In today's world of new media, there is never a shortage of information. In fact, at times I feel that many people, including myself, are overwhelmed with amount and frequency of information that comes pouring into our lives on a daily basis.
The combination of information accessibility and our desire to take in as much as we can has certainly given way to brilliant innovation, scientific breakthrough, and a hyper-connected world. But too much of one thing means less of another, right?
So my question is, are we missing out on genuine, unobstructed thought and human connection by always being plugged into our devices? How would one even begin to measure that trade-off? What would your variables be?
I do like the reading about the examples of social media that are bringing strangers together over the dinner table. For efforts like these, social media has the potential to enhance human connection by bringing people together who would otherwise never have shared a meal, a story or a laugh together.
In a quote from Lao Tzu that I read in another publication I receive, this quote resonated with me as it speaks to the very principles I strive to govern my life by because it also addresses this very tradeoff I just alluded to.
"In dwelling, live close to the ground. In thinking, keep to the simple. In conflict, be fair and generous. In governing, don't try to control. In work, do what you enjoy. In family life, be present"
"Being present" at the dinner table is a crucial moment in everyday life as most of us are staring into a screen, or a mobile phone or a camera for most of our awake hours. Next time you are in a meeting, or sitting down to dinner -- politely request that everyone turn off their phones and put them in the middle of the table in a big bowl.
I think you will be surprised at the level of engagement and satisfaction that will ensue. It won't be easy and some people will belittle this method -- but don't listen -- attribute that to their deeper awareness that they are afraid of unobstructed conversation.
It's easy to look and sound important when you have an information stream in the palm of your hand or at your ear -- but the people who continue to impress me are the ones who can justify their intelligence through genuine storytelling and though provoking conversation.
Photo by Astrid Stawiarz, Getty
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Tasteless jokes aside, this is a pretty good article. "Genuine storytelling and thought-provoking conversation" are pretty impressive to me too.
I'm gonna share a cool story.
I hate cell phones and social media.
I could put the phone down, but I won't.
I strongly believe that family dining will become obsolete, much like family game night.
Social media is taking over, and I am liking every second of it.
NOT!
And is that tweet really more important than hearing about your son's report card? Or your daughter's ballet lesson?
The freedom of being able to be anyone, say anything, get away with things you'd never consider in real life, makes 3d eye to eye contact terrifying. The reality of the souls behind the bits, the actual people you're doing, saying these things to, or about. It's too much for some people.
It's also become a world where no one has to deal with, or think about anything, or anyone they don't want to. Except you can't refresh the screen when talk goes stale in a restaurant, you can't delete a jerk at work. And thanks to reality tv, no one ever has to be troubled by actually having anything to say again, you can 'tune out' during a conversation, and no one will even notice, because no one's saying anything that matters. Anyone who did would be stared at like an alien.
So, good and bad. We have all this incredible technology, so people are now able to be whatever they are, faster. But they aren't getting smarter, or nicer, as a group.
Good for someone like me, who desires the least possible contact, not so good for someone who expected more from life and society.
I hate the feeling of being at dinner with your family and finding out that the text they have just received is far more important, when of course it isn't. It comes down to manners and respect for those in the other room. I went to a dinner the other evening and most of us are in our early 50's it was refreshing to see adults enjoying one another's company without watching someone dive into their purse or pocket for their phone.
When I go to the kitchen to make and eat dinner, I don't take my phone with me, it stays downstairs, and if it rings, I'll ignore it, since it's what voicemail and txt messages are for. Actually many of my friends know to use txt messages instead because I'm known for answering my phone on my own time, not on theirs.
People actually pick up their phones and have conversations in the middle of dinner ? Really !?
It's called "CALL THEM BACK IN 10 MINUTES" ... world won't end in the next 600 seconds.