I don’t know if that’s the politically correct term, but I’m about tired of smart phones. Have you noticed how impatient we have become? Because it takes a few extra seconds to connect to a worldwide system of computers with access to most of the knowledge in the known world from our phone in the middle of a grocery store. And it’s hurt our relationships too, for two reasons I think. One because we substitute a misspelled sentence containing an emoticon for time together. And two because we get upset at people over this faulty form of communication. We’re upset because they didn’t respond fast enough. Because we read one meaning into the sentence when they meant another (no tone of voice). I think it’s really because this was never meant to be the main way we communicated. And if I’m honest, the main reason I’m considering getting a dumb phone is that I waste too much time.
I saw a young man in an airport, traveling with his girlfriend. He was on his phone for their whole layover, never spoke to her. What could he possibly be doing on his phone that is worth more than her? I wanted to walk over there and let her know that she is worth more than that, that she deserves better treatment than that. But you know? I see it all the time. I see parents ignoring their kids because they are on their phones. Because Angry Birds is more interesting than playing with their real kids. Because celebrity gossip is more entertaining than invest in a real person. And I’m afraid that I’m falling into the same trap. When I have a free moment, I pull out my phone. Honestly, how often do I need to know the scores of every game in every sport on the planet? But I check them. There is no margin in my life anymore. Not because I’m too busy (although I may be, but that’s not what this blog is about). Because I fill every square inch with junk.
I need some space to be quiet. Too listen. I want my first inclination when I have a free moment to be to pray. Or to study. Or to love someone nearby. And for me to accomplish that, I just might need my phone to be dumber.
Thoughts?
Todd
We had a wonderful live worship singing original songs written by the Pastor. We started a series on true discipleship. Next week we will start studying 66 blessings of being a disciple. Get it 66 books 66 blessing. We could spend the rest of our life’s studying all the blessing’s of God and still not make a dent in how great our God is. God bless, all.
Yesterday at church I was still recovering from a 38 hour jaunt without sleep at Christian camp for 150 2nd & 3rd graders. The worship yesterday was a time of celebration. And when it came time for the sermon on David (one of my heroes)….the Lord told me to just relax because the sermon wasn’t for me. LOL So I sat there and listened, trying to not make a personal application. Came home and took a nap. I’m totally serious.
I was in our kidspace as a small group leader:-) however we thought on the miracle of the feeding of five thousand and how to be Thankful for all that God provides for us.
Oh and Donald reminded me our youth group band put on a worship service last evening and it was pretty awesome Too!
Was out of the country last week and the best part of it was no cell service. I could have purchased it, but, decided to try being without it for the week. It was heaven. Spent time talking to my family and playing. Much needed.
You hit it!
Email is getting to be the same way? Sure, it’s faster than the Post Office, but does it really need to become the new Instant Messaging? I usually let people know that I only read my email twice a day, and only respond within 24 hours to the stuff that’s urgent. Anything more important than that, if you know me, you have my phone number.
Speaking of which… what gives with the people who get into a huff if they get your voicemail? Dude, I was driving, okay? And no, I’m not answering my phone if I’m in the shower or answering a call of nature. When did we become slaves to our devices?
Remember Ham Radio? Hobbyists would get excited when they get to talk to people on the other side of the planet, because the radio waves were able to bounce off the atmosphere at the right time of day? Then when email first came out, people would get excited to be talking to others from all over. Now, we keep in touch with “friends” on Facebook from the other side of the country.
But when was the last time any of us said “Good morning” to our next door neighbor? Or even know their names???
Love this! The sad thing is that dumb phones are more expensive than smart phones. Hubby made me give up my dumb phone last year because he was sick of gluing it together (it was 7 years old) and my only option was a semi-smart phone. I miss my old phone. The good news is that you don’t have to activate all the smart phone features. I intentionally do not receive email on my phone. I intentionally do not use the web surfing feature on my phone and did not buy a plan that allows me to. But I think the key is being intentional about it.
Perhaps dumbing down isn’t the answer. Maybe it’s about wising up. All the points you made are valid about people disconnecting with each other as they engage with their phones. I’m certainly guilty of that sometimes. It’s the same thing the older generation does with television. It’s very difficult to carry on a conversation with someone who won’t turn off their TV when you’re visiting with them. But the answer is not to get rid of the TV.
Maybe the answer is a change of mind/heart about priorities. Go ahead and use all the technological aids that make our lives easier and more productive, but don’t let them use you. You are the commander of how you use your time, so set priorities and values on relationships, study, and everything else that’s important. Use that smart phone to be more productive and then put it on silent when you need to focus on something else. It’s a win/win situation if your heart is centered more on others and God. If not, then the problem is still not with the phone, but with the deeper issues of the heart.
I agree. It’s a heart issue. But is it better to safeguard your heart or just hope you change? I’m not sure having constant access to entertainment and faulty forms of communication are good for me at all, much less should I let them tempt me into idleness or worse. It’s true that the TV is not evil. But the better question is “Is it beneficial?” I’m leaning towards No.
I agree with your rationale to a point. We do need to safeguard our hearts, but I think we can do that by setting boundaries (not just hoping you change, but actively making changes) which keep the good in and the bad out. Is the smart phone bad? Not on its own merits. Are there bad things or unhealthy behaviors that can be brought into one’s life with the smart phone? Yes, definitely. I can use my smart phone to watch pornography or I can use it to read the Bible and other good books, listen to podcasts, etc. If I’m having a problem making wise choices, then I need to address that issue head on.
