Pondering...

[Jks9199]

An observation or thought that came to me while at the gym today, for what it may be worth...

I don't wear earphones, carry my phone (unless I absolutely must), or otherwise retreat into myself at the gym. I'm in the minority. The vast minority. Like sometimes, the only one. (Today, there were about 3 of us.) I've seen this other places, too, like parks and playgrounds. This is my observation: We've managed to isolate ourselves more and more while we're in public, and there's an irony when you look around a restaurant or coffee shop, and realize that everyone in there is communicating -- with people who are somewhere else. We're isolating ourselves from those nearby to communicate with those who are far away...

Wouldn't talking with people not there once have been signs of a mental problem? Or witchcraft?

[Jenna]

Wait till O/R is available on earphones....

[Bjohnson63]

This is one reason I dont have a smart phone. I am a computer geek for sure, but I also believe in not being tethered to the interent all the time. I also work under the rule of, if you want to talk to me, don't text, you will have to call me.

[Cidp24]

It's pretty irksome to me to go out with friends and to have some of them spending time at the table texting or using the internet. It's pretty rude in my opinion. I also agree that it is damaging social skills because people don't interact in person like they used to.

[Jenna]

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[Ducky]

I went out to lunch with a friend of mine the other day, and let hubby know. He said Ok, have fun, text me when you get home. No big deal. My friend's spouse made it a mission to be a texting pest the entire time. It's hard to have a conversation with someone when they have to stop every two minutes to reply to a text in order to prevent marital hell.

[Broke Hoss]

My cell phone is still mainly used as a phone. But I have had to learn to text more than I prefer; in order to stay in touch with my sons.

[IMGreat101]

codependency. Some people have it worse than others.
In my store you will see children following their mother, never looking up while texting the entire time. We have customers that never interrupt their phone conversation while you are trying to help them. God forbid you walk past them to help a "non-cell-phone-person". One night out listening to live music, I sat in the balcony for a different perspective. At least one third of the people were on their smart phone the entire time. A coworker was complaining that his wife is on her smart phone constantly. I told him that probably eliminates half of the Kama Sutra.

Welcome to the new socially inept.

[Jks9199]

I went out to lunch with a friend of mine the other day, and let hubby know. He said Ok, have fun, text me when you get home. No big deal. My friend's spouse made it a mission to be a texting pest the entire time. It's hard to have a conversation with someone when they have to stop every two minutes to reply to a text in order to prevent marital hell.

Why did they have to stop & respond?

That's one thing that gets on my nerves; the perception that people MUST stop and answer the phone or respond to a text. Depending on the circumstances, I don't answer my phone. I might be busy, I might be driving, or just might not feel like dealing with it. But I'm not a slave to the phone... I don't expect my wife to drop everything and answer, either.