smart phones and the society

[nanana]

OK. Call me an oldie. But I just prefer the conventional way of communication i.e. words coming out from your mouth, rather than typing away on your phone while having a gathering with your friends.

Every so often I see people just staring at their phones ALL THE TIME. Couples on a date were busy browsing own phones (seriously, might as well just date the phones), children busy playing with games on the phone at dinner table...
Once i saw a couple having dinner together, they placed a Samsung tablet in the middle of the table (it was showing some Korean TV drama), and both were staring at the screen throughout the entire course, without even blurted one word to each other. I mean...seriously, if you wanna watch TV, just watch it at home. What's the point of going to a fancy restaurant, but doesn't know how to appreciate and enjoy it?

Just curious if this is only happening in Singapore or it is the same in other parts of the world too?

I think that people these days have forgotten the art of speaking. Youngsters don't even know how to socialise anymore. I could only imagine that for generations to come, the homo sapien species may have the possibility to lose the ability to speak at all!

what's your thought?

[sundaymorningstaple]

Okay. You are an oldie!

But so am I! People who spend all their time on the phones when they are supposed to be socializing with those around them just puts me off. I can understand answering a call, but a text message? Nah. I even balk at answering a call unless it is from someone who might have important news. Gossip can wait.

[bgd]

As I was negotiating the crowds of smart phone users yesterday I did wonder what Sg was like before the days of smart phones. What did people do on the bus for example, read I guess?

People here do seem to be caught up in their own world and seemingly oblivious to anything else. I guess the phone is just an extension of that.

[GeorgeL]

I agree with you.. especially when children have smartphones as their main source of entertainment.. I think it's just numbing in the long term.

[JR8]

I think you're being an old fuddy-duddy, and presuming that everyone would be happier if only they lived like you did or do.

[sundaymorningstaple]

I think you're being an old fuddy-duddy, and presuming that everyone would be happier if only they lived like you did or do.

You might have a point, but the TFR would definitely go up without the damn things. It's no wonder why the new generation are shying away from both marriage and if it do, from having children. Until they find a way to graduate from verbal/texting intercourse to the real thing, it's only going to get worse. But ignoring your date/mate all the time for smartphones is a sure damper on taking any kind of relationship to the next step.

[Beeroclock]

I reckon they have addictive attributes, habit forming / social crutch..... Maybe govt's should start taxing this like cigarettes and tobacco ?!?!

On a more serious note, I agree this is a worrying trend, and as a new parent I am trying (not hard enough) to keep it away at home.

[rajagainstthemachine]

Everything is good in moderation and that includes technology as well. I don't feel the need to be constantly connected to the internet.
Sure I would like access to information quickly and securely but I don't want it constantly and I am not that old but just different I suppose.

[JR8]

You might have a point, but the TFR would definitely go up without the damn things. It's no wonder why the new generation are shying away from both marriage and if it do, from having children. Until they find a way to graduate from verbal/texting intercourse to the real thing, it's only going to get worse. But ignoring your date/mate all the time for smartphones is a sure damper on taking any kind of relationship to the next step.

One could make a contrary point, that the prevalence of mobiles makes contact and communication an awful lot easier. I mean for example do you recall back in the day, the terror of calling a potential girlfriend for the first time and being faced with the probability of her parents answering the call, and giving you a mini-quiz?

I agree there is a line that can get crossed when you're say out with friends, and they're 'chatting' with other friends on their phones. But I suspect if that's becoming a problem that's just bad manners.

But what is considered ill-mannered for one generation is not so for another. Chubby Checker, Elvis (aka 'Elvis the Pelvis' lol), Black Sabbath (etc), and The Sex Pistols (etc) were all considered extremely louche (vulgar, bad-mannered, socially negative), by the older generation of their times. Yet we tend to look back fondly on all of them now, or at least recognise their cultural significance. You are going to have a hard time keeping youngsters away from what is currently fashionable.

I was recently and most uncharacteristically approached via Facebook by a young-adult relative of mine asking for opinions on drugs. It's probably the first time he's ever directly contacted me beyond an annual Thank-you card for a gift. I pondered this for a day or so (Why me!?) before replying, but concluded that it was a positive thing. So, I gave him the straightest A-Z that I could. I was also very clear on the concerns and dangers as well, and what to just outright avoid. I thought it better to be honest and leave him some-way genuinely and impartially better informed. After all Prohibition and 'Just say no' were proven outright failures, and arguably just made things worse. It's left with him knowing I'll try and be straight-down-the-line with him, won't tell anyone, and the door is open if he wants to discuss it any further.

