Societal addiction to phones

[slo town]

Nothing is worse than being at a funeral and most people are glued to their cellphones like a zombie.

I believe you, but people actually do that?

A couple is getting married and the officiant says, "I now pronounce you......" Phone rings in yet to be married pocket, "Wait, let me get this first. It's important." Coming to a wedding near you!

Scott

 

[Pablo]

I had a dream that I was at my brother’s house with some of his friends and my old business partner. They were all glued to the TV and didn’t care for what was on.

So whip my phone out - must see F1 results- phone says 11AM and I was sure it was 11 but the time is 4PM. I can’t get to the F1 site because blocked by ads……. I was frustrated- in a dream- by a phone

 

[slo town]

There was a great photo in Sports Illustrated several years back, side-by-side comparison pictures during the NBA Championship.

On the left was a B&W photo from the '70s or something, people laser locked on the game, their faces contorted with emotion. Every single one of them.

On the right was a color picture from the current era, showing the same exact location at the same stadium during the NBA Championship. 3/4 of the people weren't even watching at the game. Their heads were looking down at their phones.

It was a shocking and laughable comparison!

Scott

 

[frankbee3]

"If you aren't paying for the product, you are the product."

So true!

 

[frankbee3]

I grew up in a big mixed up Cajun / Italian family! It was great. We were lucky that we all lived close together. Everyone converged at my Cajun grandparent house each Sunday. All the aunts , uncles and cousins. My two grandmothers got along famously and even cooked together each Sunday. Everyone had a big noon meal there. All the kids ran wild in the yard playing and cutting up while the old men smoked on the porch and watched us. The women all were inside together. Nearly everyone stayed all day. Whoever made it to evening had supper there too. About 07:00pm we all gathered around the first color Tv in the family to watch the western Bonanza. Oh what times.
None of us had a care in the world back then. I know I was blessed as not many families grew up close like we did.

That is neat! I remember things being somewhat similar growing up. Things really are different now. Your story really punctuated that fact. Thanks for the sharing that.

 

[nomas]

One evening the wife and stopped at an IHOP . A family of four came in and sat near us . Parents and two teenage kids . All four had their face in their phones . They stopped only long enough to eat and then resumed phone activities . Dad paid the bill and they left . I'm telling you , not one word was spoken ..

 

[nomas]

Before I retired from the power company I frequently had to pass through the local University to access some of our facilities . One of the main streets has restricted access during the day . I could come and go as needed . During class changes the students poured out of the buildings and immediately started texting and reading , etc. NONE of them looked before stepping off the curb to cross the street and most of them were jaywalking anyway . There were signs everywhere that said " Pedestrians have the right of way " . You had to just stop wherever you were and let the knuckleheads cross because they never looked up from their phones ..

 

[tbm5690]

Before I retired from the power company I frequently had to pass through the local University to access some of our facilities . One of the main streets has restricted access during the day . I could come and go as needed . During class changes the students poured out of the buildings and immediately started texting and reading , etc. NONE of them looked before stepping off the curb to cross the street and most of them were jaywalking anyway . There were signs everywhere that said " Pedestrians have the right of way " . You had to just stop wherever you were and let the knuckleheads cross because they never looked up from their phones ..

A few years ago the university here did this all the way down the median of the main drag except for at crosswalks. Now it's much easier to drive through campus.

 

[bioilcurious]

I’m probably the only one here who went this far, but three years ago, I sold my iPhone for a "Light Phone 2." It's a dumb phone that only calls and texts, with an e-ink screen. I can’t say I’ve ever thought about my iPhone since. I only have a desktop computer at home and nothing else.

 

[Wylie6G72]

I'm not one to judge how people entertain themselves, Lord knows I spend enough time reading through this website, and Facebook, Instagram and X. Where my problems begin is when people are getting into serious car accidents because they were looking down at their phones There's no excuse for that, and phone addiction is causing injury and loss of property to other people. When you compile this issue on top of the fact that these people are uninsured, I get even more hot under the collar.
Stare at your phones all you like, but not behind the wheel of a car. Phone addiction at that level is pathetic, in my opinion.

 

[Pablo]

I’m probably the only one here who went this far, but three years ago, I sold my iPhone for a "Light Phone 2." It's a dumb phone that only calls and texts, with an e-ink screen. I can’t say I’ve ever thought about my iPhone since. I only have a desktop computer at home and nothing else.

Smart

I would love that except add navigation

 

[burbguy82]

If you watch "Star Trek, The Next Generation".....they are all walking around on their tri-quarters. Prophetic really.