I went an entire day without my cell phone! I chose a Wednesday to do this, the catch is I didn't tell anyone that I wouldn't have my phone. My day started at 8:00a.m when I woke up to my alarm. I then proceeded to hand over my phone, with some resistance, to my friend Vanessa. She kept it somewhere hidden all day. This day was actually quite freeing, not having to check my phone every couple minutes in case I missed a message. I held an actual conversation and gave people my undivided attention! I didn't know what time it was and had to keep asking people, but that is only one disadvatage of not having a phone. I think technology is a great thing, when used in moderation. It helps us but when we become obsessed and feel like we 'have' to have it, that's when it becomes a nuisance.
My day without technolgy showed me a few things, but not enough to change my outlook on how I use my phone. It was interesting for the day, but for longer period of time than that simply would not work with my life and schedule. There are things I could live without, but in this generation, a cell phone is not one of them. Plus, it made me feel loved when I finally got my phone back and there was about 15 messages! True most of them said something like, "why are you not answering me?".
It's interesting how we now expect people to have their phones on their persons at all times. I know how I keep my phone right beside me at all times, and others expect this from you as well. It's the normal thing to do now, and for someone not to text you back is almost an insult. My day without technolgy was an expereince, one that was worth it while it lasted and made an impression, just not one that I am willing to relive anytime soon.
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I find that the fact that you chose to give up your phone shows that you wanted to see how much no phone would affect your everyday life. I have to say that you are right, when people don't answer their phone or respond to a text message it is kind of like an insult but when I did this very same thing I got to thinking. What I thought about and realized is that we used to be able to function without a cell phone, yet now we rely on it every second of the day. I mean I got my first phone when I turned 13 which is like five years or so ago, but I must have been able to function fine...but now it is just unbelievably hard. Why? Why has five years changed how much I can function without a phone? I mean I have a watch or two, but it is just something I rarely wear anymore because why do I need to when I have my phone in my pocket, that could easily tell me what time it is. Is technology just making us more dependent on it to where we will never be able to take a step back to a day where we were not so dependent on it?
ReplyDeleteA lot can happen in one year, let alone five years! It takes two weeks to develop a habit, and two days to break that habit. So corresponding with this theory; since you have used your cell phone everyday for five years, in the better part of your learning stages, you are adept to just reaching for it or it being there. This is not something that we can just change; and I don't know about you but this is not something I want to change. I like being able to get a hold of someone when I need it. Yes, it is annoying when we don't want to talk to someone but I think cell phones are ultimitely for the better!!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite part of your post was that you said people expected you to have your phone on you at all times. Our society has grown to constantly wanting to be in contact with people. Is this a good thing? I really don't know because what would happen if we were to have a massive power outtage. What would people do in this situation? I remember 2 or 3 years back in Tulsa when we had a horrible ice storm and lost power for a week. It was really nice for all my friends and people not to be able to get ahold of me and me them as well. I don't like being so wired all the time but it is how we have grown up. I honestly fear for our younger generations to come.
ReplyDeleteSmith. I love how you said that. That it was nice to be gotten ahold of. I like beign able to get ahold of my friends, but does it ever get to the point where you havent' talked to someone in a long time and they get pissed at you?
ReplyDeleteFor example I usually don't start text conversations just becuase if someone wants to talk to me i'll talk to them when they want to talk. People find this insulting when they are always texting me and I don't 'initiate' the conversation. It's annoying really
I like the way that you described your day without your phone as "freeing". It is almost as every other day, you are chained to your phone, which you kind of mentioned throughout the piece. I agree that technology is nice when it is not misused, but I think that with everyone attached to their phone daily, as you mentioned in your blog, technology in this sense is being abused because we rely so heavily on our cellular phones that people don't know how to live their lives without it. Very interesting piece. I really enjoyed reading it.
ReplyDeleteIt seems that you had open your eyes and actually got to look around the world and how something that small will change everyone that has one these days. I notice a a lot around campus people running into or almost running into people because they are texting on their phone or doing something of the nature with their phone. I do feel that you are correct and how technology is changing people making them more materialistic and almost imprisoned to the device
ReplyDeleteI like the part where you said that people expect us to carry our phones on our personal bodies on us at all times. This couldn't be anymore true, especially these days.
ReplyDeleteI also gave up my phone for my day without technology, and found it extremely difficult, and I almost felt "out of touch" with the world without it.
Like you, I feel like I could never give up my phone. I just depend/need it way to much to get rid of it.