Death of Conversation

When we take off and go camping in the woods for two or three weeks, we have no cellphone, computer or TV. We do have a small radio, but in places we go, the stations don't come in well enough to listen to. We have a small CD player, and bring along CDs that we've made of our favorite songs. We listen to that in the evening in the camper, usually at a low volume. Very relaxing to turn off a couple of times a year, it clears the mind, I recommend it! :cool:
 
What I really HATE is that some people, oblivious to all around them, have loud conversations on their cellphone in public places, like a doctor's waiting room (in spite of the sign that reminds them to please turn off their cell phone), or while shopping in a store. I'm not really interested in listening to someone recounting what she and Fred did Saturday night, or how lousy her boss is. Isn't there any sense of privacy these days? It used to be rude to eavesdrop on another's phone conversations, but now we are forced against our will to do so. YUCK!

I also happen to be old fashioned enough to believe it is rude to pick up a cell phone call (unless it's a true emergency or someone is "on call" for their job or something) during a conversation with another human being, or during dinner, etc.

I have one of those smart phones, but I don't feel the need to be on it constantly. If you're constantly gabbing or texting on that thing, you are missing out on life that is going on around you.
 

Computer literacy is one thing - social ineptitude is something quite different.

The best times of my life were spent before the cell phone was even invented, and most of them were spent in face-to-face conversation with friends and family.

Speaking of texting and driving ... before the advent of two cars in every garage there was something called public transportation - buses, trains, streetcars - and it was a beautiful thing. Not only were you presented with time to think and to observe both nature and the human condition, you also had the chance to interact directly with your fellow humans. You could relax and leave the driving to someone else. It was a slower, more natural pace of living.

You weren't a slave to tech. Now when driving you not only have to posses the mechanical ability to pilot your vehicle, you also have to watch for traffic, watch for lights, watch for signs, figure out how to work that gas pump with your new credit card ... all the fun and adventure of travel is gone. Whereas before you were floating in an old inner tube on a quiet lake, now you're navigating a field of icebergs in a balsa-wood boat.

But because we were sold the bill of fare that we need to be plugged-in 24/7 we happily give up our social skills, our valuable time, our health and our enjoyment of the world around us - in short, everything that makes life worth living.
 
SifuPhil said:
Computer literacy is one thing - social ineptitude is something quite different.

The best times of my life were spent before the cell phone was even invented, and most of them were spent in face-to-face conversation with friends and family.

Speaking of texting and driving ... before the advent of two cars in every garage there was something called public transportation - buses, trains, streetcars - and it was a beautiful thing. Not only were you presented with time to think and to observe both nature and the human condition, you also had the chance to interact directly with your fellow humans. You could relax and leave the driving to someone else. It was a slower, more natural pace of living.

You weren't a slave to tech. Now when driving you not only have to posses the mechanical ability to pilot your vehicle, you also have to watch for traffic, watch for lights, watch for signs, figure out how to work that gas pump with your new credit card ... all the fun and adventure of travel is gone. Whereas before you were floating in an old inner tube on a quiet lake, now you're navigating a field of icebergs in a balsa-wood boat.

But because we were sold the bill of fare that we need to be plugged-in 24/7 we happily give up our social skills, our valuable time, our health and our enjoyment of the world around us - in short, everything that makes life worth living.
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I understand what you're saying.

In Scotland buses are free to those over 60. My dh and I take the buses a LOT. 3 mornings a week I take the bus into town to go to the gym. I carry with me my smartphone and my kindle. So I use the 35 minutes it takes to get into town to get online or to read a book. I enjoy that time.
 
SifuPhil said:
Computer literacy is one thing - social ineptitude is something quite different.

The best times of my life were spent before the cell phone was even invented, and most of them were spent in face-to-face conversation with friends and family.

Speaking of texting and driving ... before the advent of two cars in every garage there was something called public transportation - buses, trains, streetcars - and it was a beautiful thing. Not only were you presented with time to think and to observe both nature and the human condition, you also had the chance to interact directly with your fellow humans. You could relax and leave the driving to someone else. It was a slower, more natural pace of living.

You weren't a slave to tech. Now when driving you not only have to posses the mechanical ability to pilot your vehicle, you also have to watch for traffic, watch for lights, watch for signs, figure out how to work that gas pump with your new credit card ... all the fun and adventure of travel is gone. Whereas before you were floating in an old inner tube on a quiet lake, now you're navigating a field of icebergs in a balsa-wood boat.

But because we were sold the bill of fare that we need to be plugged-in 24/7 we happily give up our social skills, our valuable time, our health and our enjoyment of the world around us - in short, everything that makes life worth living.
Click to expand...

This is so well said, and contains my sentiments exactly. I can't add a thing;)
 
Chris in Colorado said:
I don't know where I ran across the quote below but I copied & saved it because it rings so true.

"There is no doubt the world behind the touch screen has become more vivid and compelling to millions of people than anything happening in their lives. But if they looked up and told you what kept them so intent upon the screen, they'd have to admit it was mostly a bunch of banal texts, games, and useless news alerts."
Click to expand...

Wonderful, and true imo, quote. I have a friend that is you might say, losing her mind (if you don't use it lose it??). She not only uses the computer all day, but worse, she is hooked on the "spin" games, like a slot-machine? I gave her some games to play that make you think, and figure out puzzles etc. but she rarely will stay with one. She says they are too hard. I honestly don't think she wants to use her brain, just read jokes, and spin the wheels:( In fact, if I bring up something like Ebola, or anything in the news, she won't talk about it, only the smallest of talk like the weather sure is nice, etc.
 
2ziygqs.jpg


seems we're now a heads down society. neck surgeons gonna have a field day
 
Can't agree more with all of you. I have a smartphone but I refuse to be tied to the hip with it. I gave in when the only way to communicate with my DIL was to text. Also, the apps help me find cheap gas, use it for my alarm clock, etc. I worry about the younger generations, i.e., our grandkids who would never make it in a total disaster. I believe our generation could make it because we learned math before calculators, knew how to 'rough it' and could be entertained without a digital device!
 

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