Cell phones, other portable electronic devices

[Soulrev]

I have been without a cell phone for almost 6 months now. It's been fantastic. More and more, it seems like everybody is constantly entrenched in their cell phones. People walk around like zombies, staring down at their phones. I see people come over to socialize with their friends, all the while sitting there with their face buried in some app on the phone.. It's just friggin' ridiculous.

I'm so glad I got rid of my zombie device, leash, whatever you want to call it..

/end rant

[Troy Spiral (13)]

years ago I read a short story about people that would walk around the city with others right in front of them but would never interact. They were too busy talking on their communication devices to the people there friends at home totally ignoring the people right in front of them. I thought it was a little far fetched. Totally right on target now. Was a Bradbury story.

[EagleRose]

Sadly, I rely on my cell phone. I use the alarm clock for monitoring my meds, the calendar function for my various appointments, using it as a life line in case I fall or get stuck, and more. I sometimes actually use it as a phone. With its many functions and programs, my cell phone takes the place of my numerous books and sheets of paper. So, despite the fact many people misuse the technology, I find it to be a great help in my day to day existence.

[TronRP]

I must admit, I am guilty of using my smartphone as an excuse to pretend to surf the web or read emails while waiting in offices for a client during chauffeuring runs, at times when my anxiety and/or panic attacks flare up outside the house. However, out of courtesy, I never use the phone function in closed in spaces with other people. I always excuse myself from the area to make or return a call. I do find that behavior to be rude.

[Soulrev]

Yeah I didn't have much time the other day, this was just something I had on my mind I wanted to share really quick. I will elaborate and say that I think now more than ever people are so cut off from reality that they wouldn't know what to do if they ever had to face it.

Yeah I didn't have much time the other day, this was just something I had on my mind I wanted to share really quick. I will elaborate and say that I think now more than ever people are so cut off from reality that they wouldn't know what to do if they ever had to face it.

I was also thinking, how many of us would be utterly screwed if something big happened like a major power grid failure? We are *so* dependent on technology/electricity these days, I doubt that people (our society in general) would make it longer than 5 days without mass panic. And most don't even realize just how susceptible our power grid is to failure. Not to go off track, but if terrorists *really* wanted to bring this country to our knees, a well coordinated attack on the power grid would be all it would take, and it's nearly 100% defenseless.

For example, check this article out - http://thetruthwins.com/archives/in-19-minutes-a-team-of-snipers-destroyed-17-transformers-at-a-power-station-in-california

Anyway, I just think, if people put down their phones or electronic vices for just a while and take a step back and look at the world around them, things might *really* change. Seems like the whole world is going down the toilet, but nobody cares. I'm not going to lie, I was the same way, it's only until recently that I realized it myself. Being without a phone is spectacular! These days it's like everyone expects everybody to be accountable for every second of their lives. "Why didn't you text me back, why didn't you call me back?!?" .. Maybe because I just didn't feel like answering the damn phone?

Don't get me wrong, the technology *is* a wonderful thing, for emergencies, etc. But when it's gotten to a point where people literally depend on these devices to function normally in society, we have a problem.

Edited February 9, 2014 by Soulrev