Don’t get me wrong…I love technology, but I certainly wouldn’t call myself an addict. The Captain on the other hand is extremely addicted. His biggest addiction? I’d say the internet. Most of the time it’s not a big deal. I honestly don’t mind that he sits in front of his computer at night while I watch the shows I want to watch. We get to sit in the same room and watch TV..and I don’t have to listen to him complain about what’s on. But this past weekend we traveled to Vermont, and I started to get worried as I saw the panic in his eyes when we lost cell phone service. That meant he was cut off from his precious internet, texts and phone. Oh the horror! I had no idea of the extent of this addiction…but I am beginning to worry.
As I thought more about it I realized it’s not only Captain Awesome that has this addiction to his “smart phone”. Yes, they are great, and keep you easily connected, but I am beginning to think that all this data at your fingertips is just leading to people not actually talking to the people that are in front of them. I have friends…won’t mention names….that will constantly have their phone out and texting while we are out. Who are you talking to? Do I bore you that much that someone who isn’t here is entertaining you via text more than I am in person? One text isn’t bad…or event two…but to constantly have your phone out is just rude.
In Vermont we finally got some cell service when we hit the outlets. Yes outlet shopping is like a slow death to men, but I couldn’t believe The Captain and our friend, who were both sitting next to each other,were each on their phone constantly updating their football fantasy scores. It was like if they turned away for one second the world would end.
Texting while driving? A HUGE pet peeve of mine. Is what you have to say really important that it can’t wait till you are parked? I tell The Captain he’s going to kill me one day because of his texting. I know it’s morbid but it’s horrible! No if’s and’s or butts about it…when Pooh Bear is in the car there will be no texting.
I see people out at restaurants all the time on their phones. Even couples, where one of them is on the phone chatting while the other is sitting there. Yes, I will admit sometimes there are important phone calls, but let’s be honest…most of the time they aren’t. We have entered a world where people on the other end of a phone, or computer screen take over real life conversations. If this is how it is now, what happens when even more technology comes about? How about my children? I already see kids out with their parents watching videos on portable DVD players, or playing with their cell phones rather than speak with their parents. Is that what I have to look forward to? I’ve gotta be honest…this kind of scares me!
What do you think? Do you let technology get in the way of how you deal with people in real life?
I have to admit I am addicted to my Blackberry!!! I am guilty of being a texter while driving too. But now since I had my son, I WILL not text and drive. You hear about so many horrible stories about people texting and driving, we should learn from them-I am one of them!!
I’m glad that you don’t text and drive anymore! It really is dangerous! ?
OH THE SHAME! I am guilty! I sound like the female version of your husband… and you sound like the female version of my husband. Haha. He swears that if he sees me texting while driving, when baby is here, that he’s taking my phone. And it completely annoys him that I cannot be away from my phone. I’m on it ALL the time. Honestly, mine isn’t boredom or even the requirement of keeping up with the person on the other end of the phone… it’s more about my need for multi-tasking. I’ve gotten so used to always doing multiple things that I feel crazy if I am focused on only one. Sad but true. ;(
Uh oh! Hopefully you know once the little one is in the car you should stop…even now since you are carrying that little girl! I don’t know what I would do if I was texting while driving and got in an accident. I would regret it for the rest of my life.
I have been thinking about all the downfalls of technology especially the smart phones craze… I actually think about how it is ruining our youth way more often than how it is causing a downfall of relationships but I agree.
I will admit sometimes I am a little too addicted to the internet and will let it get in the way of chores and quality time with my bf. I am really good about my phone however and have actually survived full weekends without my phone. LKevin and I are suaully good about being respectful to eachother during date nights and stay off our phones. We have both been guilty of texting during meals though.
Also I have a friend who is ADDICTED to social networking. So much so that she carries around 3 extra batteries and can’t go 1 minute without checking facebook or twitter. One other thing that worried me was we had a sisterhood retreat for the sorority I am an alumni sponsor for and we took away all of their phones for 5 hours and the girls flipped and had withdrawals. What the hell is wrong with these girls?
It definitely is harming our youth. I don’t know first hand just yet but I can only imagine!
I’m on the internet at work all day, so Jorge and I don’t even have internet at our house. I was worried at first, but life is so much better!!
We only use our cell phones to make plans, so maybe 1 or 2 calls a day, plus 1 or 2 texts. When I’m with somebody, I’ll usually leave my cell phone in my purse. If I get a phone call, I may or may not answer. if I do, I keep it to under 20 seconds.
