Someone Talk to Me!
Posted: Wednesday, April 29, 2009
by Brianna Popsickle
A nasty cut on the bottom of my foot landed me in the after-hours clinic. My husband told me to take a book along since the wait time was usually a couple of hours.
Knowing there were always plenty of others waiting, I decided to forego the book. I've had some of the most interesting conversations with people I've met while waiting for appointments or meetings.
What's wrong with this picture? Who are they texting? What are they saying? What's wrong with me? Why wasn't I texting someone? The fact that my cell phone was sitting in a drawer at home had something to do with it. I only purchased it to use on road trips in case of an emergency. Apparently though, I am not the norm. Everyone uses their cell phone, all the time.
I hate when I start talking to someone only to get a blank stare before I realize they have earphones in and can't hear a word I'm saying. I hate when I'm talking with someone and they interrupt me to answer their cell phone. I get annoyed when I'm in a theatre and a phone goes off. I get a little bitchy when co-workers send personal text messages during a business meeting. I'm frustrated when I'm talking to someone and they say, " I got a beep, hold on." "Hello, I was talking to you first!" Am I the only one who thinks this is rude behavior?
The other day I was using the photo kiosk at Wal-Mart. Two people on either side of me were talking on their cells, while printing their photos. It would be one thing if they kept their voices down, but they don't. Before my order was finished I knew Aunt Mary was having gall bladder surgery, Brian was having financial difficulty, and Sylvia's husband was having an affair. I wanted to say, "For God sakes, let's go for coffee and talk about this. I'll solve all your problems and Sylvia's too."
Frustrated, I left Walmart to do the grocery shopping. A car just about clipped me in the parking lot, the driver was yakking on her phone. I got to the grocery store and dodged shoppers in the middle of the aisles on their phones, probably calling home to see if they should buy the plain cheerios or honeynut. Cell phones are driving me crazy!
Ever been in a room when a phone goes off? Like trained monkeys everyone reaches for their cell. It's hilarious. Only now they've solved the problem and we get to listen to a variety of sing-songy ring tones and music, whether we're enjoying a quiet dinner in a restaurant or sitting in church. Phones are going off everywhere!
I heard on the news a woman was killed as she stepped off the curb and walked into the side of a truck. She was run over by the rear wheels. Witnesses said she probably didn't see the truck coming since she was on her cell. I hope it was an important call. I guess it was, after all, it was a life and death call.
A man was killed when he made a left turn on his bike, right in front of a bus. He didn't hear it coming since he had his iPod on. Is anyone putting two and two together, probably not? We are not tuned in; we are tuned out.
What did we do before cell phones and ipods and facebook? We used the telephone, we wrote letters, and we interacted with people face to face. We didn't find the need to talk to someone every moment of the day; sometimes we took time to read a book. We listened to the sounds of birds singing as we walked and we spoke to the person working out next to us at the gym, rather than tuning into our iPods.
I find it strange, that the very technology designed to connect' me is leaving me feel more disconnected' than ever.
I'm not totally inept when it comes to the latest communication technology. I own a cell phone I just rarely use it. I have Facebook; I just don't like it. I have an iPod I would never venture to the gym without, but I pick my spots. I love nothing more than to workout on the elliptical listening to Nickleback or Pink, but when someone gets on the treadmill next to me and strikes up a conversation I shut my music off. I listen to them even if it is about their latest knee surgery. It feels like the right thing to do. Most people don't get that.
Where will it end? It won't. I will most likely succumb to peer pressure and slowly become one of them' adding the texting feature to my phone. I will start carrying it with me at all times. I will reach for my phone along with everyone else when I hear ringing. I will talk while driving and while grocery shopping too. People will think I'm really busy and important and have a lot going on.
Or maybe not, maybe I'll hold out and my phone will remain in the drawer. Next time I will take my husband's advice and take a book with me to my next appointment, still secretly hoping someone in the room will look up
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Top-level comments on this article: (6 total)Hi Brianna.Well, I have to say that I agree with all that you said. My cell phone does go with me whenever I drive somewhere, but it is always turned off unless I have an emergency. At the grocery store, I decide what to buy without the help of my husband. Always did, always will.I enjoyed your "rant" and we need more of them. Maybe then people will wise up. But then again, maybe not.DianneI guess it was a bit of a "rant" wasn't it? It probably won't change anything, but it felt good! Thanks for your comments Dianne.
Feel better Brianna? I know I do after reading this. Oh and don't bother taking a book with you. Just download one to your ipod!I just got my son to add new songs to my ipod, never thought of downloading a book. Thanks Steve, glad you feel better too. :)
Brianna,I share each and every one of your thoughts (and am surprised that I haven't written about this myself!). While I do carry my cell phone with me everywhere, I only use it when I must.Facebook, twitter, and the like may be forms of communication but they are not communicating anything of value. We are losing a battle on this one and it is sad. There is no doubt that the cell phone is a necessity in life today. Unfortunately, for too many people, the cell phone is their life.Thank you for a timely and well-written article,NancyThanks for your comments Nancy. It's nice to know I'm not alone in this!
Funny timing on this article. I get back to my family from my two month nightmare and the kids and I are sitting down to dinner and my two oldest have their hands in their laps and heads down and I'm thinking my God how they have missed me and are on the verge of tears and don't want their poor recovering mother to stress over how they are feeling...NOPE, they are secretly texting their friends! Can you believe it. I left them alone with their dad for 8 weeks and they have turned into all that I despise.I'm with you on all of this and would add that it seems to be our governments final ploy at dumbing down America to better control us all...I won't go down without a fight, so long as they don't take away my Internet and computer, those I cannot live without. Loved the well written article and how you speak your mind...keep it up!Sounds familiar Myla. I sat down to dinner with my two teenagers and my daughter was texting and my son actually had his laptop open beside him on the table. Totally exasperated I said, "What is wrong with this picture?" and proceeded to explain that I spent time preparing dinner and didn't enjoy eating it 'alone'. But then a funny thing happened, I heard my computer blip and knew the message from work I had been waiting for had arrived. Both kids looked at me daring me to go to the computer. (And I did) Bad mother.
Very well put, Brianna, It's good to be reminded that even though today's technology can allow us to stay connected to our friends better than ever before, it can also be a barrier to making new friends.Exactly Bruce. Thanks for the comment.
The irony of all this technology is that it supposedly brings people closer, but as you can see it does the opposit.Yes Ella, it seems to work that way at times. Thanks for reading and comenting.
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