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Social Science Boycotting time wasting / antisocial / mind numbing 21st century technology

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Leper

Leper

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I've been thinking of this for some time and finally got around to starting this thread.

A few experiences in recent times have enlightened me into thinking a large percentage of the population are becoming zombies due to the need to be "connected" 24/7. Namely....

* I was on an MRT train in Hong Kong recently, and I reckon 80% of the people only were sitting / standing stoned faced farting around on their phones. In dead silence - nobody talking to anybody. I know public transport was not the most social envirnment when I last used it regularly 20 years ago, but this scene, which I'm sure is being played out right now in 1000 cities in the world and I found it kind of surreal / sad.

* Last night I went to a pub / restaurant to grab a meal and a few beers. There was a band playing in the corner. There were about 40-50 people in the place, mostly in groups of 3 or 4. I reckon for most of the time, around half of these people were farting around on their phones and not talking to their friends. Some, in doing so, were taking photos of the band to show all their friends on facebook or whatever what a great time they were having. I found it sad that these folk could not just put their toys away and talk to each other and actaully enjoy themselves.

* Last Christmas I went on a cruise with my family. Internet (WiFi) was around $1 a minute, so 90-95% of the people on board left their gizmos at home or in their rooms. I can't describe enough what a great time we all had on this cruise. Many a good night was had around the piano in the Schooner Bar, singing and talking with new found friends and the paino guy also. The kids had a ball hanging out with us and other kids. They played at the beach. They played volleyball in the pool. So we went on another a few months later to re-live this experience.

I realise the irony of me describing all this on an internet forum. But I think we are all guilty of wasting so much time on things like facebook (I'm guilty), twitter (I refuse to ever look at this), BigFooty (guilty, but only occasionally these days) and whatever other crap that is around to waste our time (and don't even get me started on the mindless / mind numbing crap that is on TV these days the "entertain the masses" - separate thread needed). How much of our time does one really need to waste learning that some girl they went to school with in 1986 is having a beef curry for lunch or their kid just shat their pants for the 5th time today?

Which is why I am switching off all this shit. For 7 days, I will only use the internet for email and essential work purposes, I will not go on facebook or even this site (not even to see who has "liked" this thread), and will not use my phone other than what we used them for 10-15 years ago - texting or actually talking to people.

I encourage any and all of you to do the same. Who knows, you might all even have some fun, and even a good night out with friends.

I'll report back in a week on how it all went. See you next Tuesday.
 
Sounding like Sideshow Bob's little anti-TV crusade there:
"I'm aware of the irony of appearing on television/an internet forum in order to decry it so don't bother pointing that out"

My only vices in this regard are Facebook and BigFooty but that's more than enough. Have resisted getting a smartphone also which helps.

Seriously, best of luck with it.
 

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A noble experiment which i hope works out well and you can learn something from it. Although, social media is a means for me to at least keep my sanity in check. :P Posting on here is a good way for me to interact with other people where i probably don't have that opportunity in daily life away from the internet.
 
Bunk Moreland said:
I remember trains before phones. Nobody spoke to each other then either. They either read a book, a newspaper or stared out the window. Dunno what the difference is.
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Books and newspapers are not electronic audio devices.

The obsession with mobile electronical technology is ridiculous. I was at a party on the weekend. I saw a group of five young people together - each person was interacting with an electronic tablet/smartphone.

On busy streets are people walking without much care, listening to audio and visuals focussed on computer screens.

People who do this appear selfish and antisocial.
 
Yesterday I played a golf course I haven't played before. Obviously designed in days of yore it had some tricks for the eye, making the green seem closer or further away, bunkers strategically placed.

Never mind, I pulled out the range finder and hit the number to the centre of the green.



There's one element of skill removed from the game.
 
It's a bit pathetic when you see friends together out and about or at a party and they're all on their phones, but what's wrong with listening to music/playing games/surfing the net when you're just by yourself? Who cares if I'm 'shut off from the world' I'm not gonna be striking up conversations with strangers all day anyway.
 
Barry_Badrinath said:
It shouldn't bother me, but one of my pet peeves is seeing people walking around with iphones etc listing to music. It removes all awareness of those around them and shuts them off from the rest of the world.
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Barry_Badrinath said:
It shouldn't bother me, but one of my pet peeves is seeing people walking around with iphones etc listing to music.
Click to expand...

The great iScam, has to be one of the biggest scams in modern history. Every idiot buys the newest model to feel cool, only to have to upgrade within the next 12 months, which they all do as they are idiots. Never have or never will own any of there products.

Refuse to use a smartphone as well, I admit if I had internet access on my phone I would probably use it occasionally, but there's no point putting myself in that position as it's not what I want.

My biggest pet hate is when losers start filming bands at festivals, will they ever view such low quality video again, why not live in the moment and enjoy the spectacle.
 
