People Nowadays

pandora

PJ_Soul wrote:

pandora wrote:

It is about priorities, this mother chose to own a phone instead of pay for electricity and heat.
I think that speaks volumes of how ridiculous phone usage has become.

I think it's irrelevant. Bad mothers have been neglecting and endangering their kids forever. That this one happened to doing this time to charge a phone is neither here nor there. There is not an epidemic of mothers who would otherwise be attentive but are instead spending all their time leaving their kids to charge their phones. One single incident like the one you mention is meaningless because it doesn't apply to the rest of society. That she did that has no relation to what the rest of society is doing. Pretty sure most people are still putting their kids' lives before their cell phones! You may as well find a story about a mom who left her infant for 24 hours to go and have sex, and then say that it means sex has become a problem and that people's priorities are all screwed up. Find me 10 more stories about moms leaving their kids in danger to charge their phone, and then I will consider connecting the dots.

I guess you will focus on the bad mom part I will focus on the fact she has no heat and electricity
but she has a phone! Can we say priorities? This seems more than ridiculous to me.
And yes it was one incidence I thought of when I read through the thread...
what's it to ya? :?

comebackgirl

I'm guilty of this at times...but mostly I get sucked into my phone when I'm waiting somewhere. It also gives me something to focus on in those social situations were I feel a little awkward or uncomfortable and is a great way to connect when I'm alone. I do find it useful for GPS (when I can figure out how to understand the damn directions :oops: ), book a reservation, find a movie time, etc. etc. However, sometimes I do want to chuck my phone out the window. I hate the expectation of being available all the time...sometimes it's nice to be inaccessible. I also find it infuriating when I'm out to dinner and someone can't stay off their phone.

g under p

Jeanwah wrote:

I feel this way particularly when I go to a show, and I can only wonder how the artists on stage feel. Why are people more focused on their mobile devices than the world? Why can't I go to a show and see the folks in the front few rows rocking out and getting lost in the music rather than texting or taking pictures? What happened to people that we are unable to tune in to what's in front of us rather than being lost in technology? And I do feel that it's also a generational thing.

Same goes for meeting celebrities. No longer are meet and greets about talking to your idols; it's become nothing but having tangible proof that you were in the same room together. I was at a meet and greet last week and no one said a word to the person I met; people were more interested in autographs and photos rather than actually asking how he was doing. And let me tell you, he was uncomfortable as hell being there, which is odd because he's so comfortable talking to people otherwise (you can't really shut him up, on stage and out and about).

So what's up with this bizarre behavior that everyone seems to participate in? People are just dying to "meet" members of the band but that only means having a physical piece of them? What happened to valuing the experience?

Jeanwah ah very nice post and questions....I can remember the first time I got a call from Michael Franti and I refused to believe it was him back in early 2004. It wasn't until his hoarse voice and that I knew he was about to go on a Jam cruise did I believe it was truly him on the phone. Anyway, I had only seen him once at that time, we spoke about that show in Baltimore and awesome the 3 hours plus was and he said it was best show they had on the Everyone Deserves Music tour. I kept my kool and spoke about when we might see each other again and I told him in 2 months for my birthday in March in Florida he told me we will have some fun with E and K.

That's where it started with our friendship and it took me over two years before I ever took a picture with him at an outdoor cafe in Camden, London. He was surprised to see me and HE wanted to take a picture, my friends and I helped with the equipment then went out and got lunch for the band, we later had a wonderful dinner later that evening. I think what I'm getting at is that Michael Franti a musical star around the world was drawn to me maybe that I treated not like a star, musical god type but just like an ordinary dude who has problems in relationships, within the band and everyday life like the rest of us. I think he really liked that and so everywhere he plays where I can attend he will always invite me into the shows. He loves to see regular familiar faces even though now ill take a few more pictures than I did in the past. He's a musical artist who doesn't mind taking pictures or signing autographs at all, most of them along with videos ill post on his website to help spread his music to his fans.