I had one friend who would go get sushi with me once a week, but spend most of the time on her Blackberry. I teased her about it and said it was rude, and she apologized and stopped (we have a pretty easygoing friendship)
The one thing that really bothers me is that some of my friends get REALLY annoyed if I don’t answer their calls. I will ALWAYS call back the same day, so it’s not like I’m ignoring them.. I was just doing something important or talking to someone. One person actually told me, “Why on Earth do you have a cell phone if you don’t pick it up right when people call you?” *sigh*
Sometimes I “forget” my cell phone at home when my husband and I go out ?
People get so used to instant gratification..like if you don’t answer you are “ignoring” them. Good for you for being conscious about it! I’m sure you are a much more pleasant person to be around with out a cell phone attached to you.
Oh I know!! My aunt was actually on her Blackberry the entire time we were opening Christmas presents last year! And brought it to the table for every meal, etc. At one point, my mom asked my brothers and me to bring our phones too, and act like we were texting, just so she could use us as an excuse to get the point across to her brother and his wife that texting at the table is rude!!
That is just so rude and annoying. Did she get the point! I do hope so!
I have found the same problem with technology. It’s such a blessing in some ways and yet also such a curse. My hubby and I have been out with friends and both the other couples with us are seemingly constantly on their iphones, texting, checking the internet or playing games. There were literally moments were there was no conversation and we looked at each other and later we just laughed about it. But I do find it incredibly rude and frustrating.
I find it rude and frustrating too. It actually makes me feel like I am so boring to the other person!
You really have to pay attention to the people you’re with and not play on your phone. I’ll admit to quickly checking email and making sure nothing is going on, but really, I pay attention to my husband when we’re out on a date.
I’m definitely addicted to the internet, but I’m trying to kick the habit. I ‘deleted’ my facebook profile two months or so ago, and I’ve got to be honest, it was hard! I had to stop thinking in status update phrases! Seriously! And now when I’m away on trips, I take fewer photos, because I know there’s no where to post them. But I’m still addicted to several message boards, many blogs (including my own AND this one, which I’ve managed to follow even without facebook-imagine!) and the internet in general. In fact, both my husband and I just upgraded to the new iPhone-why I have no idea. I work three blocks away from my home-I don’t ‘need’ even a regular cell phone! But the idea of living without a smartphone is horrifying!!!
I can’t believe you deleted facebook! Bold move! I also thank you for continuing to follow this blog ?
I agree. Neither of us are really too into it – me more than him. He doesn’t even have a cell phone and I refuse to get internet access on my phone for that reason. I do not want to think about email/internet more than I have to! It was actually good when my laptop crashed b/c I found lots of other things to do at home. I know, now that I have it back, I will have to really be disciplined! And if he had his way, he would smash every person who drove talking on a cell or texting – esp if they are clogging up the left lane!
Thats another thing, when you have email to your phone you are always accessible. This can be a blessing and a curse at the same time!
Looks like you and your hubby are on the same page! I like it!
My hubby and I are BOTH way too connected technology wise. Most nights you can find him sitting on one end of the couch, me on the other end, him on his Ipad, me on my laptop, and our Iphones right next to us. It’s bad. But, we’re both totally content when we have our devices, so I guess as long as we’re happy that’s all that matters?
Our nights are spent like that too…I guess the trouble I have is if a person CAN’T be with out it. If that’s the routine fine, and if you are both fine with it then that’s perfect (me and The Captain do the same thing at night) But it saddens me when I see him panic if he loses internet lol. Then I worry.
Jen, I have the same situation to deal with. My husband is always on his iphone – if we are walking around the mall or I am driving and he is in the passanger seat, he is constantly reading blogs or checking facebook. At night we both sit down in front of the TV and pull our own laptops on our laps. I usually blog and read blogs, while he organizes his music and movie libraries. It’s fun and relazing for both or us but sometimes I wonder, if we didn’t have the internet for a few days, if we’d run out of things to talk about. We have talked about imposing a internet limit each night but I don’t know if he’s really keen on it. I wish there was some way to get a better balance on these things.
I’m totally with you on everything you said. The Captain is the same way when we are out. I get so frustrated sometimes. I’m not sure what we would do at night though..lol would we just sit in silence? I always wonder what we’d do with out television! lol sad..I know