I always knew that using phones or other forms of technology for extended periods of time was detrimental. However, I believe that in today's day and age we are more addicted than we have ever realized. The problem is that people don't want to admit it. It is like talking to a drug addict trying to tell them to stop using drugs. Perhaps it is similar to a doctor telling a patient with heart disease to stop smoking. Sometimes we hear, but we don't listen. If you think I am being harsh, I am guilty myself. I grew up with phones, video games, and computers. But, something is different today. Don't believe me? Maybe two relatively short anecdotes will do the trick.
It is March 12th, 2016. I have arrived early for my 10:15 AM Psychology class at St. Joseph's College. It is located on the second floor of O'Connor Hall. However, as I sit down and get myself prepared for class, I am surprised. Well, on second thought, I am not surprised. It was times like these that I hated being at school. Why, you ask? Well, all of the "present" students are buried in their smartphones or laptops. Too busy looking through social media or talking to their virtual friends. As for myself, no one to talk to. No one to ask how their day is going. No hope. No joy. Rather, depression, gloom, and sadness. I wondered how many of those students who turned around to look at me thought I was weird. Not because of what I was wearing or how I was behaving. But, perhaps, because I was not connected to some device like they were. I was not on my phone or my laptop. Maybe I should have taken out one of my many books I liked and started reading it. I am sure that would have definitely got their attention. I do not know what today's society has become. I don't know what today's society stands for. The purpose of education today is as confusing as ever. It feels to me like sometimes we need to put down the devices and look up. Look into the beautiful world we live in. Look someone in the eye and ask them how their day is going. Meet a new classmate and learn about their past experiences.
It is August of 2016 and I am playing basketball outside of my house. Something I really enjoyed doing, especially on days in which the weather was nice. I live on a street fill of families with children ranging from ages twelve to twenty-four. Yet, for some reason, no one is outside. It is a beautiful day. The sun is shining and the light breeze in the air makes you think that Fall is just around the corner! I can hear the chimes of the ice cream truck echoing in the far distance. However, the echo from the van goes unnoticed. No children are on the streets. No fun. No play. No joy. Instead, most of these children are inside their homes. Video games. IPhones. IPads. I wonder how many of them are reading a book. How many of them are praying to God? How many of them are writing a story? How many of them are helping their parents do chores? I don't even bother getting my hopes up. I know the latter isn't taking place. This is Twenty-First Century America. We are a generation of idiots, smart phones and dumb people.
