What Are We Doing?
As I sat there conversing with some of the parents, I looked up to see four teams, about 50 kids, exit the training complex and realized they were all plugged into their phones, not all but so it seemed. No conversation, no laughter, nothing but the glow of their screens. These were kids no more than ten, maybe eleven years old. Some were only six.
Out in the parking lot, quite a few cars had the the same glow and I realized that this was why the kids were oblivious to everything but their phones; this was a learned habit.
Parents could show up to the practice fields and see what was going on with their kids. Were they receiving proper instruction, learning anything, or were they being mistreated, or bullied? I would want to see where my money was going. Maybe talk to the coaches. These parents have no idea what is going on. Too busy with the phone.
The cell phone has become the connection to the outside world and if you can't share, like, <3 or read all about it on the latest app, it must not be true. Go to a mall, restaurant or any place where you can "people watch" and you will see someone bump into a wall, or step into a puddle.
The food some get at a restaurant, the coffee and scone. Time for the obligatory picture. One must be posted on social media for approval. Dinner might get cold before it is even touched. Too busy waiting for comments and replies to eat.
There was a time not too long ago when one got into an elevator or while waiting in line people would talk to eachother. About the weather or the game last night or just idle chit-chat, even nothing of consequence. Now we automatically retreat into isolation via our phones. I am guilty of this as well. This is now the social convention.
Not to long ago I was in the historic part of town, 1509 old! People were not taking in the sites; almost no selfies. That was because they were too busy with their phones. Many were playing the latest game and after the monster. Sadly they missed much of the history. They did however get the monsters so the trip was at least worthwhile.
The "oh my God, I have no bars" syndrome is real! My son and some of his friends went down to the river. Their favorite spot is located between two mountains. Almost perfect, no current to speak of, just enough to keep the water moving along. Because it is stuck between to hills there is no signal AT ALL!
Fear was first to strike. No phone service! Then it hit him, he was totally unreachable and free. He would be in the water and would not be using it anyway.
We have become tech savvy but have lost some humanity in the process. Has it been a fair trade off? I do not know what you are going to do, but I am going unplugged for a bit.
The food some get at a restaurant, the coffee and scone. Time for the obligatory picture. One must be posted on social media for approval. Dinner might get cold before it is even touched. Too busy waiting for comments and replies to eat.
There was a time not too long ago when one got into an elevator or while waiting in line people would talk to eachother. About the weather or the game last night or just idle chit-chat, even nothing of consequence. Now we automatically retreat into isolation via our phones. I am guilty of this as well. This is now the social convention.
Not to long ago I was in the historic part of town, 1509 old! People were not taking in the sites; almost no selfies. That was because they were too busy with their phones. Many were playing the latest game and after the monster. Sadly they missed much of the history. They did however get the monsters so the trip was at least worthwhile.
The "oh my God, I have no bars" syndrome is real! My son and some of his friends went down to the river. Their favorite spot is located between two mountains. Almost perfect, no current to speak of, just enough to keep the water moving along. Because it is stuck between to hills there is no signal AT ALL!
Fear was first to strike. No phone service! Then it hit him, he was totally unreachable and free. He would be in the water and would not be using it anyway.
We have become tech savvy but have lost some humanity in the process. Has it been a fair trade off? I do not know what you are going to do, but I am going unplugged for a bit.
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