying attention because she is on her smartphone and the cashier is waiting for her? How many drivers are barreling down the road on their smartphones? Have you noticed young people in restaurants not engaged with others at the table? Evidently whatever is happening in their smartphone-world is more important.
The schools are an absolute disaster.
And these users are not working or even doing something mildly important. It's nonsense. I mean whatever has them so engrossed in their smartphone, it is almost always absolute nonsense.
When I was a young commuter, it was common to read the newspaper on the train. Today, understandably, people are on their smartphones instead. But how many of them are reading the news? Forget about it.
In fact, without being overly obvious, I have started to notice how people are using their smartphones. It's social media, games, and frivolous chat (you can tell by all the emojis). The most productive use might be dating apps because young people no longer have any interpersonal skills. Everyone has a computer in their pocket more powerful than a Cray supercomputer. And they are basically using it as a toy.
When I was a kid, I'll tell you something I used to hear all the time. "Pay attention." This was long before smartphones. Sadly this seems to be a skill that is no longer taught or appreciated.
Pay attention and be present in the moment. Or how about simple courtesy: Give the person or people in front of you your attention. If you do not or cannot, why are you there?
Why are you there? You could simply go back to the pod you came out of. Pod. P.O.D. Personal Opium Den. Coming soon. But for now, maybe do all the rest of us a favor, take your smartphone and go stand in the corner. Then, at least, you will not be in the way.
Yet I am skeptical of the addiction argument. I don't know, maybe so. But I think it is more likely simple narcissism and rudeness. Have we really created so many rude narcissists? Again, I do not know. But whether addiction or narcissism or both, or something else entirely, what are the larger implications for society?
Yes absolutely, this is the rant of an old man. But this is not going to end well.