Peace

Jeanwah

g under p wrote:

Jeanwah wrote:

I feel this way particularly when I go to a show, and I can only wonder how the artists on stage feel. Why are people more focused on their mobile devices than the world? Why can't I go to a show and see the folks in the front few rows rocking out and getting lost in the music rather than texting or taking pictures? What happened to people that we are unable to tune in to what's in front of us rather than being lost in technology? And I do feel that it's also a generational thing.

Same goes for meeting celebrities. No longer are meet and greets about talking to your idols; it's become nothing but having tangible proof that you were in the same room together. I was at a meet and greet last week and no one said a word to the person I met; people were more interested in autographs and photos rather than actually asking how he was doing. And let me tell you, he was uncomfortable as hell being there, which is odd because he's so comfortable talking to people otherwise (you can't really shut him up, on stage and out and about).

So what's up with this bizarre behavior that everyone seems to participate in? People are just dying to "meet" members of the band but that only means having a physical piece of them? What happened to valuing the experience?

Jeanwah ah very nice post and questions....I can remember the first time I got a call from Michael Franti and I refused to believe it was him back in early 2004. It wasn't until his hoarse voice and that I knew he was about to go on a Jam cruise did I believe it was truly him on the phone. Anyway, I had only seen him once at that time, we spoke about that show in Baltimore and awesome the 3 hours plus was and he said it was best show they had on the Everyone Deserves Music tour. I kept my kool and spoke about when we might see each other again and I told him in 2 months for my birthday in March in Florida he told me we will have some fun with E and K.

That's where it started with our friendship and it took me over two years before I ever took a picture with him at an outdoor cafe in Camden, London. He was surprised to see me and HE wanted to take a picture, my friends and I helped with the equipment then went out and got lunch for the band, we later had a wonderful dinner later that evening. I think what I'm getting at is that Michael Franti a musical star around the world was drawn to me maybe that I treated not like a star, musical god type but just like an ordinary dude who has problems in relationships, within the band and everyday life like the rest of us. I think he really liked that and so everywhere he plays where I can attend he will always invite me into the shows. He loves to see regular familiar faces even though now ill take a few more pictures than I did in the past. He's a musical artist who doesn't mind taking pictures or signing autographs at all, most of them along with videos ill post on his website to help spread his music to his fans.


Peace

Awesome story about Michael G, especially that he sought you out and not the other way around! How often does that happen? And how's he doing lately? I've lost touch with what he's doing lately.

I admit that I wanted to meet members of RNDM the other night after seeing them, especially after hearing that they come out after the show to mingle. And I wasn't looking for photos or an autograph, I just wanted to talk with them, and let them know that I admire and appreciate their work. Talking with Joseph Arthur and Richard Stuverud (who is awesome) was more pleasurable than having an autograph or a photo with them. (Jeff Ament wouldn't come out)

PJ_Soul

comebackgirl wrote:

I'm guilty of this at times...but mostly I get sucked into my phone when I'm waiting somewhere. It also gives me something to focus on in those social situations were I feel a little awkward or uncomfortable and is a great way to connect when I'm alone. I do find it useful for GPS (when I can figure out how to understand the damn directions :oops: ), book a reservation, find a movie time, etc. etc. However, sometimes I do want to chuck my phone out the window. I hate the expectation of being available all the time...sometimes it's nice to be inaccessible. I also find it infuriating when I'm out to dinner and someone can't stay off their phone.

I love having access to the internet and GPS wherever I am!!
I understand completely not wanting to always be accessible... I found a way to solve that expectation though. I hardly ever answer my phone. I let people leave a message and then I get back to them when I feel like it. That's what voicemail is for after all! Same with texts... i simply don't view them as things that necessarily require immediate response unless i feel like responding immediately. Doing this, it did not take long at all for people to get the message and realize that I am not, in fact, accessible 24/7!

comebackgirl

PJ_Soul wrote:

comebackgirl wrote:

I'm guilty of this at times...but mostly I get sucked into my phone when I'm waiting somewhere. It also gives me something to focus on in those social situations were I feel a little awkward or uncomfortable and is a great way to connect when I'm alone. I do find it useful for GPS (when I can figure out how to understand the damn directions :oops: ), book a reservation, find a movie time, etc. etc. However, sometimes I do want to chuck my phone out the window. I hate the expectation of being available all the time...sometimes it's nice to be inaccessible. I also find it infuriating when I'm out to dinner and someone can't stay off their phone.

