The bar last night was really loud, but my table of friends had fallen silent. I looked up to find all four of us typing away on our phones, catching up on Reddit, scrolling through Instagram and ignoring each other entirely. Sound familiar?
Before I bit the bullet and bought a smartphone, I loathed watching everyone disappear behind the blue screen of theirs. We’d be at the fair, and instead of watching the rodeo, they’d be on their phones.
The clicking of keys replaced the majority of our conversations during dinners, happy hours and even car rides. And I can’t count how many times I’ve watched my boyfriend trying to balance the wheel and his phone in the driver’s seat.
But now I have an iPhone, and I’m just as guilty as everyone else.
I finally understand the appeal…in one click I could be checking Facebook, or connecting with friends and family online. I can keep up with work and blogging from anywhere in the country. It’s an intoxicating feeling having the world at your fingertips.
But it also concerns me that my world is so confined to some vague, technical box that fits into my pocket.
For example, have you ever used an app to find a restaurant in the area, instead of just exploring on foot? Or have you traveled somewhere amazing and spent the trip behind your phone’s camera, clicking away, instead of just living in the moment? When I catch myself doing this, I feel silly.
I’m just suggesting that, every now and then, we take a step back to appreciate the world that’s right in front of us.
I want to have more in-person conversations with my friends, and instead of trying to relive memories through Instagram pictures, I want to be more proactive in the making of those memories.
My solution? I’m vowing to use my phone for what it really is: a phone. The apps, the pictures, the constant Redditing… I’ll save that for my alone time. Who knows how long we have left on this planet, anyway? I plan on savoring my life until then.
So: hello World, I’m finally back.
How do you guys feel about your phones?
guest
I think I’m the only one amongst my friends and family who is not dependent on the phone. I’m actually fine without it. I don’t become anxious if I don’t have my cell phone on hand. I do understand how useful cell phones are. However, I find it incredibly annoying when I’m having a face-to-face conversation with a friend or family member and once their phone rings, they’re not fully present at the time. They’re too busy multi-tasking while on the phone.
guest
My phone texts and calls and takes pictures. I am ok with this. I don’t really need anything more.
guest
As it is, I think I spend too much time on the internet, even without that capability on my old phone. The last thing I need is another route to Facebook or Reddit. I only check maybe three sites regularly and just cycle through them repeatedly for hours thinking this time there’s some content that wasn’t there 20 minutes ago.
guest
I always have my eyes on the sky, on the horizon, enjoying the beauty of Colorado. So, when I go out with friends I get annoyed because they want to photograph everything, for the sake of having a picture while I just enjoy it. Someone got angry with me one time because I wouldn’t take a picture for them because I was enjoying the sunset. He could have taken a photo just as well as me.
Granted, I was listening to my book on tape, but he was the one who suggested it to begin with.
And a few weeks ago, I went on a trip about 8 hours away with one of my friends. I drove the entire way since it was my car, and he sat there texting, playing on his iPod, and actually listened to his iPod with headphones instead of asking me if we could listen to something different in the car.
guest
Your boyfriend texts and drives? Ugh, this is one of my biggest pet peeves. Nothing is THAT important. I won’t get in a car with someone who does that. You’re not risking my life for a phone call, thanks.
guest
I have an iphone and use it a lot, but I try not to in front of my friends. If I need to use it, I just tell them. “Oh, I gotta take this call.” “One sec, this guy is texting me to come meet up with us.” Nbd.
sunflower / 405 posts
i think i’d explore more of the outside world if i had a smartphone with gps in it so then i know i’ll never get lost.
guest
I like my phone but I’m not completely obsessed with it like a lot of people seem to be.
guest
I currently don’t have a cell-phone, but I might get one again soon. All I want it to do is call and text – I don’t even need a camera on it.
I may possibly never get a smartphone, especially with how expensive the plans are for them.
guest
I’m trying to step back from my phone, turning it off more and whatnot. I just want to feel freer!