Turn that thing off! June 23, 2010
Posted by David in : Technology , trackback
Recently I made a choice that nothing is so important that it should interrupt my meal time with other people. Now I live alone and seldom have meals with other people, in fact I am perfectly content to eat my dinner alone while watching TV. However this is not always the case sometimes I get the chance to have a meal with a friend or family member, and honestly I am a hyper connected person. My phone is typical with me and on the times when for what ever reason the battery goes dead before my day is done I get panic. I feel some how disconnected and out of control…I have become a slave to my device. And this servitude to my phone has caused issues more then once I have been chastised for the use of my phone.
I have recently made up my mind to make a promise to those I am with that the dinner table is not a place for my phone. To the extent that if I know that the other person will have their phone I may choose to leave the device behind. Yes that is right more then once in the last month I have set my sexi nexi on her dock and left the house. This was really hard the first time but the cool thing is both my phone and I were unharmed. In fact I was better then unharmed I had a great evening.
Now I can’t always leave my phone behind my job requires a certain level of reachability. Not to mention it seems when I don’t reply to a text within a timely manner people think I am dead or something and the excuses that I left it home seems to confuse them when I correct them say oh your forgot your phone, No I left it at home on purpose, but nothing is so important that it can’t wait until I finish my meal and send some quality time with the person sitting next to me.
And it seems I am not the only one to think that. Recently Gizmodo pointed out a site that has some tools to help make sure that you remember to turn off that phone. My Phone is Off for You has some great ideas on helping you get your phone off and show the other person you care so they will do the same. Now I am not saying you should go buy that Phone Kerchief that blocks your cell signal or the stamp or the flair. But the Impromptu do what you can to let those you care enough about to eat with that are going to turn that device off for them.
So do yourself a favor and TURN THAT THING OFF!
Comments»
LOVE IT!!