Is the smart phone beneficial? I think the answer to that depends on how you use it. For me, it is extremely beneficial because it is my connection with many resources that help me become more useful and available in God’s work around the world. I do see great benefits in taking a break occasionally from all the noise and entertainment so we can connect more deeply with others and God. But I’m also concerned when something is eliminated without making the internal change that caused the problem because something else usually takes the place of the original source of contention. For example, if you eliminate the smart phone, will the extra time be spent on the computer doing some of the same things you’re trying to avoid? So then you get rid of the computer . . . and on it goes. By all means, aggressively guard your heart by setting boundaries and limits, but also guard against cleaning the outside of the cup and hoping that will purify the inside.Whatever your choice, I respect your perspective and am confident you’ll do whatever God confirms in your heart as the right thing for you to do.
I agree with you whole-heartedly. I, myself, don’t have a “smart phone.” It’s not for lack of desiring one at different times in the last few years, but I have a day job that destroys fragile phones. I currently use a 5 year old “dumb phone” and it’s just starting to show its age. But I have noticed this breakdown of personal connection, especially in the younger generation. Instead of going and hanging out somewhere with a friend, they would rather sit at home and communicate with all of them at once via texts. Instead of enjoying a concert or event, they try to get a hundred pictures of it to tweet or post to facebook. I try to encourage people that I’m around not to “live” through their phones, but live in the moment. You can tweet about it later.
More connected…more alone. I am motivated to seek relationship but un-mentored in how to grow and maintain those same relationships. The vast majority of us stand in a crowded room completely alone. My little world, if I’m not diligent, can become my own prison. And so I dive in to trivia to put a band-aid on my “aloneness” and salve my isolation. In the end, I substitute input for investment…and it’s not a good trade.
So true, about a year ago our pastor challenged us on this exact subject. One of his suggestions was to turn off all of the notifications for emails text etc. His thought were that you would consciously have to decide to open the sources and therefore help you to refrain from being constantly interrupted by it and being rude to whomever you may be with or in conversion with. I took the challenge and found it worked or at least slowed me down after the initial withdraws. But also it made me conscious about it mostly when with family or others. I realized how rude it actually was and how frequent everyone does the exact thing you observed. For several years now we’ve had a family rule of no cell phones at the dinner table and that they were to be muted. The running joke was if someone forgot there was a phone basket they were to place them in it, this was usually used on unsuspecting visitors not familiar with our family rule but we did not enforce it on them bt most would conform to it. However I must admit that since our oldest has gone to college the rules have lax a bit. I’m in total agreement on the fact of distraction and consumption of my time as I type this on my tablet I fight the urge to check into Facebook when I should more on in the reading of Romans. I think I might delete the app to help force me to go log on on the computer and feel I need to see who’s starting a new diet or folding laundry . Another thing we used as the girls were younger is they had a two and a half hour time Frame to be unplugged, which was no tv, phone or computer. It did include dinner but as their high school work load became more dependant on using the computer we made an amendment. I think our culture is driving us forever more dependant on the technology. Thank you for posting this and reminding me to also focus on being ” dumb ” with my smart phone. Good stuff thanks for sharing.
You make some great points Todd, and both of you are right
about this being a “heart issue”. It
makes a certain amount of sense to dumb down on things that become too much of
a distraction, and this might be a good answer, but this may not be the best
answer. Rather than “taking something away”,
how about if you (we) make it a point to “add” things into our day. When we determine to “add” face time with our
family members, or initiating a conversation with a stranger[1], or
spending time in prayer[2], then
by filling our time with this positive/relational stuff we crowd out the
unnecessary stuff.
It’s the same with sin.
We can beat ourselves up about sin in our lives and determine to weed it
out, but it works much better if we simply make it a point to fill our time
with prayer, scripture reading, fellowship, etc. When we do this we don’t feel like we’re
depriving ourselves of something, but we’re adding value to our lives, and one
of the results is that the sin is crowded out of our lives.
I hope this is
useful Friend. You’ve been such a
blessing to me in so many ways. ~Tess
[1] I can see me doing this
more readily than you, but…
[2] When you pray in public,
people tend to look at you funny, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t, but don’t be
surprised when they do.
I understand what you mean with the phones, another thing is the new iPads. the iPads have caused people to bump into the doors and yes even the walls, because they are looking and typing as they walk. I work at a Hotel in Texas, and everyday I try to witness to the people coming and going, and they are on the phones, or they just look at me in a funny way when i say God Bless and have a Good Day…. I have had to put my phone aside and just pick up my bible anytime I have free time. I also spend time Talking to my wife and not Texting her. I have to say it has been great talking with her and not texting her.
God Bless to all Joshua Patterson
Ok I’m a teenager so naturally I see people who are joined at the hip to their phones every time I step inside my first period class. I see insane fights start over a 15 word txt message or Facebook post that was taken the wrong way. In fact I’ve seen life long friendships end because of it. Sadly it’s become the norm to have important conversations, that should be discussed in person, over txt while being completely disconnected from the other person. I’m considered an “old school” where I live because I don’t have a smart phone( not that I’m complaining). We live in a world where Facebook has replaced face-to-face. I think it’s so sad that we can an entire family meal and not say one word to each other because we’re chatting on Myspace or serfing the web to see which celebrity just got arrested. There are days I don’t even want to look at my phone because “friends” of mine would rather type than talk to me in person.
Unfortunately smart phones aren’t going away, so how do we maintain REAL relationships nowadays? Is getting a “dumb” phone really going to fix anything?
Like I tell my kids always: smartphones are ok, you just gotta be smarter than your phone!XD