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When and how should we deal with this adiction?

(3 Posts)
Panache Tue 15-May-18 12:29:08

Bagatelle you put into words something I mentioned a while ago, yes its obsessional this technology business.

It has eroded life in the family as we once knew it and the first thing every patient I see attending,whether visiting Hospital,Surgery or dentist is the reaching in their pocket for whatever is their "plaything" of the moment...........head down and thumbs working overtime............or a chat on their phone forgetting others are all within earshot.
Have they no thought for others?
It can become obscene.
No one interacts.
There are no pleasantries exchanged............between family or strangers in a confined setting.
Whilst totally lethal outdoors, walking down the street.
I walk with a cane and I really have to watch out...... not only for uneven paving slabs, but these folk glued to their mobile phones as if their very life depends on answering............be it out in the public or anywhere.
Self respect is totally missing.

A great advance........... and technology has its place in many ways, but very sadly,yes badly abused making life less friendly and our towns are almost alike dodging cars on a Fairground..............

Let common sense prevail I say...........enjoy,use, but be sensible and considerate at least.

Teetime Tue 15-May-18 11:41:41

That's a big question. Personally I think life is better with the technological advances that have been made in our lifetime but I take your point about obsessions. I don't like seeing families sitting in the pub (often Wetherspoons) all plugged in and not talking to each other. When I walk down the street and see someone coming towards me on the mobile phone I shout 'look out' so they don't walk into me. I don't have any answers I'm afraid but each gadget does seem to come and go e.g. Blackberries. I have just changed my mind about having a Fitbit- initially the price put me off and then I thought what is it I want to know - a walking regime as soon as I'm allowed off crutches - well I can just count the time I spend doing it and calculate the distance. My sister told me you need to wear the Fitbit 24/7 - that put me right off.

Bagatelle Tue 15-May-18 11:08:21

Technology - it has come upon us so quickly. Now social media has taken over, adversely affecting real relationships and mental health, not to mention politics and crime.

Yesterday I saw someone walk into a lamp post because they were looking at their phone. Then there was a small child in a shopping trolley, playing games on an iPad. In the coffee bar were two more children, about eight years old, both playing with tablets and ignoring each other. The woman with them was fiddling with a phone. Every other person I see in the street is wired to a phone.

The internet is a wonderful tool, but it is being abused. It is a platform for bullying and brainwashing. So how do we get back in touch with reality?