We are Slaves!
- 20 Comment
Have you ever wondered what we used to do before cell phones came on the scene? This hit home as I arrived at the resort in Cabarete for the final 8 days of my vacation. This will be my 4th stay at the Viva Tangerine. Being a creature of habit I enjoy the familiar and besides I’m pretty well known here by the staff and get VIP treatment! Anyway, shortly after my arrival, I headed down to one of the bars on the beach and while sitting there enjoying the sounds of the ocean I couldn’t help but notice there were many other people talking on cell phones. Why would you go on vacation to a resort and bring your cell phone? When I left Ottawa last week, my cell phone stayed at home.
Now, I have to admit that I did bring the laptop with me and that I check my emails every day as well as making sure that I do my 300 drops on Entrecard! In fact, I’ve been on several road trips to the States in the past year and the laptop has always been with me. But I draw the line when it comes to cell phones. Even when I’m home I often ignore the cell phone when it rings. Why should it be absolutely necessary that you’re available 24 hours a day? I know some people who can’t live without their cell phones. And, as far as I’m concerned there’s nothing more ignorant than being with someone (having lunch or whatever) and they answer their phone. I applaud the recent government decision in Ontario banning the use of cell phones while driving.
Technology is a wonderful thing and as I said I do bring my laptop with me to keep in touch with what’s going on but there has to be a limit. Are we becoming that addicted that we simply can’t go a day or more without answering a cell phone or logging on to a computer? I could very easily live without my cell phone but I doubt very much if I could go too long without signing on my computer – how about you?
that’s the way I see it
20 Comments on this post
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wondermomsworld said:
hi. it's true, very hard to live without doing the things that we use to do. Like bringing our laptop and checking the email everyday.
November 16th, 2009 at 1:58 pm -
Patricia said:
I'm your clone on this one. Computer, yes! Cell phone, no!
November 16th, 2009 at 5:04 pm -
Theresa said:
It's so sad to see. My husband and I have been to many concerts where people are too busy trying to take pics or record or just plain old gabbing on the phone that they just don't pay attention to what is happening right in front of them. Same goes for sports events. Why bother doing something like that and not really enjoy it. Personally I don't want anything to keep me from that memory of whatever it may be.
November 16th, 2009 at 8:22 pm -
Sjeltur said:
I am the kind who brings his phone EVERYWHERE…. but I hardly use it as a phone….
It is my little laptop…. able to do post to my site (nice WordPress apps) - check my email - see the tweets…
Yep - my iPhone is following me everywhere….!
BUT; I do "hate" all the phone calls of all the other people….November 16th, 2009 at 10:01 pm -
Isolated Existence said:
I don't talk on the cell phone with anyone other than my kids, mostly I use it to text with my daughter while she's out and to I use Twitter and Plurk. My computer, I sign on at least 2 to 3 times a day
November 16th, 2009 at 10:01 pm -
blueyes said:
I'm gonna have to disagree lol. I would DIE, well maybe not literally but close enough, without my cell phone. I even forgo carting around my tablet so long as I have my blackberry because it essentially does everything I would need to do with the computer but way lighter.
November 17th, 2009 at 12:29 am -
Windroot said:
When I went off to college in 1963, the only way I could get in touch with my parents was to (a) write a letter or (b) call them collect on a pay phone. And if you called collect it damn well better be important. So, guess what? We learned to deal with things on our own.
Now, no self-respecting kid goes off to college without a cell phone and most will have a laptop. You got your e-mail and IM, twitter and texting, and that's before you even call on the cell phone. You have to wonder what all this constant back-and-forth does to their sense of self-sufficiency. Are they ever alone long enough to find out?
November 17th, 2009 at 1:50 am -
Chinaren said:
If you're so against using a phone why not bring it and just turn it off? The reason why most people bring them is that they are useful.
I'm not sure why you think it's bad to talk to friends etc when you're on holiday anyway. I always enjoy taunting them! haha.
All that said, I don't use the phone that much at the best of times, being a regular guy. Were most people using phones women?
November 17th, 2009 at 8:32 am -
Dave DeWall said:
I agree with you 100%! I retired to the Philippines four months ago, and never bothered having my cell phone turned on here. My wife got hers unlocked so she could call her family members here but most days her phone never rings. I have a magicJack phone hooked up to my computer to call my Dad in Vegas. I love not having to answer a phone, and while I have been in the Philippines and go out to eat, rarely do I ever hear anyone on a cell phone call at a restaurant which I hated in the States.
