Societal addiction to phones

[Pew]

People who know me, know to call me, rather than text. I don't recall the last time I texted someone. Although I am using my phone to post this...

I'm the exact opposite. I strongly prefer folks to email or text me if it's not an emergency since I'm usually working on somebody else's issue and hate being interrupted. Although I am flexible on this and will let the department heads and higher call me.

But not at 10pm on a Sunday because they can't login and access their timesheet.

I also do not want to talk to my CEO for an hour about her cats.

 

[andrew_j]

Work on your dog’s behavior instead of focusing on phones in society you can’t control.

Good luck.

 

[fdcg27]

I too am dismayed when I see people glued to their phones on a constant basis.
The phone ends up as an electronic leash rather than as a useful tool and we as a society seem to be training them quite young.
It would be so much better for parents to spend money on bicycles and sports teams for their kids than to buy them phones. A family outing sans phones would seem to be a good idea.

 

[Pablo]

I'm the exact opposite. I strongly prefer folks to email or text me if it's not an emergency since I'm usually working on somebody else's issue and hate being interrupted.

Kinda the same way

Best help for me with a phone addiction is getting a dog!!!

 

[ripcord]

I've always been a reader and since I started to read ebooks and Internet forums on my phone, it's been down hill all the way. I'm trying to wean away with podcasts, but it's difficult.

 

[Speedy3861]

I was pretty dependent on my phone until I retired in 2017, as a field-service Biomedical Technician covering 105 outpatient sites, we got all service requests via either text or email. After I retired, I was asked to return as a consultant for 4 years part time. Now i use my phone as......wait for it, a phone. I still occasionally text and also use it for email, plead guilty to using it to check weather. As a heavy book reader, it was a no-brainer to go to Kindle about 2008, books are less expensive and I can travel with a full bookshelf (my Kindle is a Kindle, not on my phone). I still have a laptop computer but use a Samsung tablet for most internet activity. I use electronics as tools, I own and use them. I steadfastly refuse to put a credit or debit card on my phone.

 

[GON]

Regularly, I ponder if one can control a population simply by controling smartphones.

Imagine no more wars, just use very targeted and controlled content via a smartphone. Get full compliance by any population that is addicted to their smarphones.

Facsinating subject.

 

[2002 Maxima SE]

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!

I understand, but also I'm reading and replying from my phone.

 

[2002 Maxima SE]

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.

Same in our old neighborhood and I bet they are texting each other instead of conversation.

 

[ripcord]

Regularly, I ponder if one can control a population simply by controling smartphones.

Imagine no more wars, just use very targeted and controlled content via a smartphone. Get full compliance by any population that is addicted to their smarphones.

Facsinating subject.

And take your Soma!

 

[andrew_j]

Nor here in rural Vermont. My town and most surrounding towns have no cell phone service of any kind and we prefer it to remain that way. There are major roads you can drive for quite a long time without service. Ten years or so ago you could drive for several hours in many places and not find any service. So it’s possibly slowly creeping into the area, but generally we neither want it nor need it.

It will be fixed soon by usage of starlink to make up for areas lacking cellular towers.

 

[Carlostrece]

We're all staring at our phones reading and posting in this thread. The OP included.

 

[stormgol]

guns are not needed anymore to subdue Nations. smartphones are all you need. it is more than societal. it is Universal. even in the poorest of the poor countries.

 

[chainblu]

We're all staring at our phones reading and posting in this thread. The OP included.

I'm on a laptop. I rarely use my phone for internet. Only if I have to.

 

[Carlostrece]

I'm on a laptop. I rarely use my phone for internet. Only if I have to.

I should have said we're all staring at our electronic devices reading this thread.

 

[HM12460]

I gotta confess...I got a problem there that I'm trying hard to overcome.

 

[Dave Hess]

I was pretty dependent on my phone until I retired in 2017, as a field-service Biomedical Technician covering 105 outpatient sites, we got all service requests via either text or email. After I retired, I was asked to return as a consultant for 4 years part time. Now i use my phone as......wait for it, a phone. I still occasionally text and also use it for email, plead guilty to using it to check weather. As a heavy book reader, it was a no-brainer to go to Kindle about 2008, books are less expensive and I can travel with a full bookshelf (my Kindle is a Kindle, not on my phone). I still have a laptop computer but use a Samsung tablet for most internet activity. I use electronics as tools, I own and use them. I steadfastly refuse to put a credit or debit card on my phone.

I’m also a biomed technician.

We keep the wheels of healthcare turning smoothly whether it’s an outpatient site….. or monster hospital campus with 1000 beds.

 

[RedSpider]

 

[jetman]

me and dw have att flip phones (wifi is off 100%). we have never had smart phones. She still works, I've been retired for 17 yrs. We pity the fools.

 

[k1xv]

I want a phone with a rotary dial.