In a day in age where almost everyone is instantly connected because of the marvels in technology I think we are more disconnected than ever. In one instant I can send a text message to 100+ of my friends and colleagues. What I also know is that being connected to the whole world makes it very hard to stay connected to the people who are physically in front of you.
I went to dinner with a few friends on Saturday night and we were planning on going out dancing afterwards. Another friend of mine was planning on meeting up with us after dinner because she had to work late. I started texting my friend when we got to the club, asking her when she was coming out, which then turned into me trying to talk her into going out even though she was tired. I spent quite a bit of time leaning against the bar text messaging back and forth with her. It wasn’t until one of the girls I was with came up to me and said “quit texterbating and come dance with us” that I realized that I was completely ignoring the 4 friends I was with because I was trying to convince someone else to come hang out with us. I was using my cell phone as a barrier for being present and just being with the friends who were already there.
Once I realized this I put my phone away and I didn’t pull it back out again. But apparently the rest of the club didn’t get the same message. The whole night I noticed people in the middle of the dance floor texting, girls camping out in the bathroom talking on their cell phones and numerous people repeatedly checking their phones. When did we get so connected to our cell phones that we lost connection to the real world?
I challenge you to make your cell phone take a back seat to the real world you are living in and experience the people around you.
i have noticed that for a very long time. i dont get it either. cell phones are like a 5th limb to us.
Oh yes it’s an easy trap to fall into – texting while out. And some of my friends have picked me up on it too, so I now put it away if I’m out.
Though I accidently left my phone at work tonight and argh – it’s driving me nuts. Though I’ll probably get to work tomorrow and nothing will have changed on it’s pretty shiny face ;-)
Such a good post, and so very true. I don’t mind someone taking an important call or sending a very quick message, but I agree people really should concentrate on the people they are with. Some people seem incapable of letting a call go to answer phone or saying a quick ‘can I call you later’. I still regard it as rude otherwise.
I too have noticed this phenomenon. And your right, trying to reach someone who isn’t there is so distracting to the people who are right there in front of you.
Frankly I think modern technology is hurting us.
I take cell phone holidays….typically on a weekend. They are awesome….though I tend to have a stack of txts and some VM’s when I check it later.
A great scenario that sadly happens far too frequently. I can’t count the number of times i’m hanging out with friends and one of them is just texting away, or gets a call and answers their phone (while in the middle of a conversation).
I wonder if people realize that the message they’re sending to their friends is they’d rather be somewhere else, doing something else. That their friends at that point in time aren’t as important as the person on the other side of the phone.
Thanks for the reminder.
I try to intentionally stay engaged with people on a personal level, rather than get sucked into the often simpler route of technology, but that is a difficult thing in our generation.