Societal addiction to phones

[Dave1027]

It's like I'm living in a dystopian future where everybody is wired into the Matrix or something. Everywhere I go, everybody is starring at their phones. When I say everybody, it's like 99%. Case in point, I'm walking my dog this morning and everyone I come by is walking while fixated on their phone. I call them "i-Zombies".

A few days ago, an i-Zombie almost got himself bit. I see this guy walking toward me on the bike trail. As he gets closer I see he's starring at his phone. I'm thinking, "is this guy going to watch where he's going?" Sure enough, as soon as he gets about 20 feet away, he begins drifting straight towards me (walking on the right side of the bike trail). Just as he gets about 8 feet away my dog busts into protection mode and goes berzerk at this guy. The guy snaps out of his trance and jumps back as I'm pulling back on the leash. Knowing he's 100% at fault, he apologizes to me!

I go to a restaurant and again, if they are not looking at the menu they are starring at their phones. Even while eating!

Reminds me a Star Trek the Next Generation episode where the entire crew had their minds hijacked by the use of head worn game someone picked up on a planet. Wesley was the last one on the ship who was not controlled by the game device and the others were trying to force it on him. I feel like I'm Westley!

 

[rijndael]

I can’t wait to ditch my phone in retirement.

 

[Vil_Riker]

I can’t wait to ditch my phone in retirement.

I hear you - I have reduced my phone use dramatically in the last one year.

 

[opus1]

I can’t wait to ditch my phone in retirement.

I won't be ditching mine, but I will have a large number of contacts blocked as soon as I'm gone.

 

[supton]

And yet, here we are, online complaining about others being online.

I wound up letting my work connection to my phone lapse; it wanted me to set up some PIN and I decided I wasn't going to. Don't miss it--if I'm not at my desk, I'm not available. Problem I keep running into, if I have any hallway conversation, I wind up forgetting about any upcoming meetings--too used to my phone pinging me to go do something.

 

[RoadDukie]

I can’t wait to ditch my phone in retirement.

I retired 13 years ago, and haven't had a cell phone for 11 years now. I can't stand them.

O.P. is right. Everybody is owned by the telecoms and alphabets.

 

[SammyChevelleTypeS3]

I was so worn out by all the new technology we had to endure in the last 10 years on the job , I was ready to walk away from it all when I retired. I was one of the very few totally involved in the implementation of the first computers at our job site around 1989.
I , so far have refused any I phones what so ever. Just in the past few months I got a new flip phone. I don't need or want a computer in my pocket.

 

[Pablo]

OK yeah you have a point - I'm not immune, but at 8 feet your dog in a public place should be better trained than attack mode. Maybe I read this wrong.

Yes people have always been zombies, just easier to spot now.

 

[Dave1027]

And yet, here we are, online complaining about others being online.

I have no beef with people going on line but does it have to be 24/7 ? I'm now sitting in my room at home by myself typing. I see nothing wrong with that. But it's way too weird to see all these people outdoors and in public starring at their phones. It's like something out of an episode of the Twilight Zone.

 

[IndyIan]

Yes, I think its time for some regulation of targeted content for individuals. I don't know what that should be, but make it simple for people to stay in contact with their actual contacts, and be able to turn off everything else that randomly pops up.
Also have some PSA's on how you are being manipulated, just make to it real clear, like the effects of smoking ads.
From personal experience, facebook is pretty darn good at shooting me a variety of stuff to keep my brain just stimulated enough to think I'm learning something, but facebook seems to be designed not to user searchable, if you want to find a specific piece of information.
Just a customized time suck.

 

[Dave1027]

OK yeah you have a point - I'm not immune, but at 8 feet your dog in a public place should be better trained than attack mode. Maybe I read this wrong.

My dog was only defending me from what he perceived as an attack from some stranger. He's only doing his job, otherwise he's the sweetest dog. Just don't get on his bad side. He goes full on Cujo

 

[Pablo]

I have no beef with people going on line but does it have to be 24/7 ? I'm now sitting in my room at home by myself typing. I see nothing wrong with that. But it's way too weird to see all these people outdoors and in public starring at their phones. It's like something out of an episode of the Twilight Zone.

Worse? Two or MORE people at a restaurant or other place, group, small or medium - and they are all on their phones!!

I mean have no problem with a person alone doing this, really. Not as bad as **** Schomely TALKING LOUDLY on the phone.

 

[JeffKeryk]

It's not so much the tech, it's the users. Just like cars and other things.

 

[PontiacHO]

I am appreciative of technology and the ease of information but it boils my blood for drivers to be viewing their phones. Sitting through green lights, swerving, and generally dangerous driving because they aren’t watching the road.

 

[IndyIan]

OK yeah you have a point - I'm not immune, but at 8 feet your dog in a public place should be better trained than attack mode. Maybe I read this wrong.

Yes people have always been zombies, just easier to spot now.

Yeah, that doesn't sound great either.... Next topic "Why do people walk aggressive dogs in public?".

My dogs aren't friendly really friendly to strangers at all, and will bark and bark, until we establish than the new person is OK, but they are sitting on the front porch or under a tree at my house, never off the property except for vet visits...

 

[gfh77665]

It's like I'm living in a dystopian future where everybody is wired into the Matrix or something. Everywhere I go, everybody is starring at their phones.

I know its a silly example, but I think of the classic movie "Its a Wonderful Life" where we are living in a wrecked, immoral alternative reality instead of friendly Bedford Falls where people are mostly good and decent.

 

[Bjornviken]

My dog was only defending me from what he perceived as an attack from some stranger. He's only doing his job, otherwise he's the sweetest dog. Just don't get on his bad side. He goes full on Cujo

Good dog, I trust dogs over humans in that situation.

 

[Shel_B]

Scene at a family gathering a few years age ...

 

[BornSlippy]

There's a group of grade 7-8 kids that wait for the school bus down the street. Every morning every one of them just stand there and stare down at their phones. The way they have their heads down, they all look like powered down robots waiting to be rebooted. Surreal.

 

[ripcord]

I'm guilty as charged