Everyone had their heads down

I went to pick up my kid from school today. I opted out of school transportation as the bus ride was going to be insane and I have the ability to pick up. As I parked in the lot, something struck me, and it was so sad. Every single head was down. Every single parent had their eyes glued to their phones as they waited. It was as if they would miss something in that brief time. I myself am guilty of it. Are we really living anymore? I think somewhere along the way with technology, especially access to the internet and cell phones, we lost our community.

I am old enough to remember when parents used to chat. We used to say hi to the teachers. Now it’s so darn cold. We are like robots.
We are going through the motions. I wonder if this is why we are also so divided. We can’t relate to each other anymore. Everyone is in such a rush to get from A to B. One time in Kentucky my GPS zonked out and I got lost. It was the most wonderful thing. I was on the backroads. There were beautiful pastures with horses running around… I think we are meant to get lost sometimes, to be a little late…we just don’t allow ourselves to do that anymore.

a reply to: JAGStorm

I hate cell phones. Truly hate them. Not the technology, I think that's great, it's what it does to people. I see a couple come in to eat lunch or dinner and as soon as they order, they both bury their face in their phones instead of actually talking to each other. It's as if they don't catch that latest post on Farcebook or Instacrap the world will explode. My friends sorta make fun of me because I don't have mine with me most of the time. They ask "How will I get hold of you if you don't have your phone ? "
My answer is "If it's that important, you know where I live "

Don't get me started on the dumbasses that text and drive.

a reply to: JAGStorm

Could be they are reading ATS- just kidding. I have noticed this too while waiting in the pickup line; I’m a weirdo because I just sit and listen to the radio and watch my surroundings. I live in a smaller community and most of the teachers are actually stellar and friendly.

In this small place we have all kinds from poverty to ultra rich and political leanings of the whole spectrum. Being a smaller population it is a microcosm of what is happening currently across the US and subconsciously people are conditioned that we are divided, so it is easier to stare at your phone than engage with each other. Sad state of affairs really.

a reply to: JAGStorm

Exploiting humanities flaws is huge business.

ATS is a microcosm of the US. A little time in the mudpit is a view into the future of America. There's your community!

The only thing a phone should do is make and take calls .
Period .

I was at the doctor's office Monday .
There was a sign on the door , no cell phones past this point .
I bet folks flipped their sh__ for that time they were being seen in the exam room .
Ever seen a person during drug withdrawal symptoms ?

a reply to: JAGStorm

I think people are addicted to being online in general. I know that I am, but I don't use a cell phone for the internet or take one with me when I leave the house.

I just read an article about how the police are getting warrants for the disclosure of the owners of cell phones in the general area of a crime. Innocent people are being hauled in by police and interrogated for hours. Makes me feel justified for never carrying a cell phone with me, even though I am doing nothing wrong.

It's insane how focused most people are on their smart phones. These people's situational awareness is close to zero and that's not a good thing in public these days.

Most times I shut mine off when I carry it, not like it's much good for more than phone calls and texts anyways. The other one I keep at home is far better for online, but I never use that one for more than talking to relatives and business calls. Neither have social media apps installed. I do use both for emails and as online back up if my computer is out.

The hot spot is what I use most as I don't have cable or dish service, and even doing that, I never watch videos or listen to music as it kills my data. Like someone else said in their post, it's a phone, you make phone calls on it, that's how I feel about it for the most part.

You tell a wonderful story JAGStorm even if the subject is a sad one.
Well done!!!
BTW, you are spot on IMO!

Cheers.....😎

a reply to: JAGStorm

a reply to: JAGStorm

I remember during the eighties we'd ride on BART which is an acronym for 'Bay Area Rapid Transit' which is our commuter train/subway system in the greater SF Bay Area. Anyway, I remember how everyone on the train were very social, vocal and people would actually talk to each other, even strangers would strike up conversations regularly.

Today, those trains are coffins on wheels. Absolutely dead. This technology has created unnecessary "safe bubbles" around people where they feel if their on their phones, no one will bother them, and that's the unsaid, mutual expectation between people now.

I actually startled many people on their 'drone devices" just to ask a simple question. It was disappointing and frankly sad.

I think the paradigm shift started with headphones and portable cassette/CD players, then iPods and MP3 players.

The saddest part of it is this generation has no reference point to know the difference which essentially cements the new behavior as normal and acceptable.

Technology is a double edge sword indeed..

⭐+🇺🇲

A wizard is never late, he shows up exactly when he needs to..

G the gray

a reply to: JAGStorm

a reply to: DAVID64

My friends sorta make fun of me because I don't have mine with me most of the time. They ask "How will I get hold of you if you don't have your phone ? "

People actually get angry if you don't respond immediately.
Maybe I'm not in the mood to respond right away. It's crazy.
Remember when we didn't know who was calling and we either answered or they would call back?!! Yeah, crazy right...

a reply to: EternalShadow

The saddest part of it is this generation has no reference point to know the difference which essentially cements the new behavior as normal and acceptable.

I have a rule in my house, ZERO phones during dinner. I don't give even an inch. Even if I have a guest, same rule.
Every teen, or college kid that comes to my house absolutely loves and craves this.
They sit down and.............gasp...............have conversation............. They don't want to get up from the dinner table.
I can tell they do not get to experience this very often.
Many many times I have sat there, 3-4-5 hours talking to these kids!

I have my phone with me all the time.

If I can't play my solitaire while waiting for a bus or a train, I am a maniac...

I turn mobile data off so I don't get bombarded with in game adverts too, it's great !!

a reply to: JAGStorm

I myself, have went old school.
I don't own a phone and want to urinate on people staring at a piece of plastic.

I remember the "old" days where the phone was on the wall and you got your messages when you got home.
I find it disturbing how people think you should answer them within 5 minutes because they texted you.

When I had a phone, my voicemail message said this.
Don't leave a message, I don't really care and if you do leave a message after hearing this, you are a dummy and I won't be calling you back.

I still leave the house without a care in the world , no phone and not a care in the world.....you are only lost if you care about that.
People these days are mentally ill and I don't need or want that crap around me...my home is a no phone zone.
Shut the phone off before you enter, if I see you staring at plastic, I'll throw it out the effing window.

a reply to: JAGStorm

We are becoming what they want us to . We don't talk to each other so information they can't control will die .