My first little rant, has been bubbling away inside me for ages now, to be be fair its not really a rant, its more of a modern observation, shall we say.
Its about mobile phone/laptop/social media etiquette (for want of a better word). Before you go off on a rant, about my usage of these things and pots calling kettles black etc. I'm the first to hold my hand up to being guilty of a lot of the main issues I have.
That is where my challenge will come in, more of that later though.
As I say I use my mobile for checking, e-mails, facebook, twitter etc as much, if not more than the average person, that's not my gripe.
My main problem, is how addictive we, as a whole, have become to constantly looking to see who has updated, tweeted, poked, checked in, checked out, single, in a relationship, its complicated, blah de blah de blah. My own problem was really highlighted, the other night, when I was on facebook with my laptop.
Once I had finished doing, whatever it was I productively doing (noseying through that evenings updates, photos, motivational posters etc) I shut my laptop down, immediately picked up my iPhone and opened facebook, seriously !!, within 3-4 seconds, whats that all about ???
This was when I personally knew, I had to draw myself some guidelines, rules and boundaries, my challenge. Which I will come to, honestly.
This is just my personal issues, but the biggest trend, that really saddens and upsets me, is the amount of times you see people, in someone else's company, but rather than actually have a conversation (god forbid) with the person sitting next to, or across from, the actual person who they have, most likely, chosen to spend time with, sit looking at facebook, whats app, texting, whatever the preferred choice of 'communication' with their 'friends' is.
A really easy example of how addictive we have become, is to watch people in restaurants, especially couples. Now in the vast majority of cases, these two people have decided to be there, to spend time with each other, to enjoy the company, a date perhaps.
At worst, and I have seen this on loads of occasions, they will both be on their mobiles, which I find inexplicable (unless some emergency has arisen) and really sad. Or more likely, as soon as one leaves the table, the other will immediately dive into their pocket and check as many things as they can, before they return.
Now I have thought, maybe its just me, maybe I don't have enough friends or my life isn't important enough, that I need to be contactable 24hours a day, in the off chance the world needs saving, using my special powers.
What is it in our nature, that gives us this need, to know whats happening everywhere apart from where we are, why can't we live in 'our ' moment, where and who you're with that very minute, for however long it is, ten minutes, an hour, a night, an afternoon. If you'd rather be with the person at the end of the text, chat, why aren't you, sitting, spending YOUR time with them ?
Is it just, that we have a constant, the grass is always greener, on the other side, complex. We hate to think we're missing out on something brilliant ?
When in actual fact, the something brilliant is already in your company.
As I say, I'm not knocking facebook, whats app, texting etc. I use them loads, but its the way they have become our life, rather than a useful tool, to keep in touch with friends and family, promote your business, whatever you use it for.
Do you really think its acceptable, to be on your mobile, chatting, texting, social networking (in a non emergency) when in other peoples company, really ?
How many of these things are true ?
Your whereabouts and status has to be updated every 5 minutes
People send you life changing, must be answered now, or people may die e-mails
If I arrange on Monday to meet you at 7pm on Friday, do I need to text you everyday to confirm I'll still be coming, every hour on Friday and every 5 minutes, from 6pm to keep you posted on my journey to you.
If not enough, people 'like' your posts or status, you're obviously very unpopular in social circles.
If you receive a text, message, e-mail update on your phone, everything else must stop, TV on pause etc This one could be very important.
OK, I am fed up going on now, I am even boring myself.
This is where my self imposed challenge comes in.
For the next month, I am going to restrict my social networking allowance, not to a certain amount of hours, but according to the company I am in, or rather, when I'm in company.
I can use facebook, twitter, whats app (although I don't have enough friends who actually chat to me on this anyway) as much as I like, but if I am in a 1:1 situation with a friend or at home with my housemates. I'm not allowed to have my phone on me (again with the exception of emergencies) and only allowed to check it once an hour, if at home.
If I'm out, with friends, for dinner, cinema etc. I won't take my phone with me. Now even reading this, I'm thinking thats not much of a challenge. But I would love to see how many people could actually do it ?
Your challenge, if you want one, is to seriously have a look at how much you use these tools, how much of it is really needed.
Do you miss whats happening where you are ?
Are you ignoring the people in your life that really matter, the ones you chose to share your space with ?
If those people weren't sitting next to you, would you be messaging them ? You have to admit, that is strange, but maybe true.
I know, its highly likely, not one single person reading this will change a single thing, but I will change and its my blog, so thats good.
Thanks for reading (probably via facebook) ha ha
I am Craig Lowe
No comments:
Post a Comment