Day 128...the age of media

May 27

As I predicted, today at work was SLOW. But it was nice and mellow, which was cool.

I don't like that everyone is so connected to electronic devices all the time. Personally, I refuse to get a smart phone, because of the major distraction, and disconnection from reality it brings. I am guilty of this at home, on my lap top sometimes. I don't want a phone, that I could potentially be on the Internet anywhere. What is happening to regular conversation?

I was looking at some pictures of friends and family on facebook and noticed in a few of them, that every person in the picture, was looking down at their smart/iphone. Have we forgotten how to just visit with each other?

Eli and I both decided a while ago, to make a commitment to keep as few electronic toys in the house as possible. We realize it would be nearly impossible, and highly hypocritical, to have 0 electronic toys for Martyn....we do frequently use both of our computers, and cell phones. But we use our phones, as phones...not as computers. We do text message, (me especially) but those are the only things our phones are capable of doing...and we like it that way.

I have a cell phone, so I can not have a land line, and so I can be reached if need be. However, I don't have a problem with not answering the phone. If I don't feel like answering the phone, I won't. Whoever is calling can leave a message. I don't talk on the phone (or text message) while I'm driving, unless it's an emergency...especially now that it's the law in a lot of states. It REALLY bothers me when I see people talking, or worse, texting while driving.

Why do we now have this seemingly insatiable need to be constantly connected all the time? I want to teach my son the art of actually talking to people. Actual human conversation, one on one, face to face (or over the phone sometimes). I think of all these devices, cell phones, computers....as tools. Not people. But they seem to be viewed nearly as people, which is just so odd to me.

Not a terribly big fan of this age of media.