January
30
Yes, I saw Avatar like everyone else did in the US.
Justin wanted to see it, and I wasn’t so excited but I can’t say no to a 3D movie. It surprised me to the extent that Justin and I saw it for a second time when we went with my friend Robert during this week.
One of my favorite parts of the movie is the phrase, “I see you.” The Na’vi believe, we as humans, do not see the world. We only really see ourselves. Isn’t it true?
We are all so much in a hurry and multi-tasking our lives that we neglect ourselves as well as the people in our lives. We do not take the time, as the saying says, to smell the roses. We do not notice our surroundings or nature. The only thing we really notice is our iPhone screens when they need to be wiped clean.
A friend went to see a hockey game with other friends. I knew this because of his tweet. I then received tweet after tweet about the game, what was going on, pictures, good things, bad things, etc. I wonder was he really “seeing” the game if he was spending most of it on his phone tweeting about it? What were his friend’s thinking about their time together or have they not noticed because they were tweeting as well?
Oprah this week just annouced her, “No Phone Zone” pledge. Where people are going to be less distracted driving and promising to no longer make calls, check email or text while driving. People on the show were sharing their stories about withdraw from not being able to use their phones.
My mom and I have been going to lunch each Friday for years. She has a huge problem with me using my phone as well. She says it is rude and would rather not eat together if I am not really going to be there. If I am not going to “see” her. I have had to learn to break the habit I am so use to so our lunches can continue, interruption free.
When Justin came home from work yesterday, he walked in the house and put his stuff away. He sat on the couch and asked me what we should do for dinner. I was talking to him when I noticed he was on his iPhone doing something. 20 minutes passed before he looked up again and said something to me.
Trust me, I know I have done this to him many times as well but it was the first I was about to “see” my own actions. Is this the life I want to live? One where I am distracted so much by technology I missed out on the people I love?
I am not going to give up my iPhone. Of course not! But, I am going to learn to build healthy boundries around how I use it.
I want to see you.
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Patrice
on 30 Jan 2010 at 11:03 am #
Hey Michael,
I was just thinking about this a couple days ago. On facebook, a high school friend of mine posted that she was out having dinner with her boyfriend and then mentioned what she was going to do next. Then, there was a reply comment by her boyfriend! I immediately thought, if they’re out on a dinner date, why are both of them on the phone logged into Facebook???? Technology has certainly taking over majority of our lives to where we’re missing out on what’s important, and that is enjoying life with our loved ones. There is a time and place for everything. Like you’re not willing to give up your iPhone, I think we should not totally neglect our phones and social media, but we definitely need to manage it and place personal relationships at a much higher standard than we have bene.
Thanks!
Joseph
on 30 Jan 2010 at 3:39 pm #
Patrice is so right. Personally I have become increasingly against cell phones. It drives me crazy when the plane lands for instance, that everybody whips out their cell phones. Not to mention talking on your cell while driving (here, if you are caught by the police, you pay a fine – but it is all biased, because if they see a guy driving a hot car, they won’t stop him)…and tell me, how can you pay attention to your conversation AND to your driving? not to mention the little ladies, who being too busy to talk, crawl at an infernally slow speed…
All this technology, though created to bring people together, lessens communication. Of course it is great to be updated, being in touch with your friends, but when it becomes addictive there’s a problem. I want to see more social interaction, not IM but face-to-face. And like you said Michael, I want to see the people, not the screen-name, not their profile, but THEM. The human being behind the tech-self!
brad
on 30 Jan 2010 at 4:37 pm #
Michael-
I had a first date with this guy and all he did was text other people, so I assumed that the date was going nowhere.
I find it extremely rude to accept a dinner invitation and then bring along your cell phone.
It makes getting to know someone very difficult.