I love having access to the internet and GPS wherever I am!!
I understand completely not wanting to always be accessible... I found a way to solve that expectation though. I hardly ever answer my phone. I let people leave a message and then I get back to them when I feel like it. That's what voicemail is for after all! Same with texts... i simply don't view them as things that necessarily require immediate response unless i feel like responding immediately. Doing this, it did not take long at all for people to get the message and realize that I am not, in fact, accessible 24/7!

I'm trying to get better about that. I have to have my phone on and with me 24/7 for work and the people close to me know that...but it doesn't mean I have to respond to their text/email/call but it does mean I have to admit I was purposely not answering/responding to them :shifty:

hedonist

comebackgirl wrote:

I'm trying to get better about that. I have to have my phone on and with me 24/7 for work and the people close to me know that...but it doesn't mean I have to respond to their text/email/call but it does mean I have to admit I was purposely not answering/responding to them :shifty:

See, that last part is crazy to me! I don't even offer excuses when I miss a call (though thankfully, my in/outbound calls are at a minimum :P )

Today, yet AGAIN, some distracted dipshit driver (how's that for alliteration!) came *this* close to sideswiping my car because they just had to focus on their phone instead of the road.

I'm all for Darwinism, but don't take my life out along with yours!

Cosmo

Jeanwah wrote:

I feel this way particularly when I go to a show, and I can only wonder how the artists on stage feel. Why are people more focused on their mobile devices than the world? Why can't I go to a show and see the folks in the front few rows rocking out and getting lost in the music rather than texting or taking pictures? What happened to people that we are unable to tune in to what's in front of us rather than being lost in technology? And I do feel that it's also a generational thing.

Same goes for meeting celebrities. No longer are meet and greets about talking to your idols; it's become nothing but having tangible proof that you were in the same room together. I was at a meet and greet last week and no one said a word to the person I met; people were more interested in autographs and photos rather than actually asking how he was doing. And let me tell you, he was uncomfortable as hell being there, which is odd because he's so comfortable talking to people otherwise (you can't really shut him up, on stage and out and about).

So what's up with this bizarre behavior that everyone seems to participate in? People are just dying to "meet" members of the band but that only means having a physical piece of them? What happened to valuing the experience?

...
My take... to show what a great life i have... look at me... here is where I am at... here is who I am with... here is what I am about to eat...
Bottom line, i don't really give a fuck.

dancepartner

bummer. Hate to see this thread ended on a don't give a fuck note.
I'd promised to post my two-bits tonight and I hate not delivering but my two-bits have been maxed out.
I'll try a stab at it again tomorrow. night.

comebackgirl

hedonist wrote:

comebackgirl wrote:

I'm trying to get better about that. I have to have my phone on and with me 24/7 for work and the people close to me know that...but it doesn't mean I have to respond to their text/email/call but it does mean I have to admit I was purposely not answering/responding to them :shifty:

See, that last part is crazy to me! I don't even offer excuses when I miss a call (though thankfully, my in/outbound calls are at a minimum :P )

Today, yet AGAIN, some distracted dipshit driver (how's that for alliteration!) came *this* close to sideswiping my car because they just had to focus on their phone instead of the road.

I'm all for Darwinism, but don't take my life out along with yours!

I know...I'm getting better about it. I just have to be conscientious about responding ASAP for work, so sometimes it's hard to switch gears in my personal life...it's a work in progress :P

and yeah...nothing drives me crazier than seeing someone swerving all over the road because they are glued to their phone. Even worse is being a passenger in the car of a driver who is doing this...I've been known to pull the phone right out of their hand in toss it in the glove box :x