My computer is another story. I had a 60 ft tower built in our front yard so I could get a broad ban signal, and then I took up blogging since I had so much free time. It would be hard to give up the computer!
November 17th, 2009 at 9:24 am -
Nyanko said:
Here in Japan, most of young people use the cell phone like a small computer, to check e-mail, to brouse WEB, watch Youtube, access SMS, or so.My daughters also use like that, they see the monitor of cell phone almost all day long.
Actually, I can also do almost all I need with my cell phone, to check the weather, to get news, to take pictures and send by e-mail, to search time schedule of rail lines and which lines I should use, to search the restaurants near by…I use my cell phone like PDA, though it's not the iPhone nor Blackberry, it's only an usual Docomo phone.
I can live for a week without my laptop but I can't live only for a single day without my cell phone though I don't talk with any people with it!November 18th, 2009 at 12:31 pm -
sandy said:
I take mine, but when out in public it's almost always on vibrate. I HATE to hear cell phones ring, but I HATE HATE the scene you show above. It's RUDE to be at a table eatting, or a bar drinking with person A and be talking to or texting person B who's on the phone. If you're with me, put the phone in your pocket and leave it there. If you're too busy to be with me, or want to talk to or text the other person….then go spend time with them.
Communicating with other people is fine, but it should be on your time; not everyone else's. I've been in a few bars and resturants that don't permit cell calls which I think is great!
When you're on vacation or on holiday you're suppose to enjoy the people you're with, you're suppose to enjoy the sites and sounds around you…so get off the phone look to see what you've been missing.
I do take my cell, and my computer. But, I don't live on it, and I don't use them instead of enjoying the sunset, the beach etc.
Sandy
November 18th, 2009 at 2:10 pm -
Jude said:
Bill and I feel the same way about cell phones, but i love my computer, but never take it with me when traveling. Hope your vacation was great.
November 18th, 2009 at 3:29 pm -
new illuminati said:
Toxic technology that cooks your brain, lowers your intelligence and causes cancer. If you don't believe me read http://newilluminati.blog-city.com/index.cfm?sear...
I'm so glad I live in a remote rainforest!November 20th, 2009 at 2:34 am -
Goop said:
You just have to learn how to prioritize. That's all.
November 20th, 2009 at 2:19 pm -
RE_Ausetkmt said:
Hi Robin, I use a smart phone when traveling now, so no need for a laptop; just use the phone for all my needs. I do however like to keep in touch, so I take my phone but I also don't answer a call unless I see the genuine need to.
Business is business but pleasure - heyyyyy that's what I live for.
I Agree no phones allowed in the pleasure dome.November 20th, 2009 at 10:54 pm -
BKbkc said:
I'm with you on this. I think I can live without the cellphone for a while but maybe not yet without the laptop.
November 24th, 2009 at 1:10 pm -
Grayspirit said:
I used to take my cell phone with me to work. But I'd leave it on my desk and went out of my office to do work. At the end of the day, I'd have many messages about problems, but people usually resolved most of them by themselves while waiting for me to return the call. Same with email.
November 24th, 2009 at 9:18 pm -
The Hawg! said:
I hear you — if my wife and my office didn't make me, I'd simply not carry a cell phone. My family and I were at the movies a couple of weeks ago and some jerk in the row in front of us kept surfing the Internet on his blasted iPhone.
What was the point of that?
November 24th, 2009 at 10:17 pm -
igsie said:
I saw something at a restaurant that made me laugh in a sarcastic way because I hate cell phones in a restaurant. Two ladies were lunching together. One answered her cell phone and proceeded to talk. Then the second lady got out her cell phone and called someone. So they were having lunch together; however, each one was talking to someone not even there!!!
December 7th, 2009 at 11:28 pm -
Thomas said:
We are slaves not only because of the cells. We are slaves of technology and our modern consumptive lifestyle. We want to drink best, sweet, bubble drinks, we want best, fast, tasty food. We need five tv screens at home, two cars and blue-ray with home movie watching system. Almost everything we have is irrelevant and we don't need it.
December 8th, 2009 at 2:06 pm