So, yes, texting whilst together rather than speaking is just bad manners. So are many things young people do, like wearing hats indoors, please don't get me started, hehe...

I feel that the TFR issue here is most strongly correlated with the difficulty young people have getting some personal space to nurture relationships. Never mind a room and some privacy, most have no hope of having a car and driving to the woods or a country lane for a 'snog and fumble'. At which point if it were late in the evening in some bar, we could veer off into immigration, the cost of land, and the politics of needing a constant fresh supply of grateful voters. But it's a bit too early for all of that

[sundaymorningstaple]

The TFR has been low since I arrived on these shores 32 years ago (around 1.3~1.4) There was a housing shortage even worse back then as larger families were crowded into fewer rooms, but it still remained fairly constant. However, it was even harder to come by cars and beds back then as locals couldn't really rent hotel rooms (if you had an EP or NRIC you couldn't rent as most hotels required an embarkation/disembarkation card, therefore a visitor. Staycations were unheard of. Now you can rent for the weekend so things are much easier than they used to be. Whether a person is "rude" or "karung Ajar" as the case may be, the smartphone is a killer of human relationships. Gives you lots of friends, and as my son has found out, can kill any budding relationship given what your current squeeze finds on your phone messaging/Whatsapp or browsing history or FB timeline. Photo tagging can also be a killer. I reckon smartphones are more detrimental than they are useful to young people with regard to budding relationships. I reckon they are dangerous to older folks who only partially adopt the technology as they get caught out and have marriages destroyed by them. I reckon they could be the devil's playtoys (if I believed in the devil).

[nanana]

I think you're being an old fuddy-duddy, and presuming that everyone would be happier if only they lived like you did or do.

Yes, I am an old fuddy-duddy.

http://blog.petflow.com/this-is-a-video ... peechless/

This link sort of sums up how I feel in regards to the topic.

[sundaymorningstaple]

I saw that yesterday and thought much the same thing. Full agreement. In fact, the number of times I walk out of the house without my phone aggravates my wife (she can't get ahold of me!)

[yogaloungeforever]

Get this .... was in the train the other day and could not help but observed a couple who walked into the train dressed like the beckhams hand in hand and .... on the phone (both lad and lass). On top of it all they were talking so loud and as usual being so happy. Then strangely both got off the phone the same time and I thought they would go back to focussing on each other. Note, that they have gone from hand in hand to putting each other's hand on each other's waist. But no ... they were still focussed on their phone. In fact the entire time they were in the train until they got off at Orchard, their eyes were just glued to the screen. I thought an urgent SMS or email must have got their serious attention. But no, the lass was watching a movie and the lad ... games!

I wonder if they are just parading around trying to look like the beckhams or are they really in love.

[Beeroclock]

I think you're being an old fuddy-duddy, and presuming that everyone would be happier if only they lived like you did or do.

Yes, I am an old fuddy-duddy.

http://blog.petflow.com/this-is-a-video ... peechless/

This link sort of sums up how I feel in regards to the topic.

thanks that's a good, thought-provoking video... Ironical though watching it on this blog page and the youtube window is immediately surrounded by two facebook share buttons, one facebook like button, as well as the blogger's request to SHARE it with everyone you know

[BedokAmerican]

I think you're being an old fuddy-duddy, and presuming that everyone would be happier if only they lived like you did or do.

Yes, I am an old fuddy-duddy.

http://blog.petflow.com/this-is-a-video ... peechless/

This link sort of sums up how I feel in regards to the topic.

You're right, I think that video sums it up. It's so true. I have an iPhone but I'm not a serial user of it, so I guess that makes me a member of the old fuddy-duddy club as well.

Single people might be missing out on opportunities to meet others because they're eyes are so fixated on their phones and iPads (possibly looking for the guy/gal of their dreams in cyberspace who is lying about themselves anyway). I understand some of the technology use could be work-related or they're playing online games trying to beat their highest score, they're giving someone directions to where they are, maybe reading the news, etc. Technology isn't a bad thing, it's just that it can get out of hand like anything else.

Interesting point about kids being heavily into technology. Just this morning my 2-yr-old walked over to the television and said "watch TV." He usually only watches 30 minutes of TV per day, if that. And I only let him play with the iPad once a week or less, but he loves anything that involves screens. Pretty scary.