Isn’t she cute? My daughter, that is 
What’s not cute to me is what’s happening in the background [since I'm considerate and decent, I blotted out their faces]. I understand needing to check your phone in case the babysitter calls to tell you the house is on fire or your child is suspended from the ceiling fan, but this woman sat fingers-to-phone for at least 20 minutes! [Yes, I unofficially timed her.]
This real-life ignoring is reaching epidemic proportions. You see it in restaurants, airports, at the mall–even in church! [SHAME!] And while it can be argued that we have progressed as a society–that we enjoy more conveniences and are more “connected”, this photo exemplifies my point: are we really “more connected” when we ignore life happening around us?
Notice her husband/boyfriend/companion in the brown shirt. He is thoughtfully and fully engaged in conversation with the other couple. Red shirt lady is leaning forward on the table, apparently hanging on his every word. Meanwhile, Clarice is fingering her way into Carpel Tunnel Syndrome and being the latest friend voted off the island of real life.
What kind of message is she sending to her husband? To her friends? Even to me–a stranger secretly taking a picture “of my daughter”–the message I’m getting is that the people around her don’t matter as much as the next ring of the phone.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of being over-connected. To wade too deeply into the cyber-sea. It’s a diversion. It makes shopping easy. It’s fun to update your Facebook status and check your email. It’s enjoyable for me to sit here and blog.
But if it comes to the point that my real, 3D life–my children and husband and friends–have to compete with my phone…slap me. Having a loving community around you is too important to gamble on a text message!
No comments:
Post a Comment