Tag Archives: cellphones

Away From the Screen

Technology is good. It makes life easier and more efficient. But sometimes it can get in the way of things that matter more than efficiency and convenience. Specifically, I’m referring to the fact that technology has a way of distorting and even replacing personal relationships.

Over the weekend, my family and I went out to dinner. As I sat waiting for the food to arrive, I noticed two women at another table who instead of enjoying each other’s company were occupied with their cellphones. What does that action say? It says “there are more important things than you.” This may be a little harsh and probably not at all what those women were consciously. So if it’s not a conscious decision, then why do they do it? And not just them; I see this kind of thing everywhere. Why? Maybe society has become desensitized – checking email and social media is just automatic, second nature. Maybe we’ve lost the sense of meaningful presence. Maybe people try to fill a lull in the conversation by hiding behind their phones. Whatever the reason may be, it’s obvious that there’s been a change in what constitutes social interaction.

As I said before, I’m not completely outing technology. Having a smartphone is super convenient for keeping your life organized. The issue arises when we forfeit a little bit of our human nature to the world of technology:

We forfeit social skills.

A friend of mine was once in a situation where she got along really well with a guy… through facebook chat. But then, she admitted that when they actually hung out, everything was just awkward.

We forfeit sincerity.

You can fake anything through a tweet, facebook post, text, or email. There are no real facial expressions or body language to prove any sincerity.

We forfeit understanding.

Things get misconstrued when sent via satellite. And that might even lead to arguments and hurt feelings without ever having the intention to invoke those reactions.

And we forfeit good quality bonding.

Spending time with a friend or family member means taking the time to listen to them and share with them. You can’t really bond with anyone if you’re stuck looking at a screen.

To be clear, I’m not excluding myself from this judgment. I, too, am guilty of allowing myself to be distracted by my phone. And I’m not suggesting that everyone become Amish and stop using technology. I just think it would be better if knew where to draw the line. We should recognize the moments where it’s time to put down the device and enjoy life without a screen.