RU486 said:
The great iScam, has to be one of the biggest scams in modern history. Every idiot buys the newest model to feel cool, only to have to upgrade within the next 12 months, which they all do as they are idiots. Never have or never will own any of there products.

Refuse to use a smartphone as well, I admit if I had internet access on my phone I would probably use it occasionally, but there's no point putting myself in that position as it's not what I want.

My biggest pet hate is when losers start filming bands at festivals, will they ever view such low quality video again, why not live in the moment and enjoy the spectacle.
Click to expand...
Why are they scams? Yes people are idiots for constantly upgrading just to say look at me, but iPods/iPhones have always been good for listening to music.
 
Not sure it qualifies as a scam. There's no need for people to upgrade constantly but it's not like Apple are putting the squeeze on customers to get rid of a product that's only a year or so old. My macbook is 5 years old and runs perfectly and is compatible with any newer products.
 
Barry_Badrinath said:
It shouldn't bother me, but one of my pet peeves is seeing people walking around with iphones etc listing to music. It removes all awareness of those around them and shuts them off from the rest of the world.
Click to expand...
Yeah that's pretty much why I do it... When you catch the train 4 days a week you kind of get sick of the sights and sounds of the Belgrave Lilydale line rather fast, that and when you have headphones on scummy people don't stir as much shit or ask for money.
 
I dont understand the hate on using an electronic device on a train. When i used to read a paper on the train it was to serve the same purpose, take my focus off the commoners on the train and be left in peace til i reached my spot.

Its a train, not a social club. I dont want/need to befriend everyone there or have a good time riding the rails.
 
Wow, people get really worked up over this. Why does it bother you so much if kids/other people sit around on their phones?

"Uheruehurehreuh kids should be being social! Not playing on their phone!!!" Who gives a shit? Maybe they're not very social kids. I knew a lot of kids growing up who'd rather be alone reading a book than socialising. It's no different. And how is it selfish if someone on a train wants to be left alone? Not everyone wants to make pointless chit chat with weirdo strangers.

As far as a group of kids sitting around on their phones, that's just how some kids socialise these days. Usually they're all doing something similar and chatting about it as they go.

A lot of you seem to have an unfounded hate of smart phones for some reason. Did Steve Jobs steal your fries as a kid?

If people are mucking around on smartphones, it doesn't mean they're selfish or antisocial. It means they're doing something they enjoy. They shouldn't have to change just because some old luddites don't like it. The world changes. Get over yourselves.
 

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I never really use my smartphone, it's just traditional use (phone, text) and the use of maps and notes, the weather thing occasionally. I'd rather read a book or stare out the window than stare at my phone for any period of time.

I have my laptop which I treat as a desktop computer, and when I leave the house I don't go online. That's my compromise (as in R&R time I can tend to spend a lot of time online, although its largely productively spent, and I do online uni as well).

That said, I'm not someone who really has time to kill on my phone (i.e. public transport, waiting between classes, etc.). When you drive, have a full-time job, and cant bring the mobile into work, plus live alone and can do what you want when you want, there is no need for the smartphone aspects of a phone. If I'm at home, I just fire up the laptop.

Teenagers are the key smartphone user demographic, purely because they are usually car passengers or take public transport, might have to fight over a computer with parents and other siblings (in a public family room as well, when teens often want their online activities to be more secretive), and spend a lot of time sitting in classrooms and finding things to do in lunch breaks. Teenagers and young adults typically have more of a practical use for smartphones, because of their lifestyle circumstances. Therefore, a habit is more easily formed.
 
Barry_Badrinath said:
It shouldn't bother me, but one of my pet peeves is seeing people walking around with iphones etc listing to music. It removes all awareness of those around them and shuts them off from the rest of the world.
Click to expand...

I carry around a portable mp3 player with a built in speaker, so everyone gets to hear my awesome taste in music while i'm walking around :D
 
I think some things like Facebook have reached a tipping point. I've noticed that among my friends (in their 30s) people are posting far less stuff on the news feed. There are a couple of attention whores who still promote themselves with selfies and boring pics of their kids, but mostly it's settled down.

I'm in the minority in that I think FB is an incredibly useful tool. In my work I have to co-ordinate a lot of young adults and it makes very easy to do with group pages and events. FB would be far better without any newsfeed imo.
 
courtjester said:
I think some things like Facebook have reached a tipping point. I've noticed that among my friends (in their 30s) people are posting far less stuff on the news feed. There are a couple of attention whores who still promote themselves with selfies and boring pics of their kids, but mostly it's settled down.

I'm in the minority in that I think FB is an incredibly useful tool. In my work I have to co-ordinate a lot of young adults and it makes very easy to do with group pages and events. FB would be far better without any newsfeed imo.
Click to expand...

Turn it off then. People don't seem to understand you can decide what you see.
 

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