Conversation VS Connection

 

I don't have a cell phone. Oh I had one many years ago that I used for a very short period of time when I also thought I had more money than brains. Cells phones can be a extremely helpful in emergency situations. Only to this extent do I see them as being an absolute necessity. Mostly I find them to be an addictive, an unproductive distraction, undermining relationships and creativity.

We may be more connected but we seem to have lost the desire, interest and even the ability to engage in conversation. This situation has really come about in a short period of time.

Sherry Turkle's book Reclaiming Conversation carries a message we all need to hear and pay attention too. She might be a visionary, simply a very insightful and intelligent woman or perhaps both, from whom we have much to learn if we can take our attention away from our phones and devices long enough to listen to what she is has to say.

Conversation Versus Connection - ``I`d Rather Text Than Talk``

Over the past few months, I`d written a blog post on the subject of what has been coined as being a new word in the zeitgeist, called "phubbing". I don't know who came up with that one, but I rather liked it, because it adequately described what I`d been experiencing. Phubbing describes that thing that happens when someone ignores you, tunes you out and focuses nothing else but their cell phone. It really annoy`s me, and I find it insulting in that it`s as if the person you are trying to talk with, couldn`t care less about you. It`s all about their relationship with their phone.

 I don`t have a cell phone. There have been times I wished I had one, but the more I learn about the negative affects from this form of connection with our devices, the more convinced I am that I don`t want one, nor do I need one.

I have always had an interest in language, social interaction, philosophy, and psychology. Our contemporary digital age has changed everything, which has got some great advantages, but I`ve noted that the most concerning negative repercussionit has also changed our relationships and social interactions that has begun to disturb me.

I heard Sherry Turkle interviewed about her book entitled Reclaiming Conversation on a radio interview yesterday. She clarified for me why I should be disturbed and explained what this obsession with our devices is doing to our relationships and our ability to be empathetic human beings.

 I also found this talk she gave about this today and have posted the youtube video below. I think it`s a real opener.
 I do believe we need to make face to face, real eye ball to eyeball conversation our focus, not connection if you want to be empathetic human beings.