Are we addicted to our electronic gadgets?

fmdog44 said:
I wonder where the money is coming from the kids spend on all their devices. I'm not talking middle class mommies & daddies but people at or below the poverty line. It's not the U.S. but the entire world.
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The ones that tick me off are the ones standing in line, on a smart phone, to get free handouts for school supplies!!!
 

I find getting in touch with my kids who (are out of state) is much easier if I text first and ask
them to call me.They pick up text messages much quicker than a voice mail or email.
 
Rich29 said:
I find getting in touch with my kids who (are out of state) is much easier if I text first and ask
them to call me.They pick up text messages much quicker than a voice mail or email.
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Ditto.....I only answer texts with 2 words..."CALL ME"..
 

My son has me on his account. When he changed carriers an extra phone came with the deal, so he gave it to me. If this one goes out, I doubt I'll get another one.
 
The only thing about bundling a landline phone through the cable company is if there's trouble with the service, I don't have internet, TV or phone. I am isolated. Can't even call to ask when service will be restored.
 
I had to take my car for a recall repair last week. I waited for it in the service lounge. When I walked in there were 3 other people my age or older and 2 had their cells phones out and one had a laptop up and running (they have WIFI there). As I waited, two other people entered and as soon as they sat down, out came the cell phones. I was the only one that had a book! When I had my last sale, a woman got out of her car and proceeded to pace up and down the public siewalk for 20 minutes in front of my house as she talked on her phone (I though she was picketing my sale). Another older man had a phone with earbuds. Why do these people feel the need to be in constant contact with someone?
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Deb, you sound so critical! What makes your book so much better than whatever they are reading on their cell phones or laptops? (Which actually could be books also!)

I think the electronic devices have brought an amazing dimension to our lives. We can look up anything, any time, and get an immediate answer. It's like we are carrying around the world's greatest encyclopedia, mail system, book library, music collection, maps and directions to anywhere, information about restaurants and businesses, recipes, instructions about building things, basic medical information, banking and finance information, travel guides, and yes, phone communication with friends ... all in a tiny, lightweight gizmo that fits in our pocket. This is bad?

The only criticism I have about the cell phones is that too many young people are immersed in them while crossing the street, or even worse, driving.
Other than that, I think they are great.
 
Mayhaps it stems form my childhood when my mom put the fear of telephones into me. She would admonish., "You don't EVER answer the phone!" She meant it, too. I was spanked once for going against orders. Phones also were not just for casual communication - only to be used when absolutely necessary.
 
Sunny said:
Deb, you sound so critical! What makes your book so much better than whatever they are reading on their cell phones or laptops? (Which actually could be books also!)

I think the electronic devices have brought an amazing dimension to our lives. We can look up anything, any time, and get an immediate answer. It's like we are carrying around the world's greatest encyclopedia, mail system, book library, music collection, maps and directions to anywhere, information about restaurants and businesses, recipes, instructions about building things, basic medical information, banking and finance information, travel guides, and yes, phone communication with friends ... all in a tiny, lightweight gizmo that fits in our pocket. This is bad?

The only criticism I have about the cell phones is that too many young people are immersed in them while crossing the street, or even worse, driving.
Other than that, I think they are great.
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Iā€™m with Deb, I like the old days when people would read books and talk with each other I believe that the electronic age has taken the personal out of personal relationships I get the impression that people are turning into robots sometimes with their lack of expression and empathy! I want to send them to Walmart to buy a personality. šŸ˜‚
 
Lc jones said:
Iā€™m with Deb, I like the old days when people would read books and talk with each other I believe that the electronic age has taken the personal out of personal relationships I get the impression that people are turning into robots sometimes with their lack of expression and empathy! I want to send them to Walmart to buy a personality. šŸ˜‚
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What's the difference between reading a book and reading on an e-reader (or cellphone app)?? You're still reading. Personally I never talk to strangers in a doctor's office; I have no interest in doing so.
 
C'est Moi said:
What's the difference between reading a book and reading on an e-reader (or cellphone app)?? You're still reading. Personally I never talk to strangers in a doctor's office; I have no interest in doing so.
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Iā€™d rather read a book any day
 
Lc jones said:
Iā€™d rather read a book any day
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No glare, a lot less expensive, can write in it, doesnā€™t need to be charged which can be a problem in a power outage, no carrier fees, Probably some other things I havenā€™t thought of šŸ˜ƒ
 
Hey, it doesn't have to be either-or. I use my phone a lot to play Words with Friends (with my daughter and my granddaughter, it's a fun way to keep in touch), but that doesn't stop me from reading books. I just got one today that I bought online, The Zoomable Universe, and plunged right into it. It's a beautiful book with gorgeous pictures, no way could that be as good on a phone!

