I really wouldn’t mind going back to a time before the internet, social media and smartphones. When it was new, it all seemed amazing and great, ushering in an era of endless possibilities to communicate and share ideas, thoughts and experiences. And for many it has allowed us to do just that. But as the novelty has worn away and time presses on, I see the down side to this ever intrusive digital lifestyle; people are showing far more interest in being online then engaging with the people and environment around them. From the husband who eats his meal with Twitter open on his computer after work, to the friend constantly checking their Instagram notifications or the mother who “Facebooks” every moment of her newborn’s life. We have become obsessed with our digital presence rather than being completely present with our loved ones and friends. It has gotten to the point that we now have things like “internet addiction” and “FOMO”, where people start to feel anxious and fear that they might be missing out on something if they don’t have access to the internet. For many being online has become their life. Everything is for show. Likes and retweets or lack thereof boosts or damages self esteem. Self worth is measured by “social engagement” and “influence” and egos hang in the balance by web traffic.
It’s sad and disturbing.
I miss the days when people wrote letters to each other, where having a cup of coffee with a friend wasn’t interrupted by flashing lights of notifications from gadgets and setting suns were simple enjoyed instead of being a backdrop to another selfie.
Carve & Draw 
Indeed,so true. Nowadays one sees people sitting with each other but all are busy with their own cell phones either sending messages or chatting with others. People walking alone are talking on their earphones. There is no bonding, no attachment ,the only attachment one has is with their special inhuman friend ” mobile”. Very sad & pathetic . The first thi g when asked what can you not do without even for a day is the most obvious answer…mobile phones.!!
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Reblogged this on Spin me like a Record– and commented:
This post really connected to me and the thoughts I was having when I write my blog post, “Are you who you once were?”….adjusting to change and new technology can be so hard and I can’t help but to agree with these feelings
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As a certain saying goes, you cannot live with it, and you cannot live without it.-JW
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I recall one of Oprah’s shows that covered this very subject – she had a dysfunctional family obsessed with their cell/smartphones, tablets etc and there was no interaction ‘tween family members. Mother “calls” the family for supper via a text message. They picked up their meals and went back to their respective rooms. She asks son to take the garbage out – via a text message.
I was at an art gallery a while ago, there were as many people working on their phones as looking at the art work.
A crazy world, indeedy.
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Wow. That’s a new definition of dysfunctional. What’s sad is that so many of us are so oblivious to what we’re are doing to ourselves.
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I agree with you and I think it is up to us believers to keep the world slower.
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I agree with you totally and, like the first commentator, I prefer snail mail despite receiving very little in return.
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There isn’t much enthusiasm for writing letters anymore. I’ll even settle for email or a text message. It may be digital but it still feels a bit more personal. But most people will only message me through social media, if they try to contact me at all.
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Before both of my Grandmothers died, we wrote back and forth about how school was, did I get a new job, how the weather was. I still have those letters and how I treasure them in the fact that they take me back to a time when everything was simpler. People talked to each other and said “hi” instead of today’s “….lives matter” (fill in the dots). Neighbours met at the fence and talked and shared dinner with one another instead of only knowing each other from their Facebook accounts. As kids we went outside and played and enjoyed discovering nature instead of today’s Googling it and having no idea of what holding a baby monarch butterfly or box turtle in one’s hands is like. What a shame that my Grandma’s are not still around to send me a good old-fashioned letter that closed with “Love, Grandma” and I knew that they meant it.
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Younger generations are living vicariously through virtual reality. It’s sad. Such disconnect with the natural world around them. This is what we call “progress”.
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You’re damn right! I like Internet, no doubt. I couldn’t read blogs like yours for example, just find things by accident, playing WoW. But lucky I’m not addicted to my smartphone or computer like others. And I’d really appreciate if I just could talk to friends face to face instead of sitting in a café talking to backs of smartphones because they’re checking latest news in Facebook and other social media stuff. “It’s oh so important, I could miss something!” That´s one instance, I could name hundreds … like umpteen smartphones ringing in different sounds in restaurants or trams, like music over the loudspeakers – “You’ll never guess! People don’t have the same taste in music like you” … Greetings from all over the world via messenger are nice but they’d be even nicer written on a postal card! And where are children playing in the yards, laughing and enjoying the sun? They’re sitting in front of rectangular boxes getting fat. Pure madness!
Just my two cents,
Patricia
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I ❤ your two cents. 😊
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I write snail mail. I treasure it. I don’t receive much of it myself but nothing is going to stop me.
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That’s what I wish sometimes that our ancestors lived life we are just more like surviving it through Internet and we call it living but deep down everyone has been just hooked here and no time soon we are gonna be free from it..
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The only time I remember this fantasy you describe ever existed was during my childhood. As soon at I grew up everything and everyone became hooked to the Internet. It’s a tragedy…
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Quite a lot of the time, I feel the same way, but then I’m back online again. It takes me several days to detach myself from all this stuff and get back to normal. I think we need to find people to be with who are less attcahed to the online or cell phone life – but it’s difficult.
That said, there are still people around who enjoy snail mail. You just have to find them.
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