Okay, I just wanted to clear something up from yesterday’s blog. If you missed it, you can go back and read it, but the basic idea was that I’m considering moving away from a smartphone and why. What I wanted to clear up was this… I’m not against technology. I’m not saying that iPhones are evil, or that everyone should get rid of them. I just think that they dominate our time more than we would like to admit and I think we might make better decisions if we didn’t have them. Maybe I’m not even saying that. I think I’m just saying that I would make better decisions without it. I waste too much time on the phone. I let a text message take the place of conversation. In fact, even last night, after I had posted the blog, I found out one of my best friends had been in the hospital getting tests done. My wife asked if I was going to call him and I said…, “No, I’ll text him in a little bit.” I changed my mind and called. And left him a voicemail. And he texted me back.
All that really happened, but I just shared it to be funny. He had been in the hospital. I didn’t expect him to answer the phone, or even to text back really. I just wanted him to know that I cared what was going on in his life, and I cared enough to call. Because if I get right down to the real core reason why I text instead of call, it’s that I don’t want to have the rest of the conversation. I want them to know I reached out. I want to get the answer to a question. But I’m not trying to be known. I don’t want to answer any questions. I don’t want to struggle with what to talk about. I want them to feel connected without much real connection happening.
Wow, this blog has really taken a left turn. I just started to write it because I wanted you to know that while I may choose to get rid of my iPhone, I’m not getting rid of my iPad. It’s awesome. But I’m not as likely to take it out when I’m at the playground with my kids. At a time when I should be playing with them. And even if it’s one of those days they’d rather play with their friends rather than their dad, I want to pay attention to them. When my kid draws a picture of me at school, I don’t want it to be a stick figure with a phone in his hand.
But I’m not against technology. I love my iPad. I read on it. I study on it. I research on it. I’m writing this blog on it right now in the corner at Whataburger. That’s all I’m trying to say.
Thoughts?
Todd
I text and face book because I can say what needs to be said, let someone know ‘I care’, but if it gets too involved I can drop the conversation. I realize this more and more about myself that this form of communication feels safe to me and all that does or does not entail
If getting rid of your iPhone helps you connect better with people then go for it with all your might.Test out the premise and then evaluate the outcome. If there is real change within you that results in closer intimacy with those you love and important others, then you’ve gained everything and lost nothing.
Much love and many prayers for you, dear brother and friend.
I have definitely been guilty of being attached to my iPhone. I had to make myself leave it at home when my hubby and I went on a date the other night. I knew if I didn’t I would constantly be checking text msgs, Facebook, Twitter, etc. You may be on to something. On the other hand I do have deep meaningful conversations with friends via text; friends whom I don’t get to see face to face because of distance or because we’re busy working moms. I think for me the key may be to set boundaries for myself
it just reminded me of the movie ” Wall-E” and the quote.. about the paradox of our age.. a part of it says… We built more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but have less communication, we have become long on quantity, but short on quality, these are the times of fast food but slow digestion.. steep profits but shallow relationships, it is a time when there is much in the window, but nothing in the room” – Dalai Lama.. Love your song “Beautiful” I’m listening on it from Dubai. God bless Todd!
Technology is a Wonderful/Horrible thing. And we are living in the era of a technological revolution, so we will get blessed by it and we will get burned by it, not just once or twice either, but continuously as it is ever evolving our lifestyles, culture, and world. A global community? Maybe. The ability to reach the ends of the earth with the gospel in a shorter time frame? Yes. Easier to retreat from the world and hide behind technology rather than engage in actual community? Yes.
For those born into this era, they are technological ‘natives’ – they speak its language with a native tongue. They thrive on it, and can easily get swept away in its pitfalls because they do not know a world without it. The rest of us are technological ‘imigrants’ and depending on your age some have welcomed technology with open arms and some have come kicking and screaming into the 21st century. We can get stuck in the ‘translation’ mode sometimes. Maybe we have a wisdom from having known another way of life, and yet technology is seductive and powerful if we let it – we too can get swept away in the pitfalls, like any other temptation. It seems that the more capacity something has to do good, it proportionately has the capacity to do bad, so if a person finds him/herself getting swept away, then steps need to be taken to change it – what is a temptation to one person may be of no interest to another –
so if retiring your iphone makes you a better person Todd, then you should do it – it doesn’t mean you’re saying that everyone should (although you may observe that some should by their actions, you can only be responsible for you). A non-smartphone will still text and most can surf the web unless you block it as part of your service plan (smartphones are required to have data plans, non-smartphones are not required to so you can have one or block it); most non-smartphones these days can have lots of apps that distract too, so it may or may not be the answer to your issue. How you’re going to manage your features if you’re going to have a cell-phone at all may be the issue. If you get rid of the iphone, the ipad might very easily take its place and you might find yourself in the same rut with it eventually too.
I just got a smartphone a couple of months ago and I love it, (shout out for Android phones here!) but in my case I feel it is in the right place of priority, so I’m not tempted to avoid people – my kids and I actually speak to each other at least once a day (they’re grown so we don’t always see each other but we try to talk), and we txt a lot in between. (Actually I did all that with a non-smart, quick messaging phone, now I just do it better/faster). It has helped me survive the empty nesting process better. So for me a smartphone has been a good thing and I’m not (at least yet) tempted to let it be anything more, but I know people for whom it is a silent seducer – a wolf in sheep’s clothing, so I get what you’re saying.
We find ourselves texting to each other at home from different parts of the house.
We find ourselves texting to each other at home from different parts of the house.