Nothing wrong with using, and enjoying, both.

Deb, that's interesting about your family's taboo on your using the phone in your childhood. I wonder what was the reason?
 
Oh thatā€™s right I forgot the original posting the question was are we addicted to our electronic gadgets yes there are many people who are definitely addicted, Itā€™s obvious every time Iā€™m out and about people have their faces glued on their phones or iPads or whatever else so yes emphatically not to mention people texting while driving and using their phones while driving Downright dangerous and it has caused so many accidents one just recently down the street from us two fatalities texting while driving ran into a truck.
 
debodun said:
I like the old days - if you weren't home when someone called, they had to call back. No caller ID, conference calling, automatic redial, call waiting, forwarding, texting or call blocking. I am a Luddite and proud of it. I still have a landline phone (no cell). I do, however, allow myself a clunker of a desktop computer and basic cable TV.
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You might want to rethink that landline, Deb. Landlines are going away, and in the next two years or so you won't have one anymore...jussayin'
 
Ken N Tx said:
The ones that tick me off are the ones standing in line, on a smart phone, to get free handouts for school supplies!!!
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Those folks standing in line waiting for freebies and using their smart phones? People who qualify for benefits like food stamps (SNAP) also qualify for phones. Why? Because the phones are a heckuva lot less expensive than installing land lines (which are going away at a pretty good clip!). Those phones are very limited in what they can access. Not to worry, our tax dollars aren't paying for them to watch movies and TV on their phones.

Next...am I addicted to my "devices"? Not addicted. They are a convenience. My laptop and smart phone keep me in touch with friends and relatives and help to keep the loneliness at bay, have local and national news, lots info that used to only be available in an encyclopedia and is a heckuva lot more up to date

Mostly, I'd say that laptops, tablets, smart phones are a Godsend for shut-ins, people who are isolated for whatever reason, hospital patients, the list goes on.

There's an app on my smart phone called Life 360. If the day should come when I get lost, DD will be able to find me by checking the app. Or if any of us need to know where another is or about when to expect they'll be home, we can check the app.

I don't use my phone to listen to music...that's done with my stereo or my HD radio.
 
Considering that you are now sitting in front of those "electronic gadgets" right now; It's not that they are addicting; but they are required. They are a part of an electronic age. It's akin to saying that literacy is addicting. There was a time when literacy was not essential in earning a living. Now, literacy is essential for interacting with the world. Just as , now, interacting with electronic gadgets is essential in maintaining a lifestyle.
 
debodun said:
You are forced to "buy in" to technology just to have service!!! Same with computers. Technoloy is advancing so fast that if you buy a new computer, by the time you get it home, it's obsolete.
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There was a day when people were forced to "buy in" to running water, flush toilets, electricity, cars, phones. It's called progress. If you don't want to buy in so that you can access a phone or computer, you can take yourself to a place where wifi is free (like a Walmart parking lot).
 
fuzzybuddy said:
Considering that you are now sitting in front of those "electronic gadgets" right now; It's not that they are addicting; but they are required. They are a part of an electronic age. It's akin to saying that literacy is addicting. There was a time when literacy was not essential in earning a living. Now, literacy is essential for interacting with the world. Just as , now, interacting with electronic gadgets is essential in maintaining a lifestyle.
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Exactly.
 
I don't like my cell phone. I'm always getting made fun of because I don't use it properly. Remember when we used to know everyone's phone number? That was cool. And we kept address books. I have my mom's purse, and she still had one in there.

I bet my own children don't even know my phone number. I'll be honest, I only kinda/sorta know theirs. The one thing I like about my phone-my kids have their own ringtones. I can be across the room, and if my phone starts barking, I can say "that's Travis."

And yes, I believe people are addicted. At least younger people are. Me, you'll find staring into space. A lot.
 
Well, at least for myself, I don't think it's an addiction. It's just another more convenient way to enjoy what I always have, like reading or listening to books, keeping in touch with friends and family and having interesting/enjoyable ways to connect with and have conversations with people outside of that little corner of that world of yours, and getting help in learning new things. Youtube is great for that.
 
A2ZGrammie said:
I don't like my cell phone. I'm always getting made fun of because I don't use it properly. Remember when we used to know everyone's phone number? That was cool. And we kept address books. I have my mom's purse, and she still had one in there.

I bet my own children don't even know my phone number. I'll be honest, I only kinda/sorta know theirs. The one thing I like about my phone-my kids have their own ringtones. I can be across the room, and if my phone starts barking, I can say "that's Travis."

And yes, I believe people are addicted. At least younger people are. Me, you'll find staring into space. A lot.
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Seems like my Cell is never in the same room as I am!!! When I do have it next to me it never rings